Learn About Western Bits: Curb, Spade, Snaffle, and Tom Thumb

Enjoy this video of what bits cowpunchers, buckaroos, and vaqueros use on their horses.

[@mjakopak]

I really appreciate this topic. Bits are a huge part of history. We have been making them since about 3000 BC depending on whom you ask. -Jumping to my point - I would like to encourage you to stop by any large tack shop and and ask for a "keeper" for your full check snaffle. You will be handed a small leather circle about the size of a quarter. You use this on the full check snaffle to begin the leverage stage of learning. If you are using a full check snaffle to keep the bit centered in the horses mouth, I would recommend a few riding lessons. Because horses are better than that, we should be too. Thank you for researching this Huge topic. I will keep watching to learn more. BTW I love my spade bits.

[@broomtailcountry]

Thanks for the information. I will keep it in mind next time I’m in a tack store.

[@annaengelson7056]

Really good information. Of course there are lots of opinions out there and not everyone will agree but I think you got things pretty spot on! Love the history too

[@dennisford6818]

You need to stick to things you really know about. A spade bit yes is for a finished horse. But when you was talking about curbs getting into the roof of the mouth is incorrect. Because of the curb strap adjustment keeps the curb spade or Mona Lisa from having much movement. So of your going to tell things tell all of it. Originally buckaroo didn't ride in any snaffle. Later horse trainers added that. But not to bad for the public

[@samclegg2805]

He's very kind and sincere. He definitely does not have the knowledge base to be an authority of the subject. There is a ton of theory and tradition to bits but also a ton of nuance to form and function, all have their vices and virtues that should be outlined. Most people haven't put as much thought into it as this young man has, some of his assertions are incomplete, some incorrect, some correct. My critique would begin with he needs to be more explicit with his bias for the tradition of which he has espoused. Good job, the production quality of your videos is improving.

[@broomtailcountry]

Thank you sir. I am trying to garner more information by making these videos and attempting to be "the man in the arena". I appreciate your comment and feel free to email me at [e-mail] with anything more you would like to say to me.

[@XxShellyW13xX]

The original purpose of the Spade bit was for horses that had become hard mouthed from years of rough handling. Once a bit didn't work anymore, a different bit, commonly referred to as a Cricket bit was introduced. Sometimes these had copper rollers to keep the horse's mouth moist. The ports on these bits were anywhere's between two to three inches in height. Once these bits didn't work anymore, then the Spade bit was brought in. The port, also called the "Spoon", because that's basically what they looked like. 😳 Some may have had rollers under the ports, or sometimes even beads. Unfortunately, the ports on these bits were from 4 - 6 inches, and if the rider was heavy handed, this would cause extreme pain and damage to the roof of the horse's mouth. This in turn is what caused the horse to rear up and over onto it's back, trying desperately to avoid the pain that the bit had caused. I'm not in favor of any type of bit like this, the Spade or the Cricket. And a Snaffle is a Snaffle no matter what is on its sides: Ring, D-Ring, Eggbut, or Tom Thumb. Even a jointed port bit is still a Snaffle, regardless of how long the shanks are. A plain port bit is just that, a Port bit, with the port not being over 2 - 21/2 inches and regardless of length of shanks, which really aren't that long.

[@melindafrazier3503]

I think most people would disagree with you about the Tom Thumb, as it is a leverage bit.

[@zacharybenson6805]

Have you ever considered doing a an email newsletter? It would be great to subscribe with my email in case you ever change platforms.

[@ArielGonzalez-wx3nn]

The reason for a snaffle bit is direct pull you can't train with levege

[@broomtailcountry]

Snaffle also allows isolation of certain parts of the mouth