Understanding the Gag bit

IT is important to understand the function of the ‘gag’ bit before deciding if it could be a good fit for your horse. I am quite surprised by the number of riders, who are using bits on their horses and not understanding what action the bit causes in the horse’s mouth.

A popular bit introduced to horse for ‘brakes’ is a gag bit, but what many people are really using is a Dutch gag.

ACTION

This month, I would like to take the time to look at the gag bit and what action and pressures it causes. A true gag bit creates a head-lifting action. It manages this by increasing pressure on the corners of the lips, asking for the horse to raise his head. In very simple terms, a running gag is accentuating the action of a snaffle.

When using a gag, the cheekpieces of the bridle run through holes in the bit rings directly onto the reins. When rein pressure is applied, the bit runs along these cheekpieces, so as to draw the mouthpiece upwards in the horse’s mouth. The action of the gag is almost entirely on the horse’s lips, though there is some very mild poll pressure, with little or no tongue or bar pressure.

SYMPATHETIC HANDS

The severity of this bit, and all bits, is governed by the nature of the rider’s hands and, according to Anita Marchesani of The Bit Bank Australia: “The cheekpieces should have a stopper fitted to limit the upwards action of the bit, and a second rein used on the bit rings, so as to employ the gag action only when necessary. It is an example of mechanical means to produce a strong system of control, and has a place in competition riding when used by sympathetic hands.”

OPTIONS

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.

HARMONY

The Running Gag is certainly not suitable for everyone, and can be too strong for some horses. The mechanics of how it moves up the bridle and therefore upwards in the horse’s mouth can lead it to be misused, if the rider is not very good with their balance and their hands. There is certainly the danger of the cheeks being pressed and pinched between the teeth and the bit, which when done repeatedly or with force, can injure the horse’s mouth.

However, when used well and sympathetically, like any bitting choice, it can help to produce a more harmonious round for both horse and rider.