Ok In to the question I posted like 10 minutes ago would it be better to use the tom thumb bit instead of my copper roller bit I use know on my horse. Mind you I‘am a first time barrel racer and I could use all the advice I can get.
Go with a loose ring snaffle since ur a beginer barrel racer that way if your too harsh on your horse around turns and what not she wont get so mad. Plus they wont do as much damage hopefully. but then again its not the bit that is harsh its the hands that control it. But I dont know what barrel racers use mabey a gag bit idk. they dont sound very nice though wait just read ur question again. How long have u had the horse? if you have had her for a while and she is hard mouthed its probly your fault. NO im not just saying cause ur a barrel person. Basically horses dont come hard mouthed people make them like that and u shouldnt have to worry about differnt bits. so my final conclusion is trainer and a loose or D ring snaffle. Trainer can help u teach ur self to be softer also making your horse softer too :) good luck happy trails I would say ride her in a snaffle and ride in a round pen so she cant run off. I think the bit u are using now wont will be got for barrels since u have to turn and stuff. The bit you use looks like it shoud be ridden in with one hand in a horse thats very trained. It dosent really look like it would be good for getting a horse soft and supple
Well the tom thumb is more of a leverage bit so if you were to happen to pull too hard your horse's head might come up and smack you in the face. So a snaffle might be better. I know a lot of people say that the tom thumb is really harsh because of then nutcracker action but all jointed bits have the same action so they are not as harsh as people make them out to be. I've used them to break 2 year olds.
If the tire pressure is really that high not only do you risk a blowout but it will wear in the center of your tires really bad and ride very stiff.
I always used a single jointed smooth copper mouth or sweet iron full cheek snaffle for barrel racing. My barrel horses were trained in dressage, transitioned to western performance, and then trained to run barrels and poles so they were fully conditioned as athletes and responsive to body aids before they were ever raced. The cheek bars of a full cheek snaffle give very good signal for turns while they also prevent the mouthpiece from being pulled laterally through the mouth, and the single joint allows for independent signal to each side of the mouth. If you use bit keepers on the upper cheek bars, there is slight poll leverage and good stability of the bit in the mouth. There is no leverage on the mouth, which I prefer for speed events since leverage should be used for refinement and with a finesse that just doesn't happen when you combine high speed and sharp turns. When your barrel horses are trained to body rate, there is no need for more bit than a simple full cheek snaffle. The American Tom Thumb is a curb bit with a very poor design, and I never recommend it to anyone.
