Ok I'm all for using the mildest bit possible & I have extremely light hands. But I have a problem. I bought a fresh-off-the-track thoroughbred a few years ago that raced in a true snaffle, but when I purchased her, the trainer suggested I transition her to pleasure riding with a tom thumb. She does marvelous in a tom thumb. Responds with a feather-lite touch. After many months, I tried a snaffle. No control. She wants to run right through it. I'm not sure what to do.
Hey Rick, any tips on how to convince a parent that bits are cruel? My dad thinks he knows more about horses that anyone & won't let me ride unless I'm using a bit. I can tell my gelding hates his bit, & seems to ride better in his halter, but dad doesn't get it..
Thank you so much I only ever use a D snaffle but and have been asking what are the bad bits and no one can tell me, I would never ride a horse with a cruel bit in this video is 100% liked by me
I feel guilty now! I use a curb bit with my gelding, no one ever told me otherwise, and I never realized how harsh the bit was. :( With my new horse this summer it's going to be snaffle or less. No more curb!!
Thank. You. Thank you SO much for this! The mare I grew up on was trained in a tom thumb, and because of that, she can no longer be ridden with any form of broken bit what-so-ever. I am absolutely loving these videos. I have never found someone with an opinion bang on with mine. Kudos to you sir, and I can tell I'll be showing this video to a few people :)
Question- Since you feel its best to go in a rope halter, then how would you go about a show horse? If the horse was only rode in a rope halter, then sold to a show home, dont you think that could cause problems? Now, i wont say i know a lot about bits- i dont. I use a tom thumb when i ride western- not often. Other wise its a snaffle or a halter. IMO i think twisted bits are horrible- they did more damange to my mares mouth than a tom thumb ever has. My mare became hard, now shes soft again.
Hi, I'm a 13year old beginner who has only been riding for a few months now. We were thinking on leasing an older, broke horse and was wandering if I should use a bit-less bridle or not. Thank you!
I have a mare and I ride almost every day but there are almost no saddles that fit anyways I do show man ship with no halter and she loves it because she likes attention and I agree that bits are evil too.
its all very well telling people they shouldnt use a bit and i agree there are often other kinder methods.However a bit can be as cruel or kind as the hands that hold it same as a halter, if a horse is started and trained properly with a bitless bridle/ halter etc then it is a better way forward but not every body has a horse started in a halter or the knowledge to retrain them, so safety is paramount and a well fitting bit is often the only way forward for many.
@nixxyz I have a rescue horse and I'm a teenage. I did it with no help more then the internet just playing with my horse and seeing what works I can now ride her with as little as a rope around her neck. P.S. I've only had her for just over 6mouth so it can be done if the owner is willing to try
When I bought my horse, I bought all his belongings to, there was a bit like that, it went in the garbage bin right away, I seen jump riders with a bit like that and hackamore, then ride into the forrest after and could only stop the horse by pulling all reins, great next time it might break teeths or the neck.
@Bellesweetie : Don't know, never used one and never seen one, my opinion is the same any metal in the mouth is designed to give pain compliance and I don't like them. Leverage bits are worse than non-leverage.
@horseawareness I would actually like to know more about your thoughts on the hackamore since you didn't talked much about them, it's what I use, short shank one tho
and I'd also like to ask (unrelated to bits) how do you stop a horse from biting?
my colt has the bad habit of biting, he doesn't pin his ears back (and I am NOT one of those "bawww poor horsie" girls) I DO push him and make him move but when he comes back(head down) it starts again, so I'm not doing it right...any advice?
Thank you SO much for this video!!!!!!! I just bought a green horse, and she came with a tom thumb bit, So I was going to use it, INTEL I saw this! Thanks again, I'm going to stick with a halter from now on!
i used to use a tom thumb on my arabian when i first got him.when ever he got to a certain spot in the arena,he would start bucking.lucky for me,he never unseated me.after about the 5th time my grandpa rode him we found out he had a sensitive mouth and i was pulling to hard when we got to that spot in the arena which caused him to buck.and being nervous might of caused to to.anyway we IMMEDIATELY switched to a curved bit and he is a lot happier now :)
I'm getting a 1 1/2 aqha stud colt already broke Tuesday and they said they use a Tom thumb bit. Would it be alright to change him to a snaffle bit?! And I'll need some information to put it on too.
Im using a 3-part D-ring snaffle on my standardbred (ex-racer). Im so tired of seing ppl using stupidly sharp bits just because they don't know how to train their horses, and worst of all, when ppl use sharp bits just because they think it's cool...
This is a great video :) All bits to me are wrong only the softest in the case of extra communication for dressage etc. Otherwise I never use them, the amount of different types of bits is just ridiculous.
I strongly dislike snaffles because of the amount of pressure put directly on the bars of the horse's poor mouth. I like a french link (three pieces to the bit) because there is so much less pressure put on the bars. Love you Rick! I'm going to go ride my horse in a halter now:)
@ariprinz I mean the two piece snaffles that put so much pressure on the roof of the mouth and bars. French links wrap around the mouth, not dig into the sides and top.
it hurts my jaw every time you talk about it, like really bad. Killer head ache as well. People should try a bit-less bridle. I think thats what they're calling it. It looks very, very nice and it has NO BIT at all.
On a side note, i put metal in two of my horses mouth, 1, because she's an ottb and I haven't developed the trust to go without, and 2 because she had a horribly harsh rider previously, and im gradually getting softer. But the little girl I started, we perform equally as good at liberty.
You are overlooking a great use for the Tom Thumb Snaffle. Weld a bunch of them together and they make a WONDERFUL boat anchor! My total arsenal consists of a halter, a bosal, and a sleister with a frog mouth piece. If I ever get rich enough I'll get me a spade too!
@TheJumper64 Thank you! Exactly, this is NOT a pain bit. I have an Arabian with a soft mouth that I can ride with no hands or in a halter, and I usually have her in a snaffle at home. But when I ask her to collect and use her hind end more, she is HAPPIER in her jointed kimberwick than in her D-ring. When I lightly pull on the reins in the kimberwick, she drops her nose and collects. When I do the same in a snaffle, she pins her ears and resists. Which one sounds like a pain bit??
@4x4Girl14 : What it sounds like is you don't know how to ride soft so you think the bit makes the pain when it is your hands. Your comment shows your lack of knowledge and understanding of a horse.
@4x4Girl14 My mare was the same way, an Arabian too lol. Hollowed out her back, raised her head, wouldnt stop, etc in a snaffle. Had a dressage trainer/judge tell me to try a kimberwick for when i show and she was perfect. Then i had a chiropractor out & found out her poll was out from trying to get her to collect in the snaffle. After she was fixed up, i tried it again & shes perfect in a snaffle now :) I can ride her in a rope halter, a rope around her neck, or nothing.
Thank you for this video!! I am an inexperienced rider and just bought my first horse. The western store had me buy the bit I have (just leaned now its a Tom Thumb bit). I was thrown the first time I used it and didnt know why because i rode him before i bought him and he was fine. I am throwing that bit away when I get home! Thank you so much. Now I need to figure out how to make a rope halter. Im told he neck reins. You have a video on how to make a rope halter or do you buy them?
Just to make it clear, there is a US Tom Thumb and a UK Tom Thumb - the US one is mostly used for western riding and that is the one that is considered as severe.
As a trainer id like to know what your thoughts are on the full cheek snaffle?? Its the only bit i use from, green horses to finished horses, with the understanding that it was a soft bit. I also train my horse to require as little pressure as possible to insure comfortability horse the horse and safety with the rider (so if an accident was to happen it would take as much pull to get a response). =] love learning from other trainers thank you very much for you input!
@mandyxxcoleman : If you are so sure you training your horses to be soft then why not train them in a rope halter? Why use any bit? A bit metal and can will cause pain either with you or someone else, so not a fan of any metal in a horse's mouth. Too many people say they are soft and are not, too many accidents, too many unpredicted circumstances, too many emotions in humans, but the short answer for full cheek it is as good as any other snaffle.
@horseawareness my horse uses that for english (well when i get one he will) But when we trail ride i use his halter.... he doesnt stop, like at all, but he turns and we just w/t and he is a follow around type trail horse so it works, But ima try a rope halter cuz my step mom got one for me but i dont like them cuz they confuse me but as a bride it wouldnt be that bad i guess : / (plus the bit he seems to like is $80 and i dont have that right now. AKA a swisted snaffle)
Wel people should KNOW that a tom thumb is not a snaffle because there are shanks. And my friend and I both ride with tom thumbs, our horses are fine. We dont pull hard, and we arent stupid about our hands going everywhere. If your hands arent gentle, of course you will make them upset or cause damage no matter what bit you ride in. Even bitless bridles can be harsh.
Here's my standpoint here. First of all, I wanna say that I agree- a Tom thumb is the worst thing you could put in a horses mouth. But I have a question. I have an Arab pony that doesn't work well in a smooth snaffle. I was wondering if it would be okay if I used a Kimberwhick (sp?) on her. I called her previous owner to see what bit she used before. They said about 1 in. leverage Kimberwhick. I don't want to do that AT ALL. I personally am not a fan of leverages. So will the snaffle be stronge
I agree 'the bit is only as severe as the hands its in'. in my opinion the best bits are the double jointed ones like lozenge or peanut jointed ones, they have no 'nutcracker' action :) i love your videos. they're fantastic, i always learn something new from them.
