Tom Thumb Bit?

Sure, but dosen't make it right.

Going back to the basics may not cure everything everytime, but a good going back to the basics CAN help a lot better than shoving another poor bit in your horse's mouth.

Rio, not all curbs are the same. The TT is straight shanked and rather unbalanced, that is really what makes it a poor bit, not that it is a curb.

This is the curb I use and it's very far from a TT:

Umm, ya. I was not talking at all about a curb bit, I don't mind the curb at all. If you looked at the OP you'd see that we are talking about the TOM THUMB bit. Which is a snaffle bit with a curb shank and chain and has either solid or swivel cheeks(you know like Kevinshorses said, a snaffle mouth curb).

And ya, umm you can fix any problem if you go back to the root of it, the beginning of the training of the animal. At least that is the logical(and ethical, and responsible, and intelligent...) thing to do rather than using such an aggressive and confusing bit. And thank you Sunny06....

I agree that any problem can be fixed by going backwards in training instead of just making matters worse down the road.

The definition of a snaffle bit is ANY bit where the reins come directly off the mouthpiece, no leverage, a straight pull rein to mouth.

The definition of a curb bit is ANY bit that uses mechanical advantage. Meaning the reins come off below the mouth piece and the shanks give you a mechanical advantage.

'The mouthpiece has nothing whatever to do with curb or snaffle.

Using those definitions the TT falls into the catagorie of CURB.

You can NOT have a snaffle type curb bit. They can be in the same bit depending on where the reins or multiple reins are attached.

A curb is a curb with a certain mouthpiece as is a snaffle a snaffle with a certain mouthpiece.

Can't argue the balance thing but the TT falls under the curb bit. It can use a curb chain, it has mechanical advantage. AGain I don't know about balance. What is wrong with straight shanks??
Your bit has about a 3 to 1 multiplier. The TT has about 2 to 1 mulitplier.
Again a bit is only as harsh as the rider's hands.

We aren't necessarily saying it's harsh, but incredibly unbalanced.

Ugh Riosdad, had no idea you were sooo passionate about proper definitions. I will acquiesce, I worded wrongly. You are correct. It is a curb type bit with a snaffle type(or broken if that makes you happy) mouth piece. Now that we sorted that out everyone can sleep more soundly knowing exactly what the correct definition for the curb and snaffle and Tom Thumb bits are. Thank You, you illuminated my day!

Riosdad, the first poster (not the op) that posted the pic was from Australia. That snaffle is what they call a Tom Thumb. That's why iridehorses was asking if it was a European or American tom thumb

Hmmm thanks eventerdrew, I was like ???? When I saw that bit, didnt realize they have a different deffinition for the TT in asutralia...learn something new every day!