Which bit to use?

I am certainly no bit guru, for sure. I pretty much do as my trainer says. My guy transitioned into a correction bit as soon as he was neck reining. I really love it. This is what we are riding him in....they are available from other places, I guess....I just love the balance of these, and to me the jointed mouth allows me to pick up a dropped shoulder, etc, whereas a one piece curb I don't think does. Must not bee too harsh, since this horse was ridden with out ANY bit until last fall.....

https://www.pards.com/products/productid/3763

First off - Rick Gore? Oh god, I think the forum has seen enough of him around here.....That tom thumb video just drives me INSANE. The TT is a poorly designe bit an isn't very nice, but it is FAR from the "worst bit around"

I would not jump to a port or a correction mouthpiece right away. I would get something with a barrel, like I said earlier with the billy allens or perhaps a Myler. They are quiet, and it allows the horse to have similar action while getting used to the leverage as well as a solid mouthpiece. However, you still have lateral flexion with the barrel joint.

I know, xD sorry about the Rick Gore-ness, but what he has to say factually is correct. You just have to laugh at his rhetoric... Anyway, what I meant to put out there was that a tom thumb is not a good "transition" bit for a horse coming off the snaffle into the curb. Cheers!

Myler Bits has a wonderful book with lots of really good information. They all help you with the step process -- which bit to start with and which bit to move to next.

No Tom thumb, Craig Darnell bits are great

Sweet iron is supposed to rust. It does not mean you need a new one.

I feel like it totally defeats the purpose of the swivle shanks, no? The one I'm riding in now if rusted over and one shank is straight and the other is at a 30 degree angle. Lol. I usually stretch replacing it to yearly by drying the bit off after almost every use but hell, at $20 replacing it yearly shouldn't be a big deal if you own horses. ;o)
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