Cheltenham Gag with roundings!?

E

Ezme

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 February 2008
Messages
3,906
Location
North devon, Bristol (term time)
Visit site
I was just looking at the picture in PG of badminton and noticed Roberta Rotatori was riding in a cheltenham gag with roundings.... surely this makes the gag action minimal if there at all.... does anyone know why you would do this?
 
Because she has no idea how a gag works. Gags should be ridden with two reins. One rein is bad enough but roundings? Blatant display of numptiness IMO!
 
How about because he is an experienced 4* rider who has also been to the Olympics and who has discovered that this bitting combination works best for this horse? The horses do not read the books about 'bit action' and what we should or should not do/use and to call him a numpty is pretty blinking unfair considering after the XC he was in third place at his first ever Badminton having given the horse an incredible ride round.
 
I figured there was method to the maddness but just wondered if anyone knew what it might be. Mainly because half the time when you ask these questions on here someone pops up saying "oh yes, I asked them the other day" HHO is definatly a brilliant example of how everyone is only 3 steps removed!
 
Roundings may mellow the action giving just the right result that he needs from his horse. Riding XC with two reins is a nightmare. I think it is a very sensible idea really.
 
I agree with Spottedcat about horses not reading the book on bit action. People are forever slagging off the use of roundings on here but they suit many horses (and riders). I ride my horse in a pelham with roundings for jumping and hunting. I tried him with 2 reins and he hated it. But roundings seem to suit him and give me far more control than his usual hanging cheek snaffle.

So what if it's unconventional? If his horse can give him a cracking ride round Badminton then it obviously works for them!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top