Curb Bit 17th century German This bit was used for the training of young horses and starting them with the curb bit. Despite their impressive aspect, the straight elongated shanks were in fact thought to be more gentle on the horse, because of the longer reaction time in their leverage effect and the fact that they were stopped by the horse's chest at some point. Curb bits were also used with a very light hand, the well-trained horses responding by anticipation to the slightest move of the reins. The scatches, (flattened triangular elements composing this mouthpiece), were slightly stronger in their effect and more resistant than the traditional conical canons also used at the time. The banquets, the parts of the cheekpieces to which the mouthpiece is attached, can be opened for switch out the mouthpiece, a feature particularly appreciated on dressage bits in Germany.At the beginning of the training, this bit would have been combined with a cavesson, a rigid noseband, often made of iro