why are snaffles, hackamores and sidepulls preferred over a curb bit when training young horses?

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the first thing you want to teach to a young colt is whoa! the rest will come later with a progression of bits.some to teach turning some to teach neck reining but always in a progression,so in other words you start with a soft bit to keep the mouth soft then progress in severity of bits so when you end up with the finnishing bit you are using the least pressure on the bit with kitten hands....Show more

Technical info - but will explain alot-

With a curb - there is a shank - even a snaffle (Broken mouth peice) can be a curb if there is a long shank that you hook your reins too. The shanks have a location to hook something called a "CURB STRAP" - or - Chin strap. These are often made of chain - sometimes leather. When you pull back on the reins, what is happing is the leverage (longer the shanks the more leverage - and the harsher the bit becomes) is now being placed under the chin and tightens that strap - making the horse look for relief - (Stop/back)

Some Hacks work in the same way (NOT BOSALS - HACKS) They work on nose pressure instead of lips/bars of mouth. But they can be VERY SEVERE - and are often times more severe then some bits!

With a Snaffle (O RING or D Ring) the bit has no shank - therefore no leverage. Sometimes you'll see a curb strap on the bit - but this is only to keep the bit centered in the mouth of the horse - so it doesn't pull through the lips - When you pull on the reins of the snaffle O ring - you're actually only applying pressure to the horses lips - the corners to be exact. There are many different sizes to the mouth peices on these snaffles - the bigger thicker smooth one are gentler - think about it - would you prefer the soft smooth edge on your lips - or a tiny thin wire on your lips - The smaller bits are much more severe! ANY BIT - in the wrong uneducated hands can be painful!

With educated hands - a trainer could get on a green colt with a snaffle/curb bit and teach them plenty - its all in the reward - Educate yourself as you are doing - and remember to ALWAYS reward quick and often! Stay light!...Show more

I prefer to use the least destructive or harmful tack that I can get away with. I would use a sidepull first, then hackamore, then snaffle, then a bit with a snaffle mouth piece but with a curb chain as the last step. I've never needed a solid mouth, twisted wire or high port on any horse I've ever ridden and can't imagine a situation where I would put such things in any horse's mouth.
Smart people go with the softest control device they can possibly use. I prefer to go bitless when ever possible. A lot of apparently crazy behavior by horses being ridden is directly related to pain caused by a bit....Show more

A young horse's mouth is still soft, so a bit that is gentle needs to be used. The snaffle is the gentlest bit and prevents the horse from getting a hard mouth too early. Using a curb on a youngster is truly unnecessary and may cause damage down the road....Show more

I am not sure if you are talking about Western riding?, but certainly, here in Britain, we would never ride a young horse in such a bit.
We ride on a contact, so consequently, a curb on a freshly broke or baby, would send it crazy or break its jaw.
In fact, we would only use a curb along side a snaffle (in a double bridle, at a level when a higher degree of collection was required)
You would not expect the same collection from a young horse....Show more