Bit Switch

HI everyone, ://\\

I planned on using Buck this year for the Equestrian Team and Fair,

He is 6 and I was wondering how to get him to go from a Chris Cox bit to a Tom Thumb or a Curb.

He has a very sensitive mouth and dosen't like presure. He listens great in the Cox bit, and I wish I didn't have to switch.

I rode him in a curb and he hated it he bunched up and was not happy so I took it out and rode him in a rope halter. And he was fine!!

Both of my horses have bit trouble!!!!:confused:

Any tips would help greatly!!

Brianna B and Buck

i wish i could have advise for you outside a snaffle however I do know from a lot of research on the tom thumb bits and they are very hard on your horses mouth and I personally would never recommend for anyone to use them *scratches head* i think there is a longggg post about that ..hehe....ohhh please lets not get into a bit fight (baaahaaa that sounded funny) on bits again ok EE *hides under table*

I do not know anything about Western Bits. But why not just go to a nice Double Jointed Snaffle?

I found this article on the Tom Thumb quite interesting:

http://www.todayshorse.com/Articles/TroublewithTomThumb.htm (http://www.todayshorse.com/Articles/TroublewithTomThumb.htm)

OOOO something I can help with! awesome! ok, anyway, If you have to show in a curb then there is no avoiding it. Keep in mind any bith with shanks is a curb. It is NOT a snaffle.

A tom thumb, Im assuming you mean this
http://www.nrvss.com/images/tom-thumb-bit.jpg

notice the straight shanks? No curve at all? THAT is a tom thumb, if the shanks are curved then it is not a tom thub no matter what the label says. Now this is the english version of the tomthumb, there is an AU version that IS literally a snaffle, but lets not get into technicalities.

Now, you want a relativly easy curb bit for your horse correct? The types of curbs.

Port Curb
http://www.rods.com/eccStoreFront/product_images/Tack/255351_R.jpg

Broken Curb/Single Joint Curb. now keep in mind, no matter what anyone says or what the abel says this is NOT a snaffle
http://www.western-horse-outfitter.de/images/medium/310.1004.jpg

dog-bone bit/3 piece curb
http://i20.ebayimg.com/07/i/000/8c/e8/fe01_1.JPG


Spade bit
http://i8.ebayimg.com/03/i/04/32/65/98_1_b.JPG

cathedral bit
http://www.rods.com/eccStoreFront/product_images/Showbook07/263102_R.jpg

Now ignore the spade and the cathedral, Those are not for you, they are for very advanced horses and riders.

Now you would want something like the dogbone bit, Short shanked, with either copper or sweet iron. It is a very nice easy transition curb, check the rules though too see what kind of metles are allowed. if your horse doesnt like the breat I would go for a LOW port curb. Some horses like it because of the solid feel on their tounge

First of all (not to sound insulting or anything), you DO know how to ride in a curb, correct? You've been trained properly in Western and your horse can go easily on a LONG rein? The only reason I ask is because your horses DO have such sensitive mouths but you shouldn't have any direct contact with their mouths anyways on a continual basis. Some people have trouble transitioning from english to western because you have to have the reins so much LOOSER but I don't know what your riding background is.

you know EQU, I forgot to mention that! XD

HI

My Uncle married Rachel, who had horses, we rode at her house before they got married.
In December of 04 she bought Bo and Daisy from an Auction. But she worked at the barn.
So that summer I got to ride Daisy a little. I had to trot a long time before I could lope.

Last spring I started working for a trainer baby sitting and helping with the horses. Then she would bring me home and give me a lesson. But they were in saddle seat.

I had a couple in western. Which I prefer, but I had a saddle seat breed.

I'm hopeing that I can work for the trainer again this year.

Buck lets me know when they are to tight. He puts his head down and I loosen up.
And Bo is rode in a curb, and I ride him.

Brianna B and Buck

Ah, But that really doesnt say much.

For instance, does he neck rein or move off seat cues? There are actually some horses in a curb who cannot neck rein, which is not good because you should NEVER direct rein with a curb.

No not really.
He was started really late. My aunt boutht him during cow camp during labor day weekend.
And he was 6 and started at 5.
I guess I can't expect too much from Him this year.

Brianna B

If he doesnt neck rein or move off seat cues, then forget about the curb for now and work on him with the snaffle. or bosal. teach him to work of neck reining and seat cues then ask about a bit switch.