Bit transition

[Sunnie]

I have ans 8yr old mare that had 120 days of professional training when she was 4 but she has had three babies in the past three years and I havent rode her in anything but a o-ring snaffle. What would be the best way to transition her to a shank bit. I have tried a tom thumb and she dosent seen to like it much she throws her head. :( thanks for the help

[Lindsayanne]

Tom thumbs are not good transition bits for inexperienced riders. Because a TT has shanks AND a broken mouthpiece it's actually extremely painfull because when there is tension on the reins, the jaw has a feeling of being in a nutcracker, while that joint is driven straight up into the roof of the mouth. Ouch! I'd toss my head too!

You need to consider that curb bits are only appropriate for very well trained horses who can be controlled 99% off legs and the slight leverage of the weight of a slack rein moving one inch.

Continue to ride her in the snaffle until she's completely back up to par and turning and halting and transitioning totally off your legs and the weight of a rein laid on her neck.