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Starting Member
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Last Login: 10/28/2009 3:25:53 PM
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| I have a 5 mare year old quarter horse mare that I have been riding and showing for several years. When I broke her, I used a dee-ring snaffle and we stayed in that until she was a 4 year old. I then started riding her in a Tom Thumb snaffle bit, which she has done well in. I sent her to the trainer for a tune-up, and she rode her in a shank snaffle as well. Now, I am trying to find a new bit for showing, and I am not sure what to use. Should I try a curb bit, or keep with the long shank snaffle like I have been? Should I have the same type of bit for show as well as training, or try different bits for those? Also, an experienced friend told me that I should use a shank snaffle for pleasure events and a ring/dee snaffle for speed events like barrel racing. Is this the correct thing to do?
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Senior Member
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First of all, there is actually no such thing as a "shanked snaffle". By definition, a snaffle uses no leverage. People call some curb bits shanked snaffles because the mouthpiece is the same as the snaffle, however, the function is VERY different. Some "shanked snaffles" (including the tom thumb) are very severe and send mixed signals.
So, to get back to your question, I have to ask another question. Does your horse know collection? I don't mean Grand Prix Dressage collection, but a reaward shifting of weight with the back coming up and hind legs stepping well under the horse. Balance is actually a better way to describe it. If your horse is balanced and neck reins well, you could try a different curb. The Jr. Working Cowhorse, Tender Touch, and solid ported s-shank are fairly mild curbs, most horses will like at least one of those. Hwever, if your horse is not balanced, I would work in a snaffle. D-ring, eggbutt, and full cheek with a french link are my preferred snaffles.
I hope this helps, and good luck bitting your horse!
Like a horse in open country, they did not stumble. ~Isaiah 63:13
But ask the animals, and they will teach you ~Job 12:7a
"You don't throw a whole life away, just 'cause it's beat up a little" ~ Tom Smith, Seabiscuit's trainer
Please join the Thoroughbred Owners and Enthusiasts Club if you love Thoroughbreds! www.thoroughbredtalk.webs.com
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Junior Member
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Last Login: 10/16/2009 9:36:15 PM
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Well, in my opinion, you should just ride your horse in whatever it goes good in. Bits is a subject that everyonnneee has an opinion on so you'll probably get lots of different answers =) Although for things like Western Pleasure and whatnot you do have to ride in some sort of shanked bit for most associations (if your horse is over 4 or 5 years old), but other than that you can ride in whatever you want. However, I wouldn't recommend doing speed events in an O-ring or D-ring snaffle. There aren't very many horses that can run and turn at high speeds in that light of a bit without the rider having to crank on their mouth, which in the end creates a hard mouth (or a horse that constantly gapes their mouth against the bit). It's better to just run them in a bit they'll be responsive in INSTANTLY (by this I don't mean a harsh bit or one that scares your horse into responding), and then ride them in an O-ring or D-ring when you're just riding around. For example, when I'm just riding or doing slow work I ride TJ in an S-hackamore, but when I barrel race I use either the Ed Wright Pretzel bit or the Charmayne James low port pretzel bit. For Trax when I'm just riding around I use a D-ring snaffle, but when I barrel race I use the Charmayne James chain bit. Scooter gets ridden in a D-ring snaffle but roped off in some sort of Myler bit (can't remember what it is). Of course, your horse might be one of the exceptions. As long as you start teaching her the events slowly and very gradually introducing speed it will help keep her from getting strong, but in most cases people like to use a something with a little more "oomph" when they're running, just because you're going at a high speed and most horses get carried away with the idea of going fast and may not respond the same in a D-ring snaffle doing barrels as they would just loping around the arena.
Thunder Jam, '99 AQHA gelding || Riata, '04 APHA mare || Scooter, '95 AQHA gelding || Trax, '98 AQHA gelding And I'm Colby =)
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Average Member
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| You are at a loss for switching a once soft-mouthed horse who uses a snaffle to using a harsh harsh harsh Tom Thumb. I'd dump the TT 100%.
    
I'm a violent person. 
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