Jane Gregory of Great Britain and Lucky Star in the individual dressage competition at the Beijing Olympics. While eventers use only a simple snaffle bit on their horses, double bridles--a bridle with both curb and snaffle bits are used by the dressage riders. The rider carries two reins in each hand. The snaffle rein generally is carried on the bottom and the curb bit between the top fingers on the hand.

The curb is a leverage bit that gives more refined control required in high levels of dressage. Gregory is executing a pirouette at the canter. Ideally the back hooves should stay on the center line of the arena, while the front feet canter around in a circle. The horse should be bent in the direction it is pirouetting in. The hind hooves should not be shuffling, and all legs are actively cantering and not hopping.