Viewing a horse in a strong bit

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Lowen Ki

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Afternoon chapettes,

I wondered how you'd all feel if you went to view a horse and they rode her in a tom thumb bit?

Would you be concerned? What sort of action does it have and why would somebody need one on their horse?

I've never come across a horse with one before!

Thanks for your advice :)
 
Did you like the feel off the Horse?

Different bits work best for different Horses. My friends Horse is very strong in snaffle, but works nicely in a gag, his a very safe Horse but he works nicest in a gag.

Can't help with how the Tom thumb helps though as I've had no experience with this bit
 
All depends on what you want to do.
Obviously if you are looking for something to do dressage on and they only go well in a tom thumb bit then it would not be the horse for you.
But you would be suprised how many horses will go in a snaffle if you find the right mouthpiece. My mare when I tried her, her advert pics were of her in a gag on the middle hole and I tried her in a hanging cheek.
She now goes better in a NS Verbindend then she ever did in the gag or hanging cheek.
 
When i went to try my boy he was in a myler, he now works lovely in a snaffle, we jump him in a tomb thumb mainly as hes strong and my mum is tiny it works like a gag but he likes the sweet iron. It wouldnt put me off if you like the horse if you liked its movement and is going to do what you wanted it to do. good luck
 
A TT encourages the head down and is sweet iron which helps the horse accept the bit. It has leverage so works on the pole of the horse.

Most also have copper rings in the middle which also help the horse accept the bit and makes it harder for them to take hold of it.


A strong bit wouldn't put me off a horse as most things can be trained out. TBH I'd rather see a horse in a strong bit and little aids being given rather than someone hauling in a snaffle.
 
Have you tried the horse in his bit?
And have you asked the owner why they choose to ride her in this particular bit?
 
Personally, I would try to get the horse out of a Tom Thumb asap if you decide to go with it. it obviously depends a huge amount on the rider. Maybe the current rider feels more confident in that bit and you may not need to rely on such a harsh mouthpiece.
 
Did you ask the owner why he was in that bit and whether they have tried him in anything else?

It wouldn't bother me at all, but I would rather see a horse ridden with a light rein in a stronger bit rather than being hauled around in a snaffle if the current owner finds the horse strong.
 
when i viewed mine, he was in a 3 ring single jointed dutch gag on the bottom ring. went beautifully in it, but as i wanted to do dressage with him i trialled quite a few other bits before settling on a NS loose ring with centre lozenge. I asked why he was in the gag, she said they'd tried everything but it was the only thing she could hold him in and that he was really strong.... have had no problems in the snaffle, lovely and soft in it, and less poll tension than when schooling in the gag.

i dont think the type of bit a horse was ridden in would put me off - agree with millitiger, would rather see a 'strong' bit working with a soft mouth and light hands, than a battle of wills between a 'mild' bit and heavy hands.

trial and error. took me a long time to find something he liked and that we both clicked with - thank goodness for bitbank!
 
it would not put me off at all (unless the horse was described as "not strong" or similar!) i have just started using a 4 ring gag and coco is going great in it but i dont intend in her wearing it forever, i think after some schooling she will be back in her snaffle but atm this is what works best.
 
I have been in this situation - tried a lovely mare and she was wearing a pelham, I wanted to do dressage so obviously this wasn't going to work for me. I tried her a second time and requested that the owners put her in a snaffle, which they did and she went really well in it
 
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