Bit Information (Curb and Western type bits and hackamores)

Jenn, that could be a big part of the problem. My dad had an old bit that looked exactly like the one that I posted that I was looking at one day. It had been used for so long that the copper of the barrel was beginning to wear and was bent in a place or two and I put it on my finger and it pinched the crap out of me too.

Thanks, this settles the argument I have with a friend. She says she does not believe in using bits, she rides naturally, yet she uses a mechanical hackamore. I am currently using a full cheek snaffle, to work on my girls stopping issues, but she does fine in a halter or sidepull hackamore. I mistakingly used a tom thumb on her when I first started and another friend almost had a heart attack. Now I'm on the right track I think, is there any advise you can give me on stopping issues, going is not a problem unless it's something scary or a male horse (stallion or gelding, she ain't picky).

I just thought I would point out that if someone says they are riding in a tom thumb then you need to find out if they are riding in an english bit or a western bit.

In an ennglish bit a tomthumb pelham is actualy a fairly mild pelham in that the shanks are less then 2 inches long! Where as in western I believe that it is a fairly harsh bit

I have an 8 yr old welsh pony/quater horse & a 10 yr old paint/quater horse. I was looking for a bit that offered a little more control when needed but was still genital. I've been using a hackamore on the pony mix since I started working with him, he does quite well. Now the paint has had a snaffle with about 6" shanks and he still fights it every so often, normally very good a neck reining but when it comes to corrections of stopping he tends to fight. I was wondering about trying a hackamore combo bit on him but not now. Thanks, any suggestions would be great, I'm thinking of trying the loose shanks on him?

Stupid question..... can you add a noseband to a bit?

Well Excuse Me! I have only ever used a small number of bits and don't know about every piece of tack that exists in the world that's why I asked for advise! So, thanks for your advise to a STUPID QUESTION!

Wth?! That was my question.. I didnt even read your post. I was asking if you can put a noseband on a bit. Had NOTHING to do with you.

I think Sissy was reffering to her question being "stupid", not yours roguepaint29.

Anyway, I'm tucking this thread away so I can read it later. I skimmed it, and the information looks easy to understand and educational. (As I am "tack challenged".)
Thanks smrobs for posting this very informative thread.

Lol thank you. I did the same thing, I love this thread.

I had a chance to read through you article...and as I predicted, it was very informative, as well as thurough. (I also thought JustDressageIt's article on snaffles was equally amazing.) I only have two questions:

1. As I was looking at the pictures you posted, I noticed some of the bits had additional rings on them (as the pictures quoted above). On the first picture, I'm assuming that the rings next to the omouthpiece are for the chinstrap? In the second, I'm not sure. Could you tell me what the extra rings are for?

2. I know your goal with this thread was to educate, so I don't think you would mind. But could I print out your article for reference in case the entire internet suddenly stopped working for some reason? (I don't think it would happen, but you never know)

Thanks Again!