Lip strap

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Lip strap is a piece of horse tack, usually rolled leather or sometimes thin chain, used with some English-style curb and pelham bits. It runs between the bit shanks and passes through the center ring on the curb chain (the fly link). It attaches to rings at the midpoint of the shanks and buckles on the near side. The lip strap helps keep a mouthy horse from mouthing or “lipping” the shank and also helps prevent the curb chain from moving too much or unfastening. In Western riding, the slobber bar or shank hobble placed between the rein rings serves the same purpose. Leather strap attachments used to connect the rings of a snaffle bit on a Western bridle are sometimes called lip straps, though “bit hobble” is more common.