I now only use cross-under bitless bridles on my horses, and if I have to ever use a bit again, it'll only be a snaffle. The most horrible bits are the 9 to 10" shanked broken mouth bits that are put in the Big Lick Tennessee Walking Horses mouths. I do believe that it is possible to carefully train a horse to a bit, but overall, we're putting metal in an area of the horse that has no padding, thin skin, and A LOT of nerves. I understand your anger, too--I sometimes feel the same way!
thanks for the informative video! I do have a question though.. for showing horses.. they require bits after the bosal age of the horse. i know a lot of WP people will stay with the O ring snaffle. Do you think judges would judge fairly if all the horses used an O ring? i hate bits myself but can only use a bosal for a short period of time on a horse due to rules. AUGH. Then,, after the horse is older,, it seems they take longer to get use to the bit in their mouth after the bosal.
@mcmurf2 I think you're right. Perhaps this is a good time to start petitioning show associations to allow bosals, humane hackamores, and bitless bridles in competition. I show gaited horses, and the two associations that I show with both allow bitless bridles. Bits cut corners in place of good training, and I would hope horse associations would stop rewarding bling and crippled looking horses and start rewarding good, working human/horse partnerships.
@katphoti petition,, good idea.. now,, which association to hit first... this could be a wonderful thing to change the rules of the shows. First,, getting rid of the 'western limp' and now getting rid of bad bits.
THANK YOU! I know a lady that rides all her horses in tom thumb bits, and goes around BRAGGING about how all her horses have such "soft" mouths because they all ride a bit as "simple" as a tom thumb. She has no idea what she is actually doing, and she is so close-minded that she won't listen to me! I feel sorry for her horses!!!
Wow, when I bought my bit from a STORE, on the package, it said it was a snaffle..now that I see the difference, it makes me feel horrible! I can't believe that the packaging went wrong! I will change my bit as soon as I can! Thanks a lot for your useful videos! :)
@kswest5878 “I would love to work more with my horses and attain half the horsemanship you have”. Then why are you not open to a possible beneficial change? If you meant what you wrote, then your path is clear resolving to attain; research, learn, and being open to try your best to see a possible better way. Bet then your horses will remove your big ole blazing “L” from your head
@WillieAndCarlAcres : I remember when I was kid I used to hear only the hippies were protesting about a stupid war called Vietnam. I think these hippies got us out that war and saved lives. If I could get rid of this bit and other archaic pain devices, I will gladly take the name of Horse Hippie. :)
I was watching your videos and liking you and them very much.Then I ran across this video. I have Tom Thumb bits for every one of my horses.Gee, I didn't know I was a horrible abuser. I don't consider myself harsh. My horses don't refuse the bit. Now that I have retired I would love to work more with my horses and attain half the horsemanship you have. Thanks for telling me I'm a loser. Doubtful I will watch any more of these. I won't be at any of your clinics.
OK people read the comment below, this is the selfishness and pettiness that I talk about. This lady has such low self worth and self esteem that one video makes her think I am caller HER a loser. Really and then people like this say they love their horse. I assure you this lady is not concerned about anything but her feeling good and making it about her. She will refuse to learn any good since she got her feelings hurt. Real nice and people wonder why I crack on women like this.
I was watching your videos and liking you and them very much. Then I ran across this video. I have Tom Thumb bits for every one of my horses. Gee, I didn't know I was a horrible abuser. I don't consider myself harsh. My horses don't refuse the bit. Now that I have retired I would love to work more with my horses and attain half the horsemanship you have. Thanks for telling me I'm a loser. Doubtful I will watch any more of these. I won't be at any of your clinics.
I got a comment on one of my videos (the link won't work, but look up my video "Argentine Snaffles and Tom Thumbs Part II") comparing me to you. I don't know who you are, and I don't get it. Can you watch the video and explain? Thanks so much.
Hello Rick, I'm a beginner and I just start watching ur videos hopping to learn a little from ur experience. My question is if a horse work's the same with a bosal or a halter than with the bridle? I'm having issues trying to get the bridle on my horse he keeps raising his head up everytime I tried. Like I said I'm a beginner, but I'm trying to learn little by little. Thanks for sharing all ur good experience with horses I really appreciate that.
TO: rebelsiouse - Typical Troll, wants to cry and whine on how good they are and then block their channel and put up no videos to show who they are or what they can do. Go to your barn and create drama there with all your knowledge.
i use an ton thumb and always have so does every one i know and i will never change bits because when i started using the tom thumb bits my horse actually started lisening better to me and became more willing to move her head , and the way you use the bit is aslo a factor if you pull to hard or do anything with a lot of pressure any bit can be bad it depends on how you use them
@Rebelsiouse : You are missing the point, WHY does your horse listen better with a Tom,. Answer, since it hurts more. YOU don't know how to control or work your horse without pain, so you want to try and convince yourself and others that the bit is not painful and cruel since you know NO other way. You are wrong. That bit is shows you don't know since those that know, do not use it.
@horseawareness well so what your saying is im stupid since i use those bits , which happen to be the most popular western bit , and theirs no bit thats not gonna apply pressure and i do know how to work with my horse and every one else that uses them does to and my horse has never refused her bit once and never shows signs of distress or pain no horse i've ever used it with have
@horseawareness .and the real bit you should be complaning about should be hackamores and machanical hacks those can break a horses jaw and cause loads morse pain and dog chains cause pain to but people everywhere use them , and the truth is some horse need morse pressure when your 15 and 5'2 on a 16+ hand over 1200 pound horse that doesn't ike to stop right you sometimes need the extra pressure and i never pull or yank on my reins ever , and your just assuming i abuse them ith a painful bit
@Rebelsiouse : I did not assume anything you said it works better which means you can't control your horse without it. That hackamore breaking a nose is a stupid tale that people repeat, I have NEVER seen or heard of a horse getting a broken nose from a flexible rawhide leather bosal around a nose. But it sounds good and makes people who use metal and pain bits feel better. Bet you 1000 bucks I can ride, stop and control your horse in a rope halter. Put your money where your mouth is.
@horseawareness when you don't know how i ride or the horses its on , i think your just snap judging people and try to tell them they don't know what their doing when they do and when you don't know them or their riding style wanna complain you should complain about the bits that can break jaws and the riders who try and jump thier horses over 7 foot walls for sport than a bit that applies more pressure which you happen to own your self even though you hate it so much
@Rebelsiouse yeah, the reason yur horse is more "willing" is because hes thinkin "if im good my rider might get this dang thing out of mah mouth". ya think yur horse luvs ya? wait till she starts bucking because she realized that yu wont be any nicer to her mouth.
I haven't had any problem with my tom thumb with my horse i've tried others and he doesn't like them and respond horribly to them. I do ride a lot with just my halter and lead rope. I love my horse and like i said it's the only bit he will use he freaks with any other bit
@quarter9horse yu know wut, NO horse needs pressure. its just a person that needs to learn how to handle their horse. yu think horses need the extra pain in their mouths, yur knowledge on horses is a "Piece of crap." from me AND horses everywhere. Rick: sorry for wut ya hav to put up with... luv all yur videos!!! thank yu so much for the extra knowledge tht people need.
Tom Thumb works perfect on my horse. he doesnt respond well to a d-ring but hes perfect with a tom thumb and he doesnt fight it. And that is NOT the harshest bit out there!
someone i know uses a tomb thumb bit with a market harbrough, i want to shoot her it is so agressive and she isn't exactly light with her hands either, also i think ANY horse can be managed in a snaffle with the right noseband and correct use, i use a loose ring snaffle or a bitless hacamore
i use a bitless on my older mare but i have a 3 yr old that im, just starting i think that i should start him ith a snaffle and then go to a bosal later on or is that wrong? whats your opion ( and hat about rubber snaffles are they any easyer on there mouths?) thanks
inexperienced or riding a yound horse, you should ride in a snaffle. sorry about how long that was, i couldnt shorten it any more. and rick, i didnt mean to offend u and im sorry if i did
@shannonrose5998 : No it is not a Shank snaffle, you obviously did not listen - a shank is leverage, snaffle is direct pull, but you keep passing on the wrong info if it makes you feel smart. Too bad for your horse.
@horseawareness Oh so now I mistreat horses? K. Tom thumbs work great if you know how to use them. I have a light hand so it's perfectly fine in my eyes.
