88 TRAINING YOUNG 



field one would find an extraordinarily large 

 percentage of them badly bridled. The curb 

 chains in most cases would be either hooked 

 on wrong or they would require another twist 

 before being attached to the curb hook. 

 Correct adjustment of the curb chain is most 

 important, because if it is not quite smooth in 

 the chin groove there will be more pain felt 

 below the jaw than above it, consequently under 

 these conditions a young horse will resent 

 lowering his head and relaxing his jaw.* If 

 the curb chain comes above the chin groove 

 it will cause soreness. A sound guide for 

 judging how tight a curb chain should be is 

 when the reins are felt sufficiently for the curb 

 chain to have a bearing on the chin groove, 

 the cheek of the bit should be at an angle of 

 45 degrees with the bars of the mouth. If the 

 curb chain is looser the bit will follow through 

 and will not maintain its full lever action. If 

 the curb chain is too tight, the bit becomes 

 more severe and is more or less continuously 

 bearing on the tongue and the bars. This will 

 irritate a young horse, harden his mouth, and 

 possibly make him keep his tongue over the bit. 



* On an old horse that is inclined to hang on the hands the 

 curb chain may be worn rough. But this is not recommended 

 for young horses. 



