Choosing bits

[mamaflinter]

What are the advantages of using a snaffle over a tom thumb? What advantage are either of these over a bosal or hackamore? For those of us new to horses, we'd really like to know.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but a hackamore is like a bosal and no bit at all?

[Redclub]

A hackamore does not go in the mouth but on the ouside. I like a snaffle with a large D ring with a split bit. This is an easy bit on the horse and gives you good rein control. A tom Thumb puts pressure on a different part of the horses mouth and tongue Horses can fight them but they give good control. I would only use a snaffle however I am not an expert, not even close, but I am not afraid of them, so I can do quite a few things on a horse. When I was a little guy My Dad and I were walking through a field and 2 large horses came running at us ,I said Dad don,t you think we should go on the other side of the fence. He said Don't ever be afraid of a horse They can sense that. The horses ran right past us and up to the barn. These were big logging horses and we were deer hunting. That was 53 years ago. A lesson I never forgot.
Red Club

[shootersix]

Hi There
Well I am not an expert ether, but on our stangs we are using a side pull and a hacamore(sp). From I have read thought ,most experts say a mild snafle is best if you need a bit. There are others depending on what you want your horse to do. We ride for the fun of it and wanted our horses to yield. So we went as mild as we could go( I think). We are still working with them, and having a ball.

[mamaflinter]

I appreciate both of your answers but am still clueless. If a person wants to pleasure ride, what would you choose and why?

Also I still don't know what the difference is in the style of bits aside from the obvious physical differences. I haven't a clue why one type is chosen over the other.

[bwaddy]

A "bit" is used to control the horse. Depending on the riding style, and disposition of the horse, determines the bit.

A Hackamore is usually used on a well seasoned horse that may have a mouth injury. You can still exercise the horse, without aggravating his/her mouth.

A Tom Thumb bit is like a snaffle. It was generally used in Western training, between the use of a snaffle and a curb bit. IMHO.... Stay away from this bit. Because of the different places that it puts pressure on the horse, it can confuse both the horse and rider! ;D

Snaffle bits are used on most horses. They are either straight or split, and have rings at each end. When you pull on the reins, this causes a pressure/pinching action on the side of the bit.

Unjointed Snaffle: Use on young untrained horses. This gets them use to having a piece of metal in their mouth.

Eggbutt Snaffle: This split bit has fixed rings. This keeps the rings from pinching the horses lips.

Plain Snaffle: This is a split bit with rings on each end.

D-Ring Snaffle: The ends of the "D" put more of a pinch on the lips than the Eggbutt or Plain snaffle.

Twisted Snaffle: The bit is jointed, and twisted. "A little goes a long way". In other words, for professional riders/trainers only.

Then there is the good ol' fashioned Curb Bit.It is a solid bar that has a verticle bar on each end of the bit, with rings at the top and bottom. The upper rings are held by the bridle, and the reins are attached to the lower. When you pull on the reins, it causes the head of the horse to lower, and go to the direction pulled. The mouth-bit is either straight, or has a hump in the middle. The later is called a Grazing Curb Bit. (My favorite)

Ok.... If you have a "Green" horse, use a Unjointed Snaffle. Maybe even a rubber coated one. If the horse is semi-used to a bit, use an Eggbutt, or a Plain jointed snaffle. (Eggbutt is easier on the mouth) If the horse has no problems with a bit, use a Grazing Curb Bit. They're easy to install ;D, and very easy to use. BUT.... Some horseeees don't like there head pulled down, and will result in a buck!

MOST IMPORTANT!!! Make sure the bit is properly sized! The rings don't go in their mouth, and they don't hang on the ground!

Now I must go back to bed! ;D ;D ;D ;D

Bret

[Douglas Blair]

Bret, I glad to finally see you over here. I know you have a lot of knowledge about horses and the tack which goes with them. Keep up the good work.

[bwaddy]

Thanks, Doug. I hope my above post helps Mamaflinter. Tack can be confusing, and expensive. When looking at bits a simple approach is, "Would you want that in your mouth for extended periods?" That not only applys to the type of bit, but the condition of the bit. I wouldn't want a bit caked with grass in my mouth, and I wouldn't want a mouth full of metal polish! But a bit coated in molasses...... Mmmm! A horse will usually suck that bit right in!

Bret

[mamaflinter]

BWaddy Um I'm still a bit confused but not nearly as much as before.

Let me ask you something. How difficult would it be to teach a horse to ride in a hackamore (sp?)?

It's real simple, I want to pleasure ride and trails. Later on I might get into some shows but that's gonna be a while off.

Now I've seen the plain snaffle and the d-ring snaffle. We've got 2 bridles and each has different type of bit. One is we are told a Tom Thumb that uses a chain curb thing underneath the horses chin. The other one is a snaffle. For someone who is just beginning rider, which would you suggest?

[bwaddy]

It's more dependant on the horse, than the rider. It's also the style of riding you are doing. If a horse is used to something, and you change it, all you are doing is confusing the animal. If you have a aggressive horse, he may need more influence to turn or stop. If you have a laid back horse, you can just use a head collar. Has the horse been riden before? If so, what bit did they use? A "Tom Thumb", in my opinion, is a no-no. I've seen horses get pretty upset over this style of bit. They have to be set up perfectly, and used with experience. Stay with the snaffle. You can get a Egg Butt or a D-Ring snaffle at places like Tractor Supply for about 20-25 bucks. I think they have both 4-1/2" and 5".

There are two kinds of a Hackamore setup. A Hackamore uses just the nose strap. A Hackamore Bit uses a nose strap, chin strap, and a straight bit. Sounds confusing? That's what the horse thinks!

The simple thing is the best thing, if the horse responds well to it. Just put the bit in, adjust everything, lead the horse around for a bit, and then take it for a ride! Does the horse respond well? Does it seem to be fighting back? It's trial and error. Tack is like options on a car. How much do you want to pay? Do you want to impress the neighbors? Do you want to race, or just cruise? Is all that crap really worth it?

If the horse is happy, you will be happy!

Bret

[mamaflinter]

Here's the deal. We bought 3 horses last month (7 yr. old mare, 6 yr. old gelding and the mare's weaned filly). Both the mare and gelding were said to be ridden. The person we bought them from had not ridden them. As far as I can trace we are the 4th owners I know of. The first owners were the ones to ride them. My kids have ridden them at a walk bareback. I don't know who the first owners are nor what type tack they used.

[JoeN]

That is alot of owners for horses that young.Do they know what whoa means ? When I look at a horse to buy if I dont see it ridden and then rode by myself I dont call it ridable. Sence your kids hsve rode bareback on them they obviously know something about being ridden so saddle up and have fun.

[mamaflinter]

Yes but now we have another fly in the ointment so to speak. The filly was once again reintroduced to the mare and gelding. The filly is the problem and the reason the mare and gelding were acting strangely.

Look at the other thread (beaufitul day for riding) and you'll see the mare with the kids.