Yep. I was one of those who thought a tom thumb was a snaffle because it was broke in the middle. This video was an eye opener for me. Got rid of the bits altogether and made a change to a rope halter. We're just beginning, my horse and I, and it's a slow go, but we've started out the way I mean to go. If I can't ride him without causing him pain, I don't need to be riding him at all.
wow i am worried now..i use tom thumbs (i am guna switch to snaffles now..) but my geldings dont act in pain or stressed.. but i work them mainly off of voice such as 'walk on' 'jog' 'trot' 'get up' 'cut loose' to go and 'easy' 'sshh' 'whoa' to stop and they seem pretty happy :) but anyway next trip to town snaffle bits are on the list.Thank you
Do you have a video that shows more about riding with a rope halter? I see that bosals seem to be used for training young horses. Do you ever use them for experienced horses? I'd like to start using a rope halter or a bosal.
hey rick, im not trying to be rude or anything like that, i do agree, every horse SHOULD be able to be rode in a snaffle or halter and u have control or else that horse (i think) shouldnt be rode much until it does, but how is a tom thumb worse than some bits out there??? i can think of at least 8 that seem more severe than that. no offense intended to u though
@barrelgal100 : I got no problem with people questioning or disagreeing as long as it is reasonable and not based on personal or emotion. I am not a bit expert, I am sure man if fully capable of making more cruel and harsh bits than tom thumb and I don't know every bit out there, I do know what I see most and that is the Tom and it is misunderstood as a fix all bit for poor riders and I see it recommended by idiot trainers who can't train horses without pain, so your point is taken.
@horseawareness ok thanks. i really dont like a tom thumb bit much either. i think it is a cheap bit because thats what u see every little western store out there hahve and most people that cant ride use it. i too dont know a whole lot about bits other than western bits, but i do know that if people do use a snaffle, make sure that it is a well made one that the mouthpiece is slightly curved and doesnt pinch, there are a lot of snaffles out there that arent made very well and if u use those ones
it will end up hurting na horse almost as much as a tom thumb because where the mouthpeice breaks, it hits the roof of a horses mouth and it pinches their whole mouth really bad. i read an article a few months ago that i absolutely loved about bits. it was by a cowhorse trainer Brandon Staebler.(it is intended for barrel racers but it is good for any one to read) and he talks about instead of needing a bit to "lift a horses shoulders" u need to go back to the basics of training any horse of any
dicipline. if they are moving properly and driving with their hind end under them, u dont need to lift their shoulders, they do it to themselves naturally. I admit i ride my barrel horse in a three piece gag bit, though it doesnt have any shanks other than long enough to attatch the reins, with a low port but i almost always exercise him in a snaffle to give him a break, plus it keeps him really supple so i dont have to pull hard with anything. i also ride him in a halter tonnes too and he works
great in anything. the rest of this is for all those haters of ricks methods. i agree with some of you, i disagree with some of what he says, but i do get where he is coming from and he does make sense. i do agree with him in this though, a snaffle or no bit is the absolute best andn if u dont like wat he is saying why r u watching his videos????? i do think if u have proper hands, u can ride your horse in whatever u want or whatever your horse seems to work best in, but if u dont or are
the tom-thumb has been proven to pinch horses mouths and cause sores, and i agree it is a bit that isnt as "kind" to a horse, but also it isnt the WORST bit out there, I have seen worse. when use in experienced hands and with a proper size for the horse with a horse used to it, i think it can be used properly. LIke you said in your own video, the bit is only as hard as the hands handling it.
I ride with a halter on the roads and I've had stuck up toffs riding with torture devices commenting. Some people look down on natural horsemanship from up high on the backs of there torture horses.
I'm English and I thing this kind of bit is discussing. I ride my barefoot filly bareback and bridles, like we are an extension of each others body. I've had her since she was a 5 month weanling. I'm not a trained rider but have ridden since I was 9. Willow and I learned together. It's not hard it just takes time and patience. I started training her verbal ques from the day I got her so by the time I backed her she knew what I wanted.
I love your video..Some people just don't care enough to do what right for the horse or take the time it takes to make things better. My only question is what would be the best bit to use in western pleasure classes for showing? I want to just do open shows next year and want to do what best for my horse. I've owned my mare for 2 1/2 yrs. now and have always used a eggbutt or loose ring snaffle on her. What would you suggest I use?
How is it more severe than that curb in your video? I would never use that curb on any of my horses, its a stiff bit, you cant get any sort of individual side flexion. If you pull on one side it also pulls on the other side. So its only good on a horse that neck reins because it only really applys back pressure. Not good for direct turning. Where the arginettean (sp?) snaffle is very flexable and can me manipulated in many ways. A bit is only harsh is wroung hands.
So Im really confused. Ive got 12 years horse experience and Ive shown and worked with many trainers. Just by saying that you will dicount what im saying but Ive always been taught that the tom thumb was the LEAST severe of the shank bits. Its shank is only like 3in long and its has a broken mouthpiece. I dont like the tom thumb because its a cheap and sloppy bit. I always upgrade my horses from a snaffle to an Argintene (sp?) snaffle. I feel its a good gentle stepup. Why is the TT more severe?
Thank you so much for posting this! When I went to equestrian school 20 years ago I was taught that the Tom thumb was a gentle bit suitable for training young horses. I feel so bad about all of the young horses I trained in this nasty piece of equipment and am just glad that I have light hands. Keeping an open mind and being willing to change yourself is an important part of being a horse person.
I got my very first horse, and she was deemed a runaway. Come to find out it was the bit. They said I couldn't ride her with anything other than a long shank bit with a high port. She was stiff as a board, didn't know how to give to pressure. It took me a little bit to reverse, but after a while I could ride her in a halter. She never ran off with me. All she needed was to be taught to give to pressure and that her mouth wasn't gonna be hurt. It's NEVER the bit people! It's the rider!
I have no problems with bits, as long as it's used correctly. I never had to use anything over a snaffle though. I do love my hackamores! Problem I find, my Appy has such an odd shaped head he is hard to fit correctly with a hackamore lol. he has such a tiny nose and a huge jaw (cob like). I'm still trying to find something to fit him. I have one I use on him, but I'm careful when using it, sits a little low on his face then where it should be.
And when you are jumping a strong horse like my horse you need a bit with a little leverage so that you can get them to wait up to the jump and not just pull you up to it and also to get them back after the jump but that does not mean that English riders hurt there horses. Trust me if the horse wasn't enjoying themselves or didn't want to be ridden you wouldn't be staying on them and if your horse didn't want you to use a bit they would tell you!
@HorsebackRidingFreek : you don't have a clue, take note people, this is another person that thinks the bit is the problem or solution or the horse is the problem, or the saddle fit or 100 other things, but fails to accept that they are the problem and they are the one that does not had understanding or feel to ride without one. As I always say, I bet anyone a plane ticket and my expenses I can ride their horse with no bit in less than an hour or it's free. NO ONE HAS ACCEPTED YET.
@HorsebackRidingFreek Never mind that horses are hardwired to yield to pressure that they can't overcome (such as severe mouth pain). Never mind the videos of horses protesting out of pain. These are videos of horses in equine sports such as jumping. Never mind the vet autopsies of horses with jaw arthritis, bony growths where the bits lie, fractured jaw bones from too much leverage on the bit, etc. I guess it's easy to ignore when you care more about pretty ribbons than your horse.
But part of becoming a better rider is riding a more challenging horse and stronger horses need bits with more leverage so that the riders don't have to pull so hard so really if the rider is only using as much pressure as they need then they probably aren't pulling on the bit that hard...
@HorsebackRidingFreek I'm sorry! But "Stronger Horses Need Bits With More Leverage So That Riders Don't Have To Pull So Hard"........... <---------- As @horseawareness would say - That's BULL CRAP! That's being lazy & relying on a piece of metal to stop your horse! Not YOU!! A Stronger Horse REQUIRES A MENTALLY Strong rider in my opinion!! You need to watch some more of his videos! Mr T is a strong horse- but I have NEVER seen Rick YANK his reins! Even when he is riding Fresh!
You basically just said that anyone that rides with a bit knows nothing about horses and is a terrible rider and that English riders are the worst for it. Yes you are right bits can be painful but only in the wrong hands, but so can riding in a rope halter. Beginners should be using a snaffle and riding a horse that they can handle...
@12teamroperhunter : No shit, could that be that you don't know how to ride without the use of a painful tom thumb bit? Probably not, I am sure it must be something else? ? ?
Wow Rick, judging from some of these comments u really ruffled some feathers with this video. I don't understand why someone would watch a 10 min video and bother to leave these long hostile comments if they do not agree. The first thing u say in this video is THIS IS HOW U FEEL... and this is not a good bit ESPECIALLY FOR INEXPERIENCED RIDERS. Come on people, if u don't like the stuff he says stop watching Rick and make ur own videos. Rick, dont stop what u r doing, u r helping many horses!
@Weaponsmaster8595 : OK idiot let me explain so even you can get it. The fact that you need a 50 year experience trainer pretty much makes it clear you don't know shit about horses. So you go listen to your trainer that you are paying to be nice to you & tell you what you want to hear so your dumbass will keep paying him. If you send me money I will tell you that you are really good and you need a bit and it is the horse not you..bla bla, get a clue before you try and argue you foolish position
I will agree tom thumbs can be painful. But shit, any horse can be painful in any bit. It's the true horseman that can learn to control it. I have ridden in curbs, snaffles, TTs, various types of shank bits, gag bits, and never once have I had a horse throw their head or try to escape me. There comes a point when training of horse and rider becomes what decides if a bit is harsh. And honestly, I have seen more distress from that grazing bit than any tomb thumb, anyday.
Look. If you really want to play this game, if TT bits are the most god-awful bits out there, what do you have to say about barb wire, bicycle chains, tiny twisted wire snaffle? Why would you eliminate that bit, but not any of those.
