What is the difference between a snaffle bit and a tom thumb bit?

Question

My horse has a light mouth, so the trainers at my barn told me i should get a snaffle. I currently am using a tom thumb and when im riding my horse carries his head high and if we canter and i ask him to slow up, he starts to buck. I rode last weekend in the tom thumb with very little contact on his mouth and he was fine, but i wanna take my trainers advice. So basically i want to know the difference between a snaffle and a tom thumb. Thanks.

Also my friend rode my horse before i owned him and she used a snaffle and told me he was fine, and never chomped at the bit, which he does all the time now!

Answer 1

A snaffle bit is any bit that attaches the reins in a direct line with the mouthpiece, or cannons. The mouthpiece is called the fulcrum. So, if when you engage the reins, they make a direct line from the mouthpiece of the bit, through the reins and to your hands, you are using a snaffle bit. The mouthpiece may be any of several varieties, including joined and solid.

A curb bit involves leverage...it has levers that considerably increase the forces applied against the fulcrum (mouthpiece) of the bit. The levers are called the shanks and the purchase. The lever that extends downward from the mouth is called a shank, and the one that extends upward from the mouth (attaches to the bridle cheek) is called the purchase. The total length of that lever determines the amount of multiplied force placed on your horses mouth every time you engage the reins.

In order for a shanked, or curb, bit to function without over-rotating the mouthpiece (fulcrum), a curb chain or strap is required. It stops the rotation when it contacts the horse's chin. It also creates the effect of a vice, as it traps the jaw between it and the mouthpiece of the bit. Leverage may aslo be exerted against the poll, if there is a purchase, or any bar rising above the mouthpiece, even in a snaffle bit, as in a full cheek snaffle with bit keepers, or a hanging cheek snaffle.

A true snaffle, with direct force applied from reins to bit mouthpiece, there is no leverage force on the mouth, and usually none on the poll. All curb bits apply leverage forces to the jaw, mouth tissues, and poll.



A Tom Thumb bit has shanks and purchase, and must be used with a curb chain/strap. It is a horrible bit. It combines a nutcracker effect from the jointed mouthpiece with leverage forces which can multiply the impact on the horse's tissues to an abusive level. And, the fact that so many of those using it don't know that it isn't a true snaffle should be a clue to the degree of education of the hands that are usually in control of the reins using it. It lacks the properties of a decently designed curb bit, which allows advance signaling to prevent engaging leverage, and has no justification in my opinion. It belongs in the trash, or in the American Cowboy Hall of Shame. Don't confuse the cowboy Tom Thumb with the Aussie version...The Aussie bit is actually a snaffle. The American cowboys who invented this version were confused, and thought snaffle meant jointed mouthpiece.....which explains the name. It's time we stopped it from being sold that way and confusing people who are new to horsemanship. Call it what it is...a jointed mouth curb bit....not a "nice little bit" like some think, but a severe bit with little to offer in the way of accomplishing clear signals to our horses.

Answer 2

it could be so many things. It could be the way your riding that he bucked, not necessarily the bit.



Here is a tom thumb. It is a leverage bit used mainly in western riding to perfect certain things like neck reining, stops, spins, and collection. Notice when you pull on it, the chin strap will put pressure on the chin and on the bars of the mouth, and also on the Poll. you actually have leverage on their face.

http://www.mydrafthorse.com/cfwebstore/images/products/tom%20thumb%20snaffle.jpg



It could be a problem with his teeth.



Here is a snaffle.

http://www.horsetackinternational.com/images/245455-loose-ring-bit.jpg



a much simpler bit, used for less advanced riders and horses. It works by a direct pull. This is useful for green horses, and teaching a horse to be soft. It is the first bit a horse is trained in. Later they move into a tom thumb.





Edit - Yes! you got it. This is why.

Say you have a snaffle in and you pull on the right rein. The bit generally puts pressure on the opposite side of the mouth.

However, if you pull on a tom thumb, the bit puts pressure on the same side of the mouth, causing the horse to move away from your rein, (like a neck rein) instead of into the rein, (as with a snaffle). You can see why it would take a little retraining to go in a tom thumb.



Keep him in a snaffle, and do exercises on him that will loosen up his face, so he understands how to give to pressure instead of resisting it. Work on giving his face on each side with as light as you can. Make sure at a walk, he follows his nose. Do it on the ground first, and then from the saddle at a walk, trot, and then at a lope.

Next, teach the horse how to move off your leg with his shoulders, rib cage, and rear. Make sure you can do this at the walk trot and lope. The importance of any exercise is to make the horse as responsive as possible. When your horse starts to feel more responsive to your cues, and really soft in the face, switch him into the tom thumb. Reteach all these exercises. You'll find a whole other horse underneath you.



AWESOME question!!

Answer 3

It sounds like everyone has pretty much covered it except for one key point. The Tom Thumb also puts pressure on the roof of the mouth with will cause many horses to buck, rear, or even in some cases flip.

A snaffle is much, much, much, milder on the horse overall and if used correctly by the rider on a horse that already has a light mouth it's easily all you should need to control him.

Answer 4

Tomb Thumb Bit

Answer 5

Typically horses who have actual pain in the mouth will toss their heads. They don't really buck as a result of pain in the mouth. However they will buck if they are in pain in their back or lower limbs. Maybe slowing down hurts. Since he has high head carriage this is probably his way of trying to avoid the pain.

Answer 6

Could it be too tight? The bit should make the horses mouth "smile" not by a lot though and have 2-3 rings following it. The bit might be right just check how tight it is. Also be sure to make sure his tongue is UNDER the bit! That could be a HUGE contributor to him bucking! Double and triple check to make sure his bit is right and above his tongue!

Answer 7

A Tom Thumb has shanks. A snaffle does not.