Western showing... bits?

Question

Hi, im looking at a horse that they ride in a tom thumb. i hear they are really harsh. so if i get him, im going to be switching the bit. but is there anything other than that or a curb that i could show in?

if it doesnt make sense tell me and ill try to explain it more

thanks

Answer 1

The Tom Thumb is not a snaffle bit.  It is a broken mouth curb, or leverage bit and is extremely harsh..it offers no relief to the horse if it is engaged at all.  I'm glad you are choosing to abandon it.  You can go either way, but I would advise you to train at home in a copper mouth full cheek snaffle bit, and only use the curb if necessary for the show arena.  If you are riding properly, using your seat and legs to cue your horse for movements and stops, the transition from snaffle to curb is not difficult.  Before showing this horse, he may need some retraining to get him working correctly.  That training can be done in the snaffle most effectively.

Answer 2

The bit isn't harsh, the hands using it are.

the Tom Thumb is the preferred bit of choice for many people because it offers leverage and seems to enable people to "control" their horse when they think it's the bit they use to control.

If the horse is used to the tom thumb, he may need some adjustment to it.  I would not suggest really changing it, but learning to use it - heck if you have light hands, the ability to correctly communicate, the Tom Thumb should be fine.  

Here's a leverage rule - the longer the shank the quicker/harsher the message.  One with slow/heavy hands has best use of a short shanked bit - takes longer to engage and not so much leverage - a longer shanked bit engages faster so is used best by light/quick hands - quick hands to correctly cue and even quicker to release and reward.

Here's what I'd do - I'd put him in a Myler Comfort snaffle with a short shank.  The bit is very close to a Tom Thumb without the ability to form a sharp point to drive into the tongue.  It's still a snaffle, still legal in the show pen and even available in a nice spotted show bit.  It's a 3 piece, so one can isolate the communication to either side of the mouth as well.  They're not cheap, but they are good tools and last a lifetime.

You comment "I hear they are really harsh" which tells me you don't know bit theory or mechanics.  We I you, I'd peruse this site for questions regarding bits.  Read all the answers especially the ones from best contributors.  One of us can't give you a whole lesson in bits and bitting but you can gain all sorts of reference book names and video names and whatnot from reading all the answers.

People are becoming more and more educated on bit mechanics and theory - we will all soon become quite well educated in it - and this is a great forum upon which to gain knowledge.  Go through and click on all the questions about bits and read the answers - even print out and make notes - you'll learn a lot!

Answer 3

If your horse is six years old, or older, he will be required to show Western in a leverage bit and be ridden one handed.  You are not allowed plain snaffles, bosals or hackamores of any sort at the age of 6 and up.  

There are literally hundreds of different types of leverage bits out there, so it will take some experimentation from you to see what your horse performs the best in.  If I was you I'd try to borrow a few bits from friends and try them for a week or so, and see if your horse seems comfortable.  You will know the bit works well for him if he doesn't toss his head, gape his mouth, wring his tail.  He would stop easily, back easily, turn and guide easily.

Is the Tom Thumb harsh?  I suppose it has the potential of being harsher than quite a few curb bits.  But alot depends upon the length of the shanks, the adjustment of the curbstrap and most of all - the way you use your hands.  I personally prefer a plain curb bit for my horses, but when experimenting with my current Paint mare I find her much more comfy with a shanked snaffle bit I own (not a Tom Thumb, but that type of bit)  She is soft, relaxed and pleasant in that bit, I need very little contact with her mouth and she stays slow and headsets well.  The bit is harsher than the others I have tried, but she seems to have indicated its her preference, and that is more important than what I think is the best forher.

If the horse you bought is mostly ridden in a Tom Thumb, I would probably do my first rides on it with that type of bit.  The horse will adjust to its new home if its tack remains similiar.  Then you can go about trying to find another bit, if you still wish, after you and the horse are truely familiar with each other.

The whole concept with bits is "be as gentle as possible but as forceful as necessary".  If the horse will not obey or respond to a milder bit, than it is not a good match, even if its mild.

Answer 4

I agree with the others on the harshness of the Tom Thumb. It has a nutcracker effect on the jaw and sends confusing signals because of being jointed.

I use a Myler Bit with shanks and a wide medium port for tongue relief. The bit itself is pretty thick so that the pressure is distributed. My horse has no problem listening to it. It also has pivots on the shanks which supports working on flexing left and right.

I'm fairly sure this is my bit: http://mylerbitsusa.com/images/solid_bit...

Avoid anything harsher. If you or a trainer think you need something harsher, make sure they are not just trying to deal with problems in how you are using your aids.

Answer 5

a tom thumb is the mildest(lightest) bit i own!!!

and i have many even some illegals(but i dont use them)

u'd have to be pulling pretty hard to make tht a harsh bit