My horse can be ridden bridleless, so don't bullshit me on how I can't ride without pain. And for the record, the car door example is bullshit too. if my horse is in so much pain they are trying to run away, pull, and escape me, I wouldn't be able to get softness.
i also get the sense that you dont know what your talking about with this.... my trainer is a horse wisperer shes great with horses ive talked to her about the correct bit to get for a new show horse im getting. she said, let me talk to him and lets decide which bit he likes best, she knows her stuff believe me she did not say anything bad about any bit its all in what your horse likes
@footballer4life22 : You are an idiot for trying to defend something base on YOUR TRAINER IS A HORSE WHISPERER... rofl, what a dumbass, if you trainer is so good then you should not be watching videos on youtube, I am going to tell you horse whisperer trainer on you! Go away Troll...
I wish I'd watched this video before ordering a nice shiny new eggbutt snaffle!! Once this horse is trained to neck rein, I will be switching to a sidepull for sure - Great, clear, straight forward lesson as always, Rick :)
I completely disagree with Rick Gores Horsemanship. I've watched his other videos, and if he is so utterly disturbed with bits, then the negativity displayed in his other videos is a contradiction entirely. Calling an animal "Stupid" is rude, as well as his stance on women in the horse world followed by a vast list of wrongs and zero rights. These animals are clearly trained very well, by him? I don't think so. Unless its fuelled by fear of him and his discusting habits! Stupid? Really?
@spudds008 : Another example of a ignorant horse owner that is so closed minded and brainwashed that she can't learn or admit she does not know what she does not know. Seek your drama elsewhere, I don't care what you think and when ignorant people make stupid comments, I am glad they don't like me, last thing I need is some dummy who can't control their horse telling people they like me. Most will see you for what you are. The people that want to learn show it with their horse.
Hey Rick, To ride in top level competitive dressage events a double bridle /must/ be worn. Any suggestions as to which bit[s] would be the "best" to ride in and still stay inside the rules?
@StormoRajdanto : Sorry, I am a horseman not a showman. My rules are try and do nothing to the horse that I would not want done to me. The most important thing to me is the horse, not the rules. Rules are made by people with egos and agendas that are not done with the best interest of the horse considered. :(
@horseawareness the lady owning the horses i rode when i was younger always told us kids to imagine we had the bit in our mouth so that we'd learn to ride with smooth hands & no bits. Even today i still feel pain every time i see someone riding with leverage bits. to me it's just human thinking to know that it's better to ride without torture instruments like metal-leverage-harsh-bits...sad that so called riding-sport does not think the same way.
@StormoRajdanto well, theres pelhams, which are pretty much the same as a tom thumb. then there are full bridles which are a snaffle and a curb, which you might want to consider if your going after this man's preaching. but the curb might be a no-no in his words
I love my horse, I treat him with respect and do what I can for him to feel as comfortable as he can. I clean out his sheathe, medicate cuts and skin irritations, I love my horse and because I use a bit doesn't change that.
I use that broken "snaffle" Tom thumb bit. I don't have a trainer, I'm a western rider and I agree that the pressure is too much but on the other hand my horse is a Standardbred and is the easiest guy. And like a leash/choke chain is to a dog I use to correct bad behaviour, keep him inline and control his direction. I'm sorry that so many disagree with this and I try not to pull and yank on his mouth, but I use a Tom Thumb snaffle with a curb. And he is cool as a cucumber with it in.
Man you need humility to teach and to learn.People can not feel comfortable with you because of your negative energy. Yes no bit is better for the horse, I am sure and so is no riding. We impose our will on everything we come accross, yet instead of attacking like that just win our wills with your sound advice, show us what is best. I am from Madrid, Spain although brought up in England, I am a horse lover, owner and break my colts and others and I dislike your attitude. You post and I comment.
@akanewe : Then keep doing what you are doing and stay off my channel. I put info out, take it or move on and shut up. I can't please a million and a half views and I don't try. Have your own channel, make your own videos and give your advice on your channel. Not looking for new friends. Bye.
If rope halters didn't excised I wouldn't ride a horse unless I just hold onto the mane witch would be a bit harder to control.. But I will never ever EVER put a bit in any of my horses mouths
Ok I'm all for using the mildest bit possible & I have extremely light hands. But I have a problem. I bought a fresh-off-the-track thoroughbred a few years ago that raced in a true snaffle, but when I purchased her, the trainer suggested I transition her to pleasure riding with a tom thumb. She does marvelous in a tom thumb. Responds with a feather-lite touch. After many months, I tried a snaffle. No control. She wants to run right through it. I'm not sure what to do.
alogan22 4 days ago
i totally agree
Lambadalover333 1 week ago
Hey Rick, any tips on how to convince a parent that bits are cruel? My dad thinks he knows more about horses that anyone & won't let me ride unless I'm using a bit. I can tell my gelding hates his bit, & seems to ride better in his halter, but dad doesn't get it..
IrishHoneySaddlebred 1 week ago
Thank you so much I only ever use a D snaffle but and have been asking what are the bad bits and no one can tell me, I would never ride a horse with a cruel bit in this video is 100% liked by me
Iamhorsecrazy1 1 week ago
I feel guilty now! I use a curb bit with my gelding, no one ever told me otherwise, and I never realized how harsh the bit was. :( With my new horse this summer it's going to be snaffle or less. No more curb!!
Kaughtt 1 week ago
Hey Rick I have a question. I ride my mare with a d ring dr. Bristol I was told it was for control. What r ur thoughts on that type of bit?
ninabaker1232 2 weeks ago
Thank. You. Thank you SO much for this! The mare I grew up on was trained in a tom thumb, and because of that, she can no longer be ridden with any form of broken bit what-so-ever. I am absolutely loving these videos. I have never found someone with an opinion bang on with mine. Kudos to you sir, and I can tell I'll be showing this video to a few people :)
TheFedoraChick 2 weeks ago
Hi, i have a question. I have a new horse,and he was trained to ride with a grazer bit,but i wanna ride without bit. how can i train him ?
Toscacandy 3 weeks ago
There is a lot to teach about, specailly in rinding school, beggining with the teachers.
alcazar2012 3 weeks ago
Question- Since you feel its best to go in a rope halter, then how would you go about a show horse? If the horse was only rode in a rope halter, then sold to a show home, dont you think that could cause problems? Now, i wont say i know a lot about bits- i dont. I use a tom thumb when i ride western- not often. Other wise its a snaffle or a halter. IMO i think twisted bits are horrible- they did more damange to my mares mouth than a tom thumb ever has. My mare became hard, now shes soft again.
PriestessSati 1 month ago
Hi, I'm a 13year old beginner who has only been riding for a few months now. We were thinking on leasing an older, broke horse and was wandering if I should use a bit-less bridle or not. Thank you!
Majition 1 month ago
Thoughts on rubber bits?
vulcansailor 1 month ago
Pellam bits are evil 3x more than a Tom thumb
horseperson1997 1 month ago
I have a mare and I ride almost every day but there are almost no saddles that fit anyways I do show man ship with no halter and she loves it because she likes attention and I agree that bits are evil too.
horseperson1997 1 month ago
i ride with a bit less bridal or rope halter or if i'm in a fenced in area just a rope around my horse neck
chedog08 1 month ago
i dont use bits i ride free style and you are a loud mouth dumbass so stick them bits up your ass fuck tard
dangleeye 1 month ago
its all very well telling people they shouldnt use a bit and i agree there are often other kinder methods.However a bit can be as cruel or kind as the hands that hold it same as a halter, if a horse is started and trained properly with a bitless bridle/ halter etc then it is a better way forward but not every body has a horse started in a halter or the knowledge to retrain them, so safety is paramount and a well fitting bit is often the only way forward for many.
nixxyz 1 month ago
@nixxyz I have a rescue horse and I'm a teenage. I did it with no help more then the internet just playing with my horse and seeing what works I can now ride her with as little as a rope around her neck. P.S. I've only had her for just over 6mouth so it can be done if the owner is willing to try
chedog08 1 month ago
What do you think about riding with a rope halter with a running martingale?
xKharasmaticx 1 month ago
i do know horses that use levrage bits but ive never heard of the tom thumb but i use a loose ring snaffle frenchlink its that bad?
misspogo99 1 month ago
Not all bad information, however, bits and leverage bits have their place.
Qualified trainers (who understand the Vaquero tradition) have explained to me that the Tom Thumb acts like a nutcracker and should NEVER be used.
Leverage bits do have their place, where increased signal is sent to the horse by the leverage action. Yes, you need good hands.
Most horses (and riders) do not spend enough time in training to reach the point where a leverage bit is appropriate.
corbert13 1 month ago 6
The only bit I put in my horses mouth is a snaffle but 90% of the time I ride bareback with a rope halter :)
bawabas7 1 month ago
Just wondering, um... What happens if it doesn't the chain in the back? Thanks I love your videos!
JayyPony 1 month ago
When I bought my horse, I bought all his belongings to, there was a bit like that, it went in the garbage bin right away, I seen jump riders with a bit like that and hackamore, then ride into the forrest after and could only stop the horse by pulling all reins, great next time it might break teeths or the neck.
dearnapst 2 months ago
what is your opinion on pelhams?
