Why do some bit makers call a Tom Thumb and other bits a snaffle bit

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If u compared at snaffle bit to this bit, there is not a big difference between the joint, the only difference between those bits is the shank on the Tom Thumb.
Why do people ride with a Tom Thumb instead of a plan snaffle? For my trainer her main pleasure horse does not really need a big bit that can give a lot of punishment. She likes to keep it simple with this bit, & since he is over 6 he has to be riding with one hand in class so with the Tom Thumb it keeps everything simple & if he acts up, she can still punish but not worry about a harsh bit.

people call it a snaffle because of the joint in the middle, in my opinion, that is not a snaffle, it is a Tom Thumb. l guess it depends on how you see it. It could also be a typo. Or that is what they called that along time ago (it says that it is an antique version).

a tom thumb bit has shanks on it, a snaffle has usually ''o'' rings or ''D'' rings on it. Depends on what type of leverage you want on your horse. Typically a snaffle bit is used for training, the tom thumb is for a horse that is usually a bit more trained. l really like the tom thumb bit.

heehee im guesing your from US?

im from england and snaffle is the less severe of our bits.

i mean l dont know what a tom thumb bit is lol :s
im guessing your tom thumb bit is prob equevelant of our snaffle? :s not too sure though so dont quote me on it =]

The tom thumb bit has far to much poll pressure to be considered a snaffle.

It is Similar to the wilkie snaffle (which is not a proper snaffle & is not dressage legal) in that it has more of a gag action then a snaffle action.

l personally consider these bits as very harsh & would not use one. If the horse is strong l much prefer the use of a dutch gag with double reins, or a pelham or a proper double set. that way u can ride mainly on the snaffle part & only pull the stronger action in when u need it

Its pretty much a shanked snaffle.

A snaffle does not have shanks.

snaffle is not as harsh and more for training a young horse to bend flex and respond to the bit

That is not a snaffle. It has a mouthpiece like a snaffle, but the shanks on it make it a curb bit.

It is a huge misconception that any bit with a jointed mouthpiece is called a snaffle bit. A snaffle is not necessarily a bit with a jointed mouthpiece, as is often thought. A bit is a snaffle because it creates direct pressure without leverage on the mouth. A snaffle has no shank. Therefore, a single or double-jointed mouthpiece, ( the most common designs for snaffle bits) do not make a bit a snaffle. Even a mullen mouth (a solid, slightly curved bar) or a bar bit is a snaffle. So, a Tom Thumb bit, which has a shank, is a curb or leverage bit, not a snaffle.

So, the answer to the question is: The manufacturers r WRONG!