How does gag bit work

For an example of how to use the gag sympathetically and effectively, seek out some footage of Clayton Fredericks using one with the mare Be My Guest, who tends to travel very long and low between the fences, and then the gag is used to lift her and prepare for the jump.

This means the horse can comfortably travel in her own frame rather than fighting her all the way around, and still have her up and ready in front of the fence. There are a number of different options available in a running gag. The most common is the Balding Gag, which is a loose ring variety. The Cheltenham Gag features an eggbutt ring, for a quicker action with more leverage, and the Nelson Gag which has a Full Cheek is very popular with eventers to help with twists and turns on the course.

Ruth Edge is just one rider you will see using a Nelson Gag with two reins quite often. When the reins on a sliding gag are used to redirect a horse the pressure from that pull is distributed simultaneously in 2 places: on the mouth from the sliding gag bit as the mouthpiece rises slides on the shanks and the bit rises slides on the cords , and on the poll from the pressure of the headstall crown piece as the bit rises.

The horse learns that to have the pressure on his mouth and on his poll released he must give to the bit by bringing his nose in and down and picking up his shoulders to the point where he is balanced. Once he reaches this position, the pressure is released. These changes work in concert. My near hand is putting equal pressure on the snaffle and gag reins, allowing me to apply or release gag pressure with just a subtle rotation of my hand.

Ideally, you want to ride mostly off your snaffle rein, adding gag-rein pressure only when your horse gets strong. But because two sets of reins can be a little confusing, many people use gag bits with only one rein, attached to the gag cheekpieces. Doing so eliminates the option of using the bit as a regular snaffle; so anyone who does this must be a good enough rider not to hang on her horse's mouth--and poll--as he gallops. A correctly fitted gag bridle should leave one and a half "smile wrinkles" at the corners of the horse's mouth.

Gag bits are not off limits automatically if you are a novice rider--as long as you have a knowledgeable instructor. I've found that a gag can be a very good bit for a novice who is being run away with--something that's neither fun nor productive. The gag gives her more control, which allows her to be better balanced, more relaxed, and softer in her hands.

The rider's able to concentrate more on riding than on coping with a strong horse, and the two of them are happier together. Correct Fit Torrance Watkins received a team gold medal and was fourth individually at the Olympics. She has also represented the U. She trains horses and teaches students from novice to advanced from her Morningfield Farm in Hardwick, Mass. The gag cheekpiece passes through holes in the top and bottom of the bit ring and has a ring at the bottom to which the rein attaches.

Photos by Mandy Lorraine. Choosing a bit which fits your horse is important for his comfort. Read the transcript of our chat with Dale Myler, one of the founders of the Myler bitting system. The history behind the upper-level dressage bit configuration. By Gerhard Politz for Dressage Today magazine. An Olympic jumper rider and a bit-design expert team up to answer a reader's question about three-ring snaffle horse bits.

The length of the shanks on curb bits affects the severity of the bit. Most tack stores offer an overwhelming selection of bits for sale. Knowing the difference between snaffles and curbs will help you decide which type of bit is right for your horse. Horse Breeds. Horse Health Care. Is a Dutch gag a strong bit? Does a Dutch gag need 2 reins? Are Dutch gags dressage legal? Is a Dogbone bit harsh?

What does a Dogbone bit do? Previous Article How do you graph a line? Next Article What is a list sentence? Back To Top.