Bellesweetie 2 months ago
@Bellesweetie : Don't know, never used one and never seen one, my opinion is the same any metal in the mouth is designed to give pain compliance and I don't like them. Leverage bits are worse than non-leverage.
horseawareness 2 months ago
@horseawareness I would actually like to know more about your thoughts on the hackamore since you didn't talked much about them, it's what I use, short shank one tho
and I'd also like to ask (unrelated to bits) how do you stop a horse from biting?
my colt has the bad habit of biting, he doesn't pin his ears back (and I am NOT one of those "bawww poor horsie" girls) I DO push him and make him move but when he comes back(head down) it starts again, so I'm not doing it right...any advice?
nuram666 1 month ago
Thank you SO much for this video!!!!!!! I just bought a green horse, and she came with a tom thumb bit, So I was going to use it, INTEL I saw this! Thanks again, I'm going to stick with a halter from now on!
FarmerDan10 2 months ago
i used to use a tom thumb on my arabian when i first got him.when ever he got to a certain spot in the arena,he would start bucking.lucky for me,he never unseated me.after about the 5th time my grandpa rode him we found out he had a sensitive mouth and i was pulling to hard when we got to that spot in the arena which caused him to buck.and being nervous might of caused to to.anyway we IMMEDIATELY switched to a curved bit and he is a lot happier now :)
mordmil10 2 months ago
I'm getting a 1 1/2 aqha stud colt already broke Tuesday and they said they use a Tom thumb bit. Would it be alright to change him to a snaffle bit?! And I'll need some information to put it on too.
cole12cole 2 months ago
Im using a 3-part D-ring snaffle on my standardbred (ex-racer). Im so tired of seing ppl using stupidly sharp bits just because they don't know how to train their horses, and worst of all, when ppl use sharp bits just because they think it's cool...
Maniamanea 2 months ago
This is a great video :) All bits to me are wrong only the softest in the case of extra communication for dressage etc. Otherwise I never use them, the amount of different types of bits is just ridiculous.
Cachecliche 2 months ago
I strongly dislike snaffles because of the amount of pressure put directly on the bars of the horse's poor mouth. I like a french link (three pieces to the bit) because there is so much less pressure put on the bars. Love you Rick! I'm going to go ride my horse in a halter now:)
ArablvrXoXo 2 months ago
@ArablvrXoXo a french link is a snaffle....
ariprinz 1 week ago
@ariprinz I mean the two piece snaffles that put so much pressure on the roof of the mouth and bars. French links wrap around the mouth, not dig into the sides and top.
ArablvrXoXo 1 week ago
@ariprinz but with the extra link in the center had less pinching effect
duvalditty73 1 week ago
it hurts my jaw every time you talk about it, like really bad. Killer head ache as well. People should try a bit-less bridle. I think thats what they're calling it. It looks very, very nice and it has NO BIT at all.
AudieRose1998 2 months ago
0.0
This is why I like bosals.
On a side note, i put metal in two of my horses mouth, 1, because she's an ottb and I haven't developed the trust to go without, and 2 because she had a horribly harsh rider previously, and im gradually getting softer. But the little girl I started, we perform equally as good at liberty.
FencesorFlat 2 months ago
You are overlooking a great use for the Tom Thumb Snaffle. Weld a bunch of them together and they make a WONDERFUL boat anchor! My total arsenal consists of a halter, a bosal, and a sleister with a frog mouth piece. If I ever get rich enough I'll get me a spade too!
bobkinford 2 months ago
I'm starting to feel like one of those dashboard dogs that nod constantly. :D
nameofthepen 2 months ago
i use a tom thumb rubber mullen mouth pelham bit with my jumper, and i have no problem with it.
TheJumper64 2 months ago
@TheJumper64 Thank you! Exactly, this is NOT a pain bit. I have an Arabian with a soft mouth that I can ride with no hands or in a halter, and I usually have her in a snaffle at home. But when I ask her to collect and use her hind end more, she is HAPPIER in her jointed kimberwick than in her D-ring. When I lightly pull on the reins in the kimberwick, she drops her nose and collects. When I do the same in a snaffle, she pins her ears and resists. Which one sounds like a pain bit??
4x4Girl14 2 months ago
@4x4Girl14 : What it sounds like is you don't know how to ride soft so you think the bit makes the pain when it is your hands. Your comment shows your lack of knowledge and understanding of a horse.
horseawareness 2 months ago
@horseawareness really??? I've been riding for a long enough time to know that my horse is much happier in his tom thumb.
TheJumper64 1 month ago
@4x4Girl14 and the first time i used a snaffle, my horse and i nearly died because i lost all control...
TheJumper64 1 month ago
@TheJumper64 ground work 1st
chedog08 1 month ago
@4x4Girl14 My mare was the same way, an Arabian too lol. Hollowed out her back, raised her head, wouldnt stop, etc in a snaffle. Had a dressage trainer/judge tell me to try a kimberwick for when i show and she was perfect. Then i had a chiropractor out & found out her poll was out from trying to get her to collect in the snaffle. After she was fixed up, i tried it again & shes perfect in a snaffle now :) I can ride her in a rope halter, a rope around her neck, or nothing.
PriestessSati 1 month ago
Thank you for this video!! I am an inexperienced rider and just bought my first horse. The western store had me buy the bit I have (just leaned now its a Tom Thumb bit). I was thrown the first time I used it and didnt know why because i rode him before i bought him and he was fine. I am throwing that bit away when I get home! Thank you so much. Now I need to figure out how to make a rope halter. Im told he neck reins. You have a video on how to make a rope halter or do you buy them?
ALgirl2007 2 months ago
AMEN brother! You are point on. Thank you for spreading the truth about the stupid Tom Thumb.
sylvesmiller 2 months ago
Just to make it clear, there is a US Tom Thumb and a UK Tom Thumb - the US one is mostly used for western riding and that is the one that is considered as severe.
hifizrider1 2 months ago
Just went to my bosses ranch on Saturday. Saw three Tom Thumbs XP disappointed. At least there's three D rings and a bitless bridle...
MusicEvryDay 2 months ago
What's your view on the waterford bit?
WesternRider2011 3 months ago
man, a bit is only as harsh as the user,
wayoftheblade 3 months ago
My first thought was "that's not a snaffle, it's a curb". My 4-H leader told me those particular curb bits are severe.
SapphireNightWolf 3 months ago
@mandyxxcoleman : Go change your little girl panties and cry at the barn. Just because you call yourself a horse trainer does not make it so.
horseawareness 3 months ago 5
@horseawareness I'd love to see you say that to someone in person.
SarahVstheClown 1 month ago
As a trainer id like to know what your thoughts are on the full cheek snaffle?? Its the only bit i use from, green horses to finished horses, with the understanding that it was a soft bit. I also train my horse to require as little pressure as possible to insure comfortability horse the horse and safety with the rider (so if an accident was to happen it would take as much pull to get a response). =] love learning from other trainers thank you very much for you input!
mandyxxcoleman 3 months ago 2
@mandyxxcoleman : If you are so sure you training your horses to be soft then why not train them in a rope halter? Why use any bit? A bit metal and can will cause pain either with you or someone else, so not a fan of any metal in a horse's mouth. Too many people say they are soft and are not, too many accidents, too many unpredicted circumstances, too many emotions in humans, but the short answer for full cheek it is as good as any other snaffle.
horseawareness 3 months ago
@horseawareness my horse uses that for english (well when i get one he will) But when we trail ride i use his halter.... he doesnt stop, like at all, but he turns and we just w/t and he is a follow around type trail horse so it works, But ima try a rope halter cuz my step mom got one for me but i dont like them cuz they confuse me but as a bride it wouldnt be that bad i guess : / (plus the bit he seems to like is $80 and i dont have that right now. AKA a swisted snaffle)
1233Maya 2 months ago
what is the diffrence between bits anyway?
hannahwolf112 3 months ago
Love this & agree! Have for years!
