[QUOTE=danacat;8528945]
A Tom Thumb is the ‘lesser evil’ of western bits-- snaffle joint, no high/solid port, shorter shanks, less curb chain pressure (unless chain is tight while bridle is ‘at rest’ so to speak) – and they do fit with the neck reining aspect of western riding better than an English snaffle–that is IF he does indeed ride with one hand. But as we know, any bit can be severe in the wrong hands…[/QUOTE]
Going to strongly disagree that a Tom Thumb is a “less severe” bit in choices among Western Style bits. They can be quite nasty in the inexperienced hands of new riders. Tom Thumb is billed as “a training bit” because of the broken mouth and shorter shanks, but still has PLENTY of bad thing going for it.
First is that it is not a quiet bit, with all the joints of mouth and shanks. Something is moving all the time with loose rein weight, horse tongue, then add in rider moving the reins to hold them tighter or for stopping. Seldom is the bit ever pulled on evenly, and when it is pulled both the rein rings head towards each other to create the “nutcracker” effect as mouth joint folds, hits horse upper palate, while sides pull inward crushing the lower jawbone. Gets worse on horse with any strong pulling!! Horse is most often confused because the bit is not steady, not giving good communication between rider and horse.
While English riders don’t like them much, a solid mouthpiece with swiveling sides is able to give some curb effect, yet stay even in the horse mouth while traveling along in the ring or on a trail ride. I have had great success with the Uxeter bit, which is often MISTAKENLY called a Kimberwick with slots in the D rings. I am NOT suggesting a Kimberwick, they are also a fairly useless bit despite their curb chain because the reins just slide up the D rings when pulled. Curb chain never really goes into effect. With reins in the slots of the Uxeter bit, the rider is able to use a little curb pressure, bit doesn’t fold in horse mouth when reins are pulled. Probably as much curb pressure as is needed with new rider, young rider, to keep control and stop the horse as needed. The swivel cheeks allow putting your hand out to the side to “lead” horse around if needed. Horse still should neck rein fine using this bit. As shown in the link, these bits will sell under both names, but you NEED the slots to make it an effective bit. They have a small port for tongue relief, solid mouthpiece of a good diameter, not thin to cut into the bars of mouth.
http://www.doversaddlery.com/uxeter-kimberwicke-bit/p/X1-01108/?ids=1dujro2vs3awtix3s31e4pwk
As the BO, I would insist on this guy getting lessons. You can point out that teaching horse BAD things is a lot more expensive to train out, than doing it right the first time. Horse will be worth MUCH LESS with bad riding, bad habits if he wants to sell it later. Girlie will be your problem, she already knows it all, will blow your advice to him off. You COULD mention that guys who ride WELL, usually are very popular in horse gatherings, where there are MANY nice, pretty girls. My son told his friends about this and they were amazed when they came to horse things with him at the ratio of girls to guys. Especially if they offered to carry a bucket for the girl! There have to be some Western Folks giving lessons around where he can go, maybe ride under another guy he would listen to. My husband liked lessons from men, they just communicated well together. Husband ended up a very good rider, Western and English, got into Jumping which he enjoyed a lot.
If the guy won’t do lessons, keeps letting the girl treat the horse poorly, he needs to move on. Going to get in trouble pretty quick.
