Instructions
Attach one side of the curb strap to the snaffle bit ring. Buckle or hook the strap below the point where the rein attaches.
Run the strap under the horse's chin so that it lays flat. A twist in the curb strap can cause the horse irritation.
Hook or buckle the loose end of the curb strap to the opposite bit ring.
Adjust the curb strap. It should be tight enough so that it doesn't bounce around while you're riding, but loose enough that you can fit two to three fingers between the strap and your horse's chin.
How to Position a Curb Strap With a Snaffle Bit
A curb strap is a narrow strip of leather or a flat chain that attaches to one side of the bit, runs under the chin and connects to the other bit ring. When used in conjunction with a curb bit, the curb strap increases the leverage on the horse's head when the rider pulls back on the reins. The strap applies pressure not only to the horse's chin, but to the poll, or area behind the ears, through its leverage action. When a curb strap is attached to a snaffle bit it doesn't increase the leverage action -- it is simply an aid to prevent the bit from being pulled through the corner of the horse's mouth.