Ok Here's one for ya. Ihave a 6yr old TWH mare that was broke in Tennessee with a Tom Thumb snaffle, I rode her in that for about 6 months and then started her in the Prelli system. She did great and I started riding her with the rope hackamore and she gaited well, flat walk, running walk,(which is all I want) and handled  like a lady on rides. Here recently she started to push through the hackamore and go into a pace so I put the bit back in and here is where it gets confusing- I can lay the bridle on her neck and ask for a faster gait with my seat and legs and she will gait untill I ask her to stop. Is it just the weight of the bit in her mouth that brings back the memory for her to gait or what? any opinions?

Thanks Rick

First of all, a Tom Thumb is NOT a snaffle.  If a bit has shanks and a curb chain, it's a curb bit, not a snaffle.  A jointed mouthpiece is not what makes a snaffle a snaffle.  We've discussed this before and for those of us who hate a Tom Thumb bit, you know who you are and probably reacted to the first line of this post the same as I did!

My friend also has a TWH.  When she first got him, his gait was OK, but then she started the Parelli thing.  She also went to the rope halter and her horse lost his gait.  It turns out that many gaited horses NEED the proper bit in order to get a proper head-set.  It's the head-set that helps them to set themselves up for the gait.  Apparently, you can't get the right head-set with just a halter.

I'm not a fan of Parelli, and this is just another reason why.  Every horse, no matter what he says, does not go well in a halter.  Some do, some don't.  There's a long discussion about Parelli on this forum also. 

It sounds to me like your TWH is one of those who needs help to get the gait right.   They have bits made just for your breed of horse and they are designed to help them get the gait right.

huntseat. ... no - a snaffle is a bit that does NOT use any curb chain action and DOES NOT have leverage.

A jointed Kimberwicke is a curb bit - it uses a curb chain AND it works on leverage.

If you look at many speed and action bits, you will find many that combine a mullen shaped mouthpiece on a large diameter ring - but the ring is fixed to the purchase (the part that attaches to the headstall) - the mouthpiece can actual move around the cheek ring - but there is also a curb of some sort.

Many speed and action bits are combinations of gag, curb, and sometimes even a jointed mouthpiece.

The TWH bits I am aware of usually have long shanks (the part that falls below the mouth) with either a jointed or solid (mullen or ported) mouthpiece. The bottom of the shanks, when very long (more than 5 inches) will have a bar or stiff chain keeping them from spreading too widely.

A snaffle bit is one that has a jointed or solid mouthpiece and has contact with both reins and headstall on the same cheek piece / ring.  Sometimes a curb strap is used to simply prevent the bit from sliding through the horse's mouth.

A curb bit has shanks, where reins are attached, and the headstall is attached to a portion of the bit called the purchase. The mouthpiece has no direct contact with the reins.

There are of course mecates / bosals, hackamores, side pulls, pelhams, weymouths, etc.  which have their own use.

Before a war on bits gets started, I posted this because I need some information. 1-- Horse will gait in a rope halter but not well.

2-- Horse gaits very well in a Tom Thumb bit (snaffle or not).

3 I don't particularly like this bit becaus of its nut cracker effect if you pull straight back on the reins (which I don't do). plus it is not very usuful in getting the horse to bend her head around for an emergency stop because of the swiveling action of the shanks.

4--- I probably need to use a bit to get her to gait properly

5-- What is in whoevers opinion the most HUMANE bit I could use to accomplish this.

I really do appreciate any and all opinions, My wife who  rides very little and myself are in our late 40's, my horses are very gentle and I do not want to cause any accidents by using the wrong equipment.

thanks

Rick 

It's amazing when the subject "Tom Thumb" comes up, watch out. Anyway, the best bit works best in the best hands.

On the subject of TWHs. My experience with them and I have owned several, is any snaffle, no shanks, just don't work well  with getting them to gait. Mine have always wanted to pace and lean into the bit. From what I have learned from TWH trainers is that walkers almost need that shanked action for them to hold a running walk. They need the poll and curb action. But remember if your horse is breaking into a pace he  probably is not balanced and is leaning on his forehand and on you, your hands. He needs to adjust his weight and balance to his back end and be lighter in the front. This takes time and with walking horses there is no rushing them. Some are more pacier than others. 

 Your horse is probably ready to get away from a snaffle mouthpiece and move into curbed, low port bit with shanks. A good bit to move into is a pinchless bit, IMO. Schneiders Saddlery(www.sstack.com) carries a pinchless bit called a Robart Pinchless bit. There are several to choose from there and are reasonable in price. I've seen them on Ebay as well.

Good luck with your glide ride! 

Hi Rick:  please look at showstoppertack.com  or nationalbridle.com

we use the twh pleaure bit the most for trail riding, it has the mullen mouth and is a one piece bit with no moving parts.  use a curb chain adjusted loosely and you should be good to go.  Also, you might want to look at gaitsofgold.com

Good luck.....

  Rick:  New (to me) book,  "Lessons with Lendon"

I am really enjoying this book and it has a lot of good, solid, basic info......    Please remember that sometimes you can confuse a horse who is used to a certain type of bit....  Personally I do not believe the snaffle is the goal;  my goal is to exchange info with my horse in a way that we both understand and are least stressed by.   Good riding and happy trails. 

I would like to thank everyone for their replies and opions, to learn one must take in and filter out information. being almoooooosttt 50, some time it takes me a while. Any way acouple of years ago I bought a Mikmar Combo bit designed by Frank Evans, used it a couple of times and liked it pretty well (you don't have to use much pressure with it). so as I have been working through this  problem the last couple of weeks-- my horses stop when you relax and have very good lateral flexion to both sides(I do do a lot of ground work), they can side oass fairly well and all that. I came up with a brainstorm--- I put the Mikmar bit on and the hack over top of it, started at the flat walk with the hack asked for a little faster gait and when the nose came up and she started to pace I used the Mikmar (which applies pressure to the poll, nose, chin, and bars all at the same time) to get her nose down some and she went into a real good flat walk, we worked onthis for about a hour a day for three days , she will now runwalk in the hack but still tends to want to pace, so I  did some research and it seems as I think someone said that Walkers sometimes need the bit to balance themselves. Sorry this is so long. So I think that I will probably use an  o-ring snaffle and teach them that its only to help them gait.

Thanks Everyone

Rick