LoveHorseDust 3 months ago
First time having a horse, thanks for the info. Still learning and want to do the best thing for my horse King.
omarny0202 3 months ago
Wel people should KNOW that a tom thumb is not a snaffle because there are shanks. And my friend and I both ride with tom thumbs, our horses are fine. We dont pull hard, and we arent stupid about our hands going everywhere. If your hands arent gentle, of course you will make them upset or cause damage no matter what bit you ride in. Even bitless bridles can be harsh.
horseygal7302 3 months ago
Here's my standpoint here. First of all, I wanna say that I agree- a Tom thumb is the worst thing you could put in a horses mouth. But I have a question. I have an Arab pony that doesn't work well in a smooth snaffle. I was wondering if it would be okay if I used a Kimberwhick (sp?) on her. I called her previous owner to see what bit she used before. They said about 1 in. leverage Kimberwhick. I don't want to do that AT ALL. I personally am not a fan of leverages. So will the snaffle be stronge
xhidalgox24 3 months ago
He's right.
genevagraceQH 3 months ago
I agree 'the bit is only as severe as the hands its in'. in my opinion the best bits are the double jointed ones like lozenge or peanut jointed ones, they have no 'nutcracker' action :) i love your videos. they're fantastic, i always learn something new from them.
caitlin735 3 months ago
@katphoti
if you started a petition I would sign!!!!!
ahhhhhck 3 months ago
I now only use cross-under bitless bridles on my horses, and if I have to ever use a bit again, it'll only be a snaffle. The most horrible bits are the 9 to 10" shanked broken mouth bits that are put in the Big Lick Tennessee Walking Horses mouths. I do believe that it is possible to carefully train a horse to a bit, but overall, we're putting metal in an area of the horse that has no padding, thin skin, and A LOT of nerves. I understand your anger, too--I sometimes feel the same way!
katphoti 3 months ago
thanks for the informative video! I do have a question though.. for showing horses.. they require bits after the bosal age of the horse. i know a lot of WP people will stay with the O ring snaffle. Do you think judges would judge fairly if all the horses used an O ring? i hate bits myself but can only use a bosal for a short period of time on a horse due to rules. AUGH. Then,, after the horse is older,, it seems they take longer to get use to the bit in their mouth after the bosal.
mcmurf2 3 months ago
@mcmurf2 I think you're right. Perhaps this is a good time to start petitioning show associations to allow bosals, humane hackamores, and bitless bridles in competition. I show gaited horses, and the two associations that I show with both allow bitless bridles. Bits cut corners in place of good training, and I would hope horse associations would stop rewarding bling and crippled looking horses and start rewarding good, working human/horse partnerships.
katphoti 3 months ago
@katphoti petition,, good idea.. now,, which association to hit first... this could be a wonderful thing to change the rules of the shows. First,, getting rid of the 'western limp' and now getting rid of bad bits.
mcmurf2 3 months ago
THANK YOU! I know a lady that rides all her horses in tom thumb bits, and goes around BRAGGING about how all her horses have such "soft" mouths because they all ride a bit as "simple" as a tom thumb. She has no idea what she is actually doing, and she is so close-minded that she won't listen to me! I feel sorry for her horses!!!
Chut619 3 months ago
Wow, when I bought my bit from a STORE, on the package, it said it was a snaffle..now that I see the difference, it makes me feel horrible! I can't believe that the packaging went wrong! I will change my bit as soon as I can! Thanks a lot for your useful videos! :)
tarheelzboycj 3 months ago
@kswest5878 “I would love to work more with my horses and attain half the horsemanship you have”. Then why are you not open to a possible beneficial change? If you meant what you wrote, then your path is clear resolving to attain; research, learn, and being open to try your best to see a possible better way. Bet then your horses will remove your big ole blazing “L” from your head
richn2zella 3 months ago
Comment removed
WillieAndCarlAcres 3 months ago
@WillieAndCarlAcres : I remember when I was kid I used to hear only the hippies were protesting about a stupid war called Vietnam. I think these hippies got us out that war and saved lives. If I could get rid of this bit and other archaic pain devices, I will gladly take the name of Horse Hippie. :)
horseawareness 3 months ago
RE: below
I was watching your videos and liking you and them very much.Then I ran across this video. I have Tom Thumb bits for every one of my horses.Gee, I didn't know I was a horrible abuser. I don't consider myself harsh. My horses don't refuse the bit. Now that I have retired I would love to work more with my horses and attain half the horsemanship you have. Thanks for telling me I'm a loser. Doubtful I will watch any more of these. I won't be at any of your clinics.
kswest5878 2 hours ago
horseawareness 3 months ago
OK people read the comment below, this is the selfishness and pettiness that I talk about. This lady has such low self worth and self esteem that one video makes her think I am caller HER a loser. Really and then people like this say they love their horse. I assure you this lady is not concerned about anything but her feeling good and making it about her. She will refuse to learn any good since she got her feelings hurt. Real nice and people wonder why I crack on women like this.
horseawareness 3 months ago 9
@horseawareness I think realizing you were wrong (and learning a lesson) makes you a winner.
EquineRhythm 2 months ago
I was watching your videos and liking you and them very much. Then I ran across this video. I have Tom Thumb bits for every one of my horses. Gee, I didn't know I was a horrible abuser. I don't consider myself harsh. My horses don't refuse the bit. Now that I have retired I would love to work more with my horses and attain half the horsemanship you have. Thanks for telling me I'm a loser. Doubtful I will watch any more of these. I won't be at any of your clinics.
kswest5878 3 months ago
I got a comment on one of my videos (the link won't work, but look up my video "Argentine Snaffles and Tom Thumbs Part II") comparing me to you. I don't know who you are, and I don't get it. Can you watch the video and explain? Thanks so much.
almostfinally 3 months ago
This video was so helpful! I'm gonna have to go to go and check out the bits that my boss uses...
MusicEvryDay 3 months ago
Hello Rick, I'm a beginner and I just start watching ur videos hopping to learn a little from ur experience. My question is if a horse work's the same with a bosal or a halter than with the bridle? I'm having issues trying to get the bridle on my horse he keeps raising his head up everytime I tried. Like I said I'm a beginner, but I'm trying to learn little by little. Thanks for sharing all ur good experience with horses I really appreciate that.
elnapiz81 4 months ago
TO: rebelsiouse - Typical Troll, wants to cry and whine on how good they are and then block their channel and put up no videos to show who they are or what they can do. Go to your barn and create drama there with all your knowledge.
horseawareness 4 months ago
@horseawareness I just got tom thumbs banned at my stable :)
AQHSpiceAQH 3 months ago
i use an ton thumb and always have so does every one i know and i will never change bits because when i started using the tom thumb bits my horse actually started lisening better to me and became more willing to move her head , and the way you use the bit is aslo a factor if you pull to hard or do anything with a lot of pressure any bit can be bad it depends on how you use them
Rebelsiouse 4 months ago
@Rebelsiouse : You are missing the point, WHY does your horse listen better with a Tom,. Answer, since it hurts more. YOU don't know how to control or work your horse without pain, so you want to try and convince yourself and others that the bit is not painful and cruel since you know NO other way. You are wrong. That bit is shows you don't know since those that know, do not use it.
horseawareness 4 months ago
@horseawareness well so what your saying is im stupid since i use those bits , which happen to be the most popular western bit , and theirs no bit thats not gonna apply pressure and i do know how to work with my horse and every one else that uses them does to and my horse has never refused her bit once and never shows signs of distress or pain no horse i've ever used it with have
Rebelsiouse 4 months ago
@horseawareness .and the real bit you should be complaning about should be hackamores and machanical hacks those can break a horses jaw and cause loads morse pain and dog chains cause pain to but people everywhere use them , and the truth is some horse need morse pressure when your 15 and 5'2 on a 16+ hand over 1200 pound horse that doesn't ike to stop right you sometimes need the extra pressure and i never pull or yank on my reins ever , and your just assuming i abuse them ith a painful bit
Rebelsiouse 4 months ago
@Rebelsiouse : I did not assume anything you said it works better which means you can't control your horse without it. That hackamore breaking a nose is a stupid tale that people repeat, I have NEVER seen or heard of a horse getting a broken nose from a flexible rawhide leather bosal around a nose. But it sounds good and makes people who use metal and pain bits feel better. Bet you 1000 bucks I can ride, stop and control your horse in a rope halter. Put your money where your mouth is.
horseawareness 4 months ago
@horseawareness when you don't know how i ride or the horses its on , i think your just snap judging people and try to tell them they don't know what their doing when they do and when you don't know them or their riding style wanna complain you should complain about the bits that can break jaws and the riders who try and jump thier horses over 7 foot walls for sport than a bit that applies more pressure which you happen to own your self even though you hate it so much
Rebelsiouse 4 months ago
@Rebelsiouse : There you go crying when you look like a fool and can't justify your ignorance. Too much time wasted on stupid. Bye, you are blocked.
horseawareness 4 months ago
@Rebelsiouse yeah, the reason yur horse is more "willing" is because hes thinkin "if im good my rider might get this dang thing out of mah mouth". ya think yur horse luvs ya? wait till she starts bucking because she realized that yu wont be any nicer to her mouth.
barrelracingfire22 4 months ago
I haven't had any problem with my tom thumb with my horse i've tried others and he doesn't like them and respond horribly to them. I do ride a lot with just my halter and lead rope. I love my horse and like i said it's the only bit he will use he freaks with any other bit
mebeinme22 4 months ago 2
@mebeinme22 and also I don't use a chin strap
mebeinme22 4 months ago
@mebeinme22 : read my answer above
horseawareness 4 months ago
Some horses NEED more than one pound of pressure to learn to repond better! its all about the release! I Hate this video. Piece of crap
quarter9horse 4 months ago
@quarter9horse : So do some dumb humans!
horseawareness 4 months ago 3
@quarter9horse yu know wut, NO horse needs pressure. its just a person that needs to learn how to handle their horse. yu think horses need the extra pain in their mouths, yur knowledge on horses is a "Piece of crap." from me AND horses everywhere. Rick: sorry for wut ya hav to put up with... luv all yur videos!!! thank yu so much for the extra knowledge tht people need.
barrelracingfire22 4 months ago
Tom Thumb works perfect on my horse. he doesnt respond well to a d-ring but hes perfect with a tom thumb and he doesnt fight it. And that is NOT the harshest bit out there!
quarter9horse 4 months ago
Tom Thumb works perfect on my horse. he doesnt respond well to a d-ring but hes perfect with a tom thumb and he doesnt fight it.
