Bit Help

Hoosier Jumper · 10-22-2009, 06:36 PM

Hey all you western pleasure and barrel people out their!! I have rescently started working with my new mare after my gelding suffered a stiffle injury. I love this mare to death and she's very verstile when she wants to be. Her mouth is super soft and does perfect in an o ring myler. The problem is when I have been working her western pleasure I can not find a bit that she likes. She constantly mouths the tom thumb with the slightest bit of pressure or if i'm not even touching her mouth and the argtina snaffle you don't want to eve put near her mouth she throws her head locks up and won't work for you!! I use a tom thumb to barrel race but I wana switch to something light with control and that has nose pressure too and for western pleasure I want something that is nice a soft but won't annoy my mare...any suggestions? Oh she's part arab if that helps too

Adaansmom · 10-23-2009, 08:02 PM

My arab was soft in the mouth and did the absolute best with a low port kimberwick. My current mare does better in that than a snaffle, but she doesn't seem to like a bit at all. Gonna try her in a hack, but if I were you I would try the kimberwick. The Tom Thumb can be very severe.

CaitlynH · 10-23-2009, 11:25 PM

I reccommend this bit: http://www.bitsnmore.com/images/cata...read/R342b.jpg

It is actually super soft on a horses mouth since it conforms to their mouth. The shanks are also so short that it's east to school lateral flexion in as well.

Why did you want nose pressure? Is it because she avoids the bit? I think you'll have pretty good luck with this bit since your mare is so soft mouthed.

I don't know what type of bit requirements there are for western pleasure so I can't help you there but I do think this is a light bit that she won't be avoiding.

Hoosier Jumper · 10-24-2009, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adaansmom

My arab was soft in the mouth and did the absolute best with a low port kimberwick. My current mare does better in that than a snaffle, but she doesn't seem to like a bit at all. Gonna try her in a hack, but if I were you I would try the kimberwick. The Tom Thumb can be very severe.

For western pleasure? CaitlynH I wanted nose pressure maybe to lay off her mouth a bit...but if i could get a light hackmore/bit for gaming then that would be awesome!

Huntseat · 10-24-2009, 06:41 AM

I'd stay far, far away from a tom thumb! They're NOT good bits to use, there are a whole bunch of reasons why.

Here's a GREAT website, check this out! Lots of good information (for any horse).
http://www.todayshorse.com/Articles/...thTomThumb.htm

For gaming, I run Melody in an english hackamore - she's AWESOME in it. YOu know how soft her mouth is, and when I put a bit (any bit) on her, it locks her up and she won't give me all of her speed. It might be worth a try? http://www.horsetackinternational.co...-hackamore.jpg
Stay away from anything twisted or extremely thin, and I'd be very cautious of many of the combination/gag/noseband bits as well. For western, if she already goes very nicely in a snaffle and won't deal with the argentina bit (Where are your reins connected to it?) I might try a bit like this, with or without the roller. http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...ed=0CCUQ9QEwCA

PinkHorse · 10-24-2009, 08:05 AM

Without seeing her, it sounds like your horse is objecting strongly to any kind of nutcracker action. For WP, I'd probably try her in a broad port similar to this:

or

It will take some playing around to figure out what she's going to like best. Some horses like a "bendy, twisty" bit while others prefer something more solid & stable in their mouth.

The bit CaitlynH recommended is NOT a good choice. Yes it conforms to their mouth but it's also illegal under any set of rules I can think of. It's a chain mouthpiece gag. I'm not afraid to use a "bigger" bit on horses when the situation calls for it but I can't imagine putting that in any horse's mouth.

Hoosier Jumper · 10-25-2009, 06:19 PM

Mar (sorry still can't spell you name haha :]) Thanks a bunch!! I'll try her in a english hackmore love the website though! I never knew that much about tom thumbs. As for the bit i'll look at Tony's or TSC and tell you what Velvet thought of it..hehe she's such a little screw ball but I love her. She honsetly loves to work but she hates when I touch her mouth with a shank.

