Bit Accessories: Curb Chains, Bit Guards and Matching Straps

Bit Accessories: for a secure fit and protection

Under Bit Accessories you will find everything that completes or protects a bit. This includes bit guards made of rubber and gel, curb chains in stainless steel, for western riding and for the dressage curb with hooks and lip straps, pelham roundings, chin straps for combination bits and cheekpieces. There are also rubber tongue ports, headpieces for the Chifney and keepers for the Fulmer snaffle.

Protection for the lips and chin

Bit guards sit between the ring and the corner of the mouth and stop loose rings from pinching or rubbing the skin. On curb chains, a curb guard made of rubber or leather protects the sensitive chin groove. The lip strap makes sure the chain does not ride up. Check that every curb chain is twisted flat before you hook it on, otherwise it presses at single points.

For special bits

With pelham roundings you join the two rings of a pelham so that you can ride it with one rein. Keepers hold the cheeks of a Fulmer snaffle on the cheekpiece so they stay upright. A rubber tongue port can help horses that pull their tongue over the bit. In such cases, have the teeth and fit checked first. A Chifney is used with its own headpiece and belongs in experienced hands.

Frequently asked questions

Which bit guards are the right ones?
The inner diameter must match the ring of your bit, so the guard neither slips nor stretches. Soft gel guards are pleasant for sensitive skin. It is important that the bit does not become too narrow with the guards on.

How long should a curb chain be?
The chain should lie flat in the chin groove and fit into the hooks of the curb without being stretched. You can fine-tune the length via the links. On a curb bit or pelham it engages when the shanks come back about 45 degrees.

Is a rubber tongue port kind to the horse?
A soft tongue port can help the bit lie more quietly on the tongue for some horses. It does not replace looking for the cause, though. Have the teeth, bit width and bridle adjustment checked first.