quarter9horse 4 months ago
hey rick what do u think about side pulls?
jjahcspringer5 4 months ago
someone i know uses a tomb thumb bit with a market harbrough, i want to shoot her it is so agressive and she isn't exactly light with her hands either, also i think ANY horse can be managed in a snaffle with the right noseband and correct use, i use a loose ring snaffle or a bitless hacamore
DeathKitty123456 4 months ago
i use a bitless on my older mare but i have a 3 yr old that im, just starting i think that i should start him ith a snaffle and then go to a bosal later on or is that wrong? whats your opion ( and hat about rubber snaffles are they any easyer on there mouths?) thanks
smuggy2008 5 months ago
inexperienced or riding a yound horse, you should ride in a snaffle. sorry about how long that was, i couldnt shorten it any more. and rick, i didnt mean to offend u and im sorry if i did
barrelgal100 5 months ago
It's a shank snaffle.
shannonrose5998 5 months ago
@shannonrose5998 : No it is not a Shank snaffle, you obviously did not listen - a shank is leverage, snaffle is direct pull, but you keep passing on the wrong info if it makes you feel smart. Too bad for your horse.
horseawareness 5 months ago
@horseawareness Oh so now I mistreat horses? K. Tom thumbs work great if you know how to use them. I have a light hand so it's perfectly fine in my eyes.
shannonrose5998 5 months ago
@shannonrose5998 : so the blind man said.
horseawareness 5 months ago 8
Yep. I was one of those who thought a tom thumb was a snaffle because it was broke in the middle. This video was an eye opener for me. Got rid of the bits altogether and made a change to a rope halter. We're just beginning, my horse and I, and it's a slow go, but we've started out the way I mean to go. If I can't ride him without causing him pain, I don't need to be riding him at all.
HokeeDokey 5 months ago
wow i am worried now..i use tom thumbs (i am guna switch to snaffles now..) but my geldings dont act in pain or stressed.. but i work them mainly off of voice such as 'walk on' 'jog' 'trot' 'get up' 'cut loose' to go and 'easy' 'sshh' 'whoa' to stop and they seem pretty happy :) but anyway next trip to town snaffle bits are on the list.Thank you
fragglesrolf 5 months ago
Do you have a video that shows more about riding with a rope halter? I see that bosals seem to be used for training young horses. Do you ever use them for experienced horses? I'd like to start using a rope halter or a bosal.
FunnyGirl0808 5 months ago
hey rick, im not trying to be rude or anything like that, i do agree, every horse SHOULD be able to be rode in a snaffle or halter and u have control or else that horse (i think) shouldnt be rode much until it does, but how is a tom thumb worse than some bits out there??? i can think of at least 8 that seem more severe than that. no offense intended to u though
barrelgal100 5 months ago
@barrelgal100 : I got no problem with people questioning or disagreeing as long as it is reasonable and not based on personal or emotion. I am not a bit expert, I am sure man if fully capable of making more cruel and harsh bits than tom thumb and I don't know every bit out there, I do know what I see most and that is the Tom and it is misunderstood as a fix all bit for poor riders and I see it recommended by idiot trainers who can't train horses without pain, so your point is taken.
horseawareness 5 months ago
@horseawareness ok thanks. i really dont like a tom thumb bit much either. i think it is a cheap bit because thats what u see every little western store out there hahve and most people that cant ride use it. i too dont know a whole lot about bits other than western bits, but i do know that if people do use a snaffle, make sure that it is a well made one that the mouthpiece is slightly curved and doesnt pinch, there are a lot of snaffles out there that arent made very well and if u use those ones
barrelgal100 5 months ago
it will end up hurting na horse almost as much as a tom thumb because where the mouthpeice breaks, it hits the roof of a horses mouth and it pinches their whole mouth really bad. i read an article a few months ago that i absolutely loved about bits. it was by a cowhorse trainer Brandon Staebler.(it is intended for barrel racers but it is good for any one to read) and he talks about instead of needing a bit to "lift a horses shoulders" u need to go back to the basics of training any horse of any
barrelgal100 5 months ago
dicipline. if they are moving properly and driving with their hind end under them, u dont need to lift their shoulders, they do it to themselves naturally. I admit i ride my barrel horse in a three piece gag bit, though it doesnt have any shanks other than long enough to attatch the reins, with a low port but i almost always exercise him in a snaffle to give him a break, plus it keeps him really supple so i dont have to pull hard with anything. i also ride him in a halter tonnes too and he works
barrelgal100 5 months ago
great in anything. the rest of this is for all those haters of ricks methods. i agree with some of you, i disagree with some of what he says, but i do get where he is coming from and he does make sense. i do agree with him in this though, a snaffle or no bit is the absolute best andn if u dont like wat he is saying why r u watching his videos????? i do think if u have proper hands, u can ride your horse in whatever u want or whatever your horse seems to work best in, but if u dont or are
barrelgal100 5 months ago
i feel kinda bad bc i ride in a kimberwick, is that bad too?
Smaggie1940 5 months ago
Ooo, what about a spade bit? How do you think that would compare to a Tom Thumb?
S0XF0X 5 months ago
the tom-thumb has been proven to pinch horses mouths and cause sores, and i agree it is a bit that isnt as "kind" to a horse, but also it isnt the WORST bit out there, I have seen worse. when use in experienced hands and with a proper size for the horse with a horse used to it, i think it can be used properly. LIke you said in your own video, the bit is only as hard as the hands handling it.
showjumpingirl21 5 months ago
I ride with a halter on the roads and I've had stuck up toffs riding with torture devices commenting. Some people look down on natural horsemanship from up high on the backs of there torture horses.
twilightingX 5 months ago
I'm English and I thing this kind of bit is discussing. I ride my barefoot filly bareback and bridles, like we are an extension of each others body. I've had her since she was a 5 month weanling. I'm not a trained rider but have ridden since I was 9. Willow and I learned together. It's not hard it just takes time and patience. I started training her verbal ques from the day I got her so by the time I backed her she knew what I wanted.
twilightingX 5 months ago
I love your video..Some people just don't care enough to do what right for the horse or take the time it takes to make things better. My only question is what would be the best bit to use in western pleasure classes for showing? I want to just do open shows next year and want to do what best for my horse. I've owned my mare for 2 1/2 yrs. now and have always used a eggbutt or loose ring snaffle on her. What would you suggest I use?
DianaCapo 6 months ago
How is it more severe than that curb in your video? I would never use that curb on any of my horses, its a stiff bit, you cant get any sort of individual side flexion. If you pull on one side it also pulls on the other side. So its only good on a horse that neck reins because it only really applys back pressure. Not good for direct turning. Where the arginettean (sp?) snaffle is very flexable and can me manipulated in many ways. A bit is only harsh is wroung hands.
rodeogirlmagic 6 months ago
So Im really confused. Ive got 12 years horse experience and Ive shown and worked with many trainers. Just by saying that you will dicount what im saying but Ive always been taught that the tom thumb was the LEAST severe of the shank bits. Its shank is only like 3in long and its has a broken mouthpiece. I dont like the tom thumb because its a cheap and sloppy bit. I always upgrade my horses from a snaffle to an Argintene (sp?) snaffle. I feel its a good gentle stepup. Why is the TT more severe?
rodeogirlmagic 6 months ago
Thank you so much for posting this! When I went to equestrian school 20 years ago I was taught that the Tom thumb was a gentle bit suitable for training young horses. I feel so bad about all of the young horses I trained in this nasty piece of equipment and am just glad that I have light hands. Keeping an open mind and being willing to change yourself is an important part of being a horse person.
Cheriec11 6 months ago
How do you know it hurts them??? do read there minds????
shanabethbee 6 months ago
@shanabethbee : You are an idiot, I read your mind.
horseawareness 6 months ago 3
I got my very first horse, and she was deemed a runaway. Come to find out it was the bit. They said I couldn't ride her with anything other than a long shank bit with a high port. She was stiff as a board, didn't know how to give to pressure. It took me a little bit to reverse, but after a while I could ride her in a halter. She never ran off with me. All she needed was to be taught to give to pressure and that her mouth wasn't gonna be hurt. It's NEVER the bit people! It's the rider!
Mdequifever 6 months ago
I have no problems with bits, as long as it's used correctly. I never had to use anything over a snaffle though. I do love my hackamores! Problem I find, my Appy has such an odd shaped head he is hard to fit correctly with a hackamore lol. he has such a tiny nose and a huge jaw (cob like). I'm still trying to find something to fit him. I have one I use on him, but I'm careful when using it, sits a little low on his face then where it should be.
luckyappy 6 months ago
And when you are jumping a strong horse like my horse you need a bit with a little leverage so that you can get them to wait up to the jump and not just pull you up to it and also to get them back after the jump but that does not mean that English riders hurt there horses. Trust me if the horse wasn't enjoying themselves or didn't want to be ridden you wouldn't be staying on them and if your horse didn't want you to use a bit they would tell you!