PinkHorse-Thanks for the bit suggestions.. nutcracker action i'm guessing is?? I have no guess but she really is a very very touchy horse even with leg pressure. You don't have to use alot/any to get her to move it's extremely nice almost 100% of the time!

Lopinslow · 10-26-2009, 07:03 AM

Well, IMPO the Tom thumb is probably a LOT of your problem! personally, i think the only good place for one is in the trash!

I like the following for a first shanked bit. It has short swept back shanks AND won't collapse on their jaw. it is VERY mild
http://www.statelinetack.com/item/an...bit/SLT735563/

10-22-2009, 06:36 PM	#1
Hoosier Jumper Full Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 162	Bit Help Hey all you western pleasure and barrel people out their!! I have rescently started working with my new mare after my gelding suffered a stiffle injury. I love this mare to death and she's very verstile when she wants to be. Her mouth is super soft and does perfect in an o ring myler. The problem is when I have been working her western pleasure I can not find a bit that she likes. She constantly mouths the tom thumb with the slightest bit of pressure or if i'm not even touching her mouth and the argtina snaffle you don't want to eve put near her mouth she throws her head locks up and won't work for you!! I use a tom thumb to barrel race but I wana switch to something light with control and that has nose pressure too and for western pleasure I want something that is nice a soft but won't annoy my mare...any suggestions? Oh she's part arab if that helps too __________________ If I did not have my horses, I would not have a life.

10-25-2009, 06:19 PM	#7
Hoosier Jumper Full Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 162	Mar (sorry still can't spell you name haha :]) Thanks a bunch!! I'll try her in a english hackmore love the website though! I never knew that much about tom thumbs. As for the bit i'll look at Tony's or TSC and tell you what Velvet thought of it..hehe she's such a little screw ball but I love her. She honsetly loves to work but she hates when I touch her mouth with a shank. PinkHorse-Thanks for the bit suggestions.. nutcracker action i'm guessing is?? I have no guess but she really is a very very touchy horse even with leg pressure. You don't have to use alot/any to get her to move it's extremely nice almost 100% of the time! __________________ If I did not have my horses, I would not have a life.

10-26-2009, 07:03 AM	#8
Lopinslow Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: MN Posts: 2,256 Images: 51	Well, IMPO the Tom thumb is probably a LOT of your problem! personally, i think the only good place for one is in the trash! I like the following for a first shanked bit. It has short swept back shanks AND won't collapse on their jaw. it is VERY mild http://www.statelinetack.com/item/an...bit/SLT735563/ __________________ Quality AQHA Western Pleasure Horses The Naughty Version, Goallthewaymay & Unzipped n Naughty

10-23-2009, 08:02 PM	#2
Adaansmom Full Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: McDonough, GA Posts: 126 Images: 29	My arab was soft in the mouth and did the absolute best with a low port kimberwick. My current mare does better in that than a snaffle, but she doesn't seem to like a bit at all. Gonna try her in a hack, but if I were you I would try the kimberwick. The Tom Thumb can be very severe.

10-23-2009, 11:25 PM	#3
CaitlynH Full Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 127	I reccommend this bit: http://www.bitsnmore.com/images/cata...read/R342b.jpg It is actually super soft on a horses mouth since it conforms to their mouth. The shanks are also so short that it's east to school lateral flexion in as well. Why did you want nose pressure? Is it because she avoids the bit? I think you'll have pretty good luck with this bit since your mare is so soft mouthed. I don't know what type of bit requirements there are for western pleasure so I can't help you there but I do think this is a light bit that she won't be avoiding.

10-24-2009, 08:05 AM	#6
PinkHorse Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: My Desk Posts: 1,020 Images: 50	Without seeing her, it sounds like your horse is objecting strongly to any kind of nutcracker action. For WP, I'd probably try her in a broad port similar to this: or It will take some playing around to figure out what she's going to like best. Some horses like a "bendy, twisty" bit while others prefer something more solid & stable in their mouth. The bit CaitlynH recommended is NOT a good choice. Yes it conforms to their mouth but it's also illegal under any set of rules I can think of. It's a chain mouthpiece gag. I'm not afraid to use a "bigger" bit on horses when the situation calls for it but I can't imagine putting that in any horse's mouth.