Lip strap for Double/Pelham Bridle

[naggsie]

I have shown my first horse for many years with a double bridle and never used a lip strap. I was recently told I should use one and wonder if someone could tell me how to fix it, please. Thanks :)

[naggsie]

Hi, I feel so stupid. I rode my first horse in showing classes in a double bridle without a lip strap with many wins for years]. However, I have been told that I should be using a lip strap. Please can anyone show me how to attach it. I have looked in all my books etc but none show exactly how it should be attached! Any help appreciated. Thanx:confused:

[coss]

there is a small part on a pelham (and on the weymouth i'll have to get a pick of) and you thread through the loopy bit, put the strap through the loop and pull tight, then you buckle it on the other side
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q177/cosspb/random/Pelham-Roundings.jpg

[Mehitabel]

it's easy to do but hard to explain!


short bit onthe left, long bit onthe right. you can see the long bit here - http://historicalfact.com/~es/pictures/curbchain.jpg

and the short bit is on the same, so that you can do the buckle up.

so get short bit, slide the end without the buckle through the hole from outside to inside, then do it up through the keepers and the buckle.

then the long bit, push through from inside to outside, so the loop on the end is on the outside, then push the end through the loop so it looks like it does inthe pic above.

clear as mud? ;)

[coss]

notice this weymouth has a small ring type thing for the lipstrap:
http://www.horsetackinternational.com/images/211746-weymouth.jpg

this one doesn't:
http://www.horsetackinternational.com/images/245435-weymouth.jpg

[Mehitabel]

that's the angle coss - the fixed cheek one you just can't see it as the shanks are fixed on. if you look at the left one (as you're looking at it) you can just see the edge of the lipstrap hole. the top one is a sliding cheek, the shanks can twist round. look at the angle of the curb rein rings too - you can see on the bottom one they are behind it, on the top one they are on the outside as the shanks aree twisted to the side.

[rtk]

Its a matter of taste, some top showing people dont use them, they think they can spoil the look of a pony/horses head.

They go on the small spare ring on the weymouth (under the hook for the curb), pass through the spare link in the middle of your curb chain and fasten onto the buckle which you put through the small ring on the other side of the bit.

Hard to describe how you fasten it, trial and error really. If you are buying one take your bit along as some holes are very small and you need a very thin lip strap to go through them.

The short bit goes on the near side, the long bit on the off side.

IMO the only purpose they seem to have is to stop you losing your curb chain when the bridle isn't on :D but I'm sure someone will tell me their real purpose.

[coss]

that's the angle coss - the fixed cheek one you just can't see it as the shanks are fixed on. if you look at the left one (as you're looking at it) you can just see the edge of the lipstrap hole. the top one is a sliding cheek, the shanks can twist round. look at the angle of the curb rein rings too - you can see on the bottom one they are behind it, on the top one they are on the outside as the shanks aree twisted to the side.

thank you, i hadn't noticed (thought it was a bit odd that it didn't have) that it had twisted.

[naggsie]

Thanx. Will have a go tomorrow and let you know how I go on!;)

[Daffy Dilly]

You'll need it for T&T, unless you make like I did and have the rings for it sawn off the bit. :D

I use one with my weymouth bridle, although it's not really needed, it's useful for when I'm taking the bridle off, just incase the curb unhooks on both sides.

[Wally]

You must undo a lipstrap otherwise it will rattle the bit in the horse's mouth as you put the bridle on and take it off.

Have the buckle on the left and thread it throught the eye from the outside to the inside, through the keeeper behind the buckle and then through the buckle. The point should be done up on the right side, from the inside to the outside and through its own keeper and pull tight.

You can always nip the curb hook a tiny bit tighter on the off side so when you take it off it's harder for the chain to come undone.

Personally, I would never mess about with sawing any eyes or shanks off bits, they are all drop forged and it may have a detrimental effect on the overall strength of the bit. There may be rough edges left where the eye was ground off.

[Daffy Dilly]

It was done by the person who made the bit, which was specially made for me. Cost a fortune as well, and he hates it. :rolleyes: