What do you think of the Tom Thumb bit?

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HashRouge

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I must admit I'm pretty clueless about all the different types of bits - my mare has been in a french link snaffle for about 10 years :p. Anyway, I rode my sister's gelding today as she is away and he is currently ridden in a Tom Thumb with copper rollers (This bit: http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/299/sweetirontomthumbma3.jpg/). I rode him a few days ago in a loose ring snaffle with the same mouth piece and noticed that he tended to overbend quite a lot in it. My sister announced that she preferred the Tom Thumb so returned to that, hence my riding him in it today. I found that he was very light in my hands and required very little contact from me, but also didn't overbend as he had done in the snaffle. This surprised me, as I thought it would be the other way round.
So, the point of this post is, tell me about the Tom Thumb - thoughts, opinions, experiences, for instance, and how is it different to other bits that use poll pressure (which I assume it does :p). Thanks :)
 
I tried this bit for 2 weeks and initially thought it was brilliant as I needed very little contact and my mare worked really nicely in it. But, for some reason it never used to sit straight in her mouth. Even when she was being tacked up it always stuck out more one side than the other (and yes, I did alter the cheekpieces!!). I also found that the grooves at the side of the mouthpiece dug into the corners of her mouth, even though she was ridden with barely any contact; it was fitted properly but the action didn't agree with her.

I don't use it any more, but another girl on the yard has one. She feels she has more control in it when jumping. I'm back in a 2 ring gag for jumping and french link snaffle for dressage. Hope this helps.xx
 
I use one that is a combination of a tom thumb and an american gag - there's a slight difference in the shanks, mainly.
I have to say I love it. My lad has NO mouth and thus NO brakes and used to be prone to leaning heavily on my hands. With this bit he is much lighter and carries his own head now; plus I actually get some steering too!
 
I use this bit for x country as my girl can get quite strong when jumping, she goes lovely in it, she goes back in her wilkie snaffle for hacking and schooling :) x
 
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