Tom Thumb Bit

[Harlequin32]

has been recommended to me with copper rollers, They look a bit harsh to me although the copper sounds good- what does anyone else think?

 

[star*]

They are very harsh - do not like them at all. I would try others first.

 

[Harlequin32]

tom thumb

Thanks for that, I thought so too but have absolutely no experience of them.
good to know.

 

[Snow_Pony]

They are only as harsh as the riders hands

xxx

 

[crazyhorse97]

I have used one with rollers on a chunky pony who bit down on most bits and I was king of 'reschooling' in a sense. I only used the ottom ring a couple of time, but it didnt seem to harsh to me, the middle ring is almost identical to a hanging cheek. If your horse likes it, then its worth a try. as Snow_Pony said, a bit is only as harsh as the riders' hands!!!

xxx

 

[star*]

They are only as harsh as the riders hands

xxx

Obviously, but they don't fit allot of horses mouth conformations and I know riders with really quiet hands and they have done allot of damage to the horses mouth! I really dislike them and will never ever use one. There are plenty other bits that have the 'harshness' of this but dosn't do the damage this one does.

 

[8-legged-pony]

Interesting article:

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

Kind of explains why the action of the tom thumb doesn't suit lots of horses, and why it can be a harsh bit. I would personally steer clear.

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

I use one of these bits with my pony and he loves it!
I dont find it harsh in any way!! Like two of you said its just as harsh as the riders hands are.
I would recommend it highly!!

 

[horse__obsessed]

i know several people who have used it and all their horses were fab in it. none of them had problems.

it has similiar action to a dutch gag but the mouthpiece is actually kinder as the sweet iron is "softer" and the copper encourage mouthing *i think*

 

[cloudandmatrix]

the article is about the american one- completly different to english!