[Laffee Taffee]

I was rummaging through my boyfriend's mom's barn and found a Tom Thumb bit, and just for the heck of it, tried it on Mikey and not only did he stop fighting the bit like 99% of the time, he brought his head in and collected himself. I was even able to back him up without him acting like he was choking!! It was so awesome to finally work him properly in a bit!

I haven't had any experience with these types of bits, so I'm not exactly sure about the mechanics of it or how to use it. I don't want to run him through this bit too fast and have him go back to the way he was with the other bits. How should you use a Tom Thumb bit, and how can I introduce it softly to him?

[GottaRide]

The best way to use a Tom Thumb bit is to melt it down & make a wind chime out of it. Seriously, it is one of the worst bits that you can put in the horse's mouth. It is poorly designed & even more poorly - and widely - mis-used. If there are problems with your horse's training, it's better to go back to square one & start things over with a snaffle bit. He needs to re-learn things, as do you most probably. I don't know for sure without seeing you both in actions, but that would be my bet.

[MysticRealm]

Ya I imagine he was evading by sucking his head and neck in. I have brought my old show horse down from a pelham to a snaffle though hard work and proper schooling and he has never gone so well. I also am making sure to keep my new green horse in a snaffle through correct and proper training.

[paintlver]

Originally Posted by GottaRide

The best way to use a Tom Thumb bit is to melt it down & make a wind chime out of it. Seriously, it is one of the worst bits that you can put in the horse's mouth. It is poorly designed & even more poorly - and widely - mis-used. If there are problems with your horse's training, it's better to go back to square one & start things over with a snaffle bit. He needs to re-learn things, as do you most probably. I don't know for sure without seeing you both in actions, but that would be my bet.

Okay you made my laugh.....that is so cute.....And I agree Tom thumb's are horrible bits.

[Sheza_Angel]

Tom Thumbs make good decorations on the wall of shame, IMHO. There are people who love them that I have known and people who have sworn against them as well. Personally, my horse wouldn't have gone in it if the best rider on the planet had been riding that day. I have never seen a horse hate a bit so much in all my life. Snaffles are a good way to go, can't agree more with Mystic Realm.

[Dawn]

Were you direct reining? Or neck reining?

I do agree with this post though. Couldn't have said it better.

The best way to use a Tom Thumb bit is to melt it down & make a wind chime out of it. Seriously, it is one of the worst bits that you can put in the horse's mouth. It is poorly designed & even more poorly - and widely - mis-used. If there are problems with your horse's training, it's better to go back to square one & start things over with a snaffle bit. He needs to re-learn things, as do you most probably. I don't know for sure without seeing you both in actions, but that would be my bet.

Used 'properly' they're just not well made bits. Used improperly (as they so often are due to misconceptions and bad marketing), they're horrible bits.

[jumper_pie]

i like tom thumbs for training, i see that everyone dislikes them but i dont, my horse likes it alot. we started out training him in a snaffle and he would try to evade it, so we switched to a tom thumb and he did great! i still ride in one at western shows but i mainly use a snaffle now. if your horse likes it and is doing better in it, then keep it i say. cant say much on how to use it, im not that good at explaining that sort of stuff :S

[Auzzie Honey]

Agreed .. melt it down .. melt them all down!!!

They are not nice bits. They pinch, are stupidily designed and are just not nice in general.

[MedoraCowgirl]

I used a Tom Thumb for many a years, and loved it. My horses collected themselves, responded, understood and all around worked better in my Tom Thumb than any other bit I had. I started them in a snaffle and moved them up to it. I don't see why people smash it so much, and then a LOT of the time they use even worse bits. But as far as using it, I always direct reined, even though it was a leverage bit. It helped keep their mouths soft. I felt like I had to haul on the reins to neck rein. I used A TON softer movements then before. Mainly stay soft in your hands, don't get excited when you are getting up there in speed and just enjoy that new responsiveness.

[Huntseat]

Your horse having his head down and his nose in does NOT mean that he is collected, happy, or soft - most likely, quite the opposite. They are terrible bits and you couldn't pay me to use one. They should NEVER, EVER, EVER be direct reined in. The western pleasure bit I use has shanks like a Tom Thumb, but a double jointed mouthpiece so there is no nutcracker action.