HorsebackRidingFreek 6 months ago
@HorsebackRidingFreek : you don't have a clue, take note people, this is another person that thinks the bit is the problem or solution or the horse is the problem, or the saddle fit or 100 other things, but fails to accept that they are the problem and they are the one that does not had understanding or feel to ride without one. As I always say, I bet anyone a plane ticket and my expenses I can ride their horse with no bit in less than an hour or it's free. NO ONE HAS ACCEPTED YET.
horseawareness 6 months ago
@horseawareness hey um i am going to start to ride parelli soon do you agree with their methods
101vaporeon 6 months ago
@101vaporeon I think he has a video on his thoughts of the Parelli program
AmaterasuSpiritWolf 6 months ago
@HorsebackRidingFreek Never mind that horses are hardwired to yield to pressure that they can't overcome (such as severe mouth pain). Never mind the videos of horses protesting out of pain. These are videos of horses in equine sports such as jumping. Never mind the vet autopsies of horses with jaw arthritis, bony growths where the bits lie, fractured jaw bones from too much leverage on the bit, etc. I guess it's easy to ignore when you care more about pretty ribbons than your horse.
S0XF0X 6 months ago
@HorsebackRidingFreek Translation: I don't care, I want to win.
S0XF0X 5 months ago
But part of becoming a better rider is riding a more challenging horse and stronger horses need bits with more leverage so that the riders don't have to pull so hard so really if the rider is only using as much pressure as they need then they probably aren't pulling on the bit that hard...
HorsebackRidingFreek 6 months ago
@HorsebackRidingFreek I'm sorry! But "Stronger Horses Need Bits With More Leverage So That Riders Don't Have To Pull So Hard"........... <---------- As @horseawareness would say - That's BULL CRAP! That's being lazy & relying on a piece of metal to stop your horse! Not YOU!! A Stronger Horse REQUIRES A MENTALLY Strong rider in my opinion!! You need to watch some more of his videos! Mr T is a strong horse- but I have NEVER seen Rick YANK his reins! Even when he is riding Fresh!
PinkFire82 3 weeks ago
You basically just said that anyone that rides with a bit knows nothing about horses and is a terrible rider and that English riders are the worst for it. Yes you are right bits can be painful but only in the wrong hands, but so can riding in a rope halter. Beginners should be using a snaffle and riding a horse that they can handle...
HorsebackRidingFreek 6 months ago
My horse works better with a Tom thumb snaffle bit than a halter
12teamroperhunter 6 months ago
@12teamroperhunter : No shit, could that be that you don't know how to ride without the use of a painful tom thumb bit? Probably not, I am sure it must be something else? ? ?
horseawareness 6 months ago
@12teamroperhunter Really? Do you know why it's called "Tom Thumb"? Not because it's small. It was named after a locomotive.
trulyjupiter 5 months ago
Wow Rick, judging from some of these comments u really ruffled some feathers with this video. I don't understand why someone would watch a 10 min video and bother to leave these long hostile comments if they do not agree. The first thing u say in this video is THIS IS HOW U FEEL... and this is not a good bit ESPECIALLY FOR INEXPERIENCED RIDERS. Come on people, if u don't like the stuff he says stop watching Rick and make ur own videos. Rick, dont stop what u r doing, u r helping many horses!
slbj3940 6 months ago
@Weaponsmaster8595 : OK idiot let me explain so even you can get it. The fact that you need a 50 year experience trainer pretty much makes it clear you don't know shit about horses. So you go listen to your trainer that you are paying to be nice to you & tell you what you want to hear so your dumbass will keep paying him. If you send me money I will tell you that you are really good and you need a bit and it is the horse not you..bla bla, get a clue before you try and argue you foolish position
horseawareness 6 months ago
Continueing last comment.
I will agree tom thumbs can be painful. But shit, any horse can be painful in any bit. It's the true horseman that can learn to control it. I have ridden in curbs, snaffles, TTs, various types of shank bits, gag bits, and never once have I had a horse throw their head or try to escape me. There comes a point when training of horse and rider becomes what decides if a bit is harsh. And honestly, I have seen more distress from that grazing bit than any tomb thumb, anyday.
Weaponsmaster8595 6 months ago
Look. If you really want to play this game, if TT bits are the most god-awful bits out there, what do you have to say about barb wire, bicycle chains, tiny twisted wire snaffle? Why would you eliminate that bit, but not any of those.
My horse can be ridden bridleless, so don't bullshit me on how I can't ride without pain. And for the record, the car door example is bullshit too. if my horse is in so much pain they are trying to run away, pull, and escape me, I wouldn't be able to get softness.
Weaponsmaster8595 6 months ago 2
i also get the sense that you dont know what your talking about with this.... my trainer is a horse wisperer shes great with horses ive talked to her about the correct bit to get for a new show horse im getting. she said, let me talk to him and lets decide which bit he likes best, she knows her stuff believe me she did not say anything bad about any bit its all in what your horse likes
footballer4life22 7 months ago
@footballer4life22 : You are an idiot for trying to defend something base on YOUR TRAINER IS A HORSE WHISPERER... rofl, what a dumbass, if you trainer is so good then you should not be watching videos on youtube, I am going to tell you horse whisperer trainer on you! Go away Troll...
horseawareness 7 months ago 8
I wish I'd watched this video before ordering a nice shiny new eggbutt snaffle!! Once this horse is trained to neck rein, I will be switching to a sidepull for sure - Great, clear, straight forward lesson as always, Rick :)
GoodRedBlackRatio 7 months ago
I completely disagree with Rick Gores Horsemanship. I've watched his other videos, and if he is so utterly disturbed with bits, then the negativity displayed in his other videos is a contradiction entirely. Calling an animal "Stupid" is rude, as well as his stance on women in the horse world followed by a vast list of wrongs and zero rights. These animals are clearly trained very well, by him? I don't think so. Unless its fuelled by fear of him and his discusting habits! Stupid? Really?
spudds008 7 months ago 2
@spudds008 : Another example of a ignorant horse owner that is so closed minded and brainwashed that she can't learn or admit she does not know what she does not know. Seek your drama elsewhere, I don't care what you think and when ignorant people make stupid comments, I am glad they don't like me, last thing I need is some dummy who can't control their horse telling people they like me. Most will see you for what you are. The people that want to learn show it with their horse.
horseawareness 7 months ago
Hey Rick, To ride in top level competitive dressage events a double bridle /must/ be worn. Any suggestions as to which bit[s] would be the "best" to ride in and still stay inside the rules?
StormoRajdanto 7 months ago
@StormoRajdanto : Sorry, I am a horseman not a showman. My rules are try and do nothing to the horse that I would not want done to me. The most important thing to me is the horse, not the rules. Rules are made by people with egos and agendas that are not done with the best interest of the horse considered. :(
horseawareness 7 months ago
@horseawareness *nods* Alright, I'll keep that in mind. Thanks Rick.
StormoRajdanto 7 months ago
@horseawareness I'm not a showman either, Just thought I'd ask. =3 Thanks for the swift answer Rick.
StormoRajdanto 7 months ago
@horseawareness the lady owning the horses i rode when i was younger always told us kids to imagine we had the bit in our mouth so that we'd learn to ride with smooth hands & no bits. Even today i still feel pain every time i see someone riding with leverage bits. to me it's just human thinking to know that it's better to ride without torture instruments like metal-leverage-harsh-bits...sad that so called riding-sport does not think the same way.
ellie311 7 months ago
@StormoRajdanto well, theres pelhams, which are pretty much the same as a tom thumb. then there are full bridles which are a snaffle and a curb, which you might want to consider if your going after this man's preaching. but the curb might be a no-no in his words
ChiCokesies 7 months ago
I love my horse, I treat him with respect and do what I can for him to feel as comfortable as he can. I clean out his sheathe, medicate cuts and skin irritations, I love my horse and because I use a bit doesn't change that.
AnthraxInjections 7 months ago
I use that broken "snaffle" Tom thumb bit. I don't have a trainer, I'm a western rider and I agree that the pressure is too much but on the other hand my horse is a Standardbred and is the easiest guy. And like a leash/choke chain is to a dog I use to correct bad behaviour, keep him inline and control his direction. I'm sorry that so many disagree with this and I try not to pull and yank on his mouth, but I use a Tom Thumb snaffle with a curb. And he is cool as a cucumber with it in.
AnthraxInjections 7 months ago
Man you need humility to teach and to learn.People can not feel comfortable with you because of your negative energy. Yes no bit is better for the horse, I am sure and so is no riding. We impose our will on everything we come accross, yet instead of attacking like that just win our wills with your sound advice, show us what is best. I am from Madrid, Spain although brought up in England, I am a horse lover, owner and break my colts and others and I dislike your attitude. You post and I comment.
akanewe 7 months ago
@akanewe : Then keep doing what you are doing and stay off my channel. I put info out, take it or move on and shut up. I can't please a million and a half views and I don't try. Have your own channel, make your own videos and give your advice on your channel. Not looking for new friends. Bye.
horseawareness 7 months ago
If rope halters didn't excised I wouldn't ride a horse unless I just hold onto the mane witch would be a bit harder to control.. But I will never ever EVER put a bit in any of my horses mouths
karah0bug 7 months ago
I now understand why my mare is so soft on turns. I use a myler bit with a 5" shank? Works pretty well for her while jumping
Annathesurfer 7 months ago
You are trying to offer those people a service they (and the rest of us that ride with them) NEED.