Dutch gag and roundings or double reins

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Shutterbug

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I ride Arion in a pelham with double reins for showing and flat work. I manage ok with the double reins on these occasions.

We have started jumping again - he is fitter than ever and muscled up and he is proving to be very strong - on approach to the jump he drags me into it and after the jump he wants to just go go go and my arms are finding it sore - Im also not happy with yanking on his mouth to bring him back to me - this is not a schooling issue, he just gets excited when jumping.

I have tried several bits - he is finding the Dutch gag to his liking and I was riding him last night over small jumps and he was keeping a lovely steady pace at all times. I need the gag on the next ring down from the snaffle ring. Last night I rode him in this with one rein - someone has recommended roundings - someone else double reins. I am not keen on jumping with double reins, too confusing and too much to concentrate on. I have read that roundings totally change the action of the gag but nobody has explained how - does it make it less effective, or more? Or can I just keep one rein on the second ring? Could this prove too severe over bigger jumps perhaps?

Can someone please explain how roundings affects a Dutch gag action and if you feel this is worth trying at all?

All opinions welcomed :)
 
Most people do ride the dutch gag on one rein on whichh ever ring they need to, however they were designed to be ridden in two reins. If you find riding in one rein ok then carry on, most people ride in one rein more than happily, including me.
Roundings personally i think are stupid. the idea of a bit Pelham etc....being ridden in two reins is that you can adjust the pressure on the snaffle, curb as and when you need it, all roundings do is keep the same contact on both parts, maybe when not needed.
Roundings on a dutch gag pointless, double reins or single rein.

Obviously just my view on this.
 
I go xc with dutch gag, one rein on the same ring you describe. Works for me. I have tried two reins and he really disliked it. Personally dont like roundings, so as said above if it is working on one rein then stick with that.
 
I use 2 reins with my horse as he hated the extra strength when it wasnt needed and was becoming very backwards especaly when jumping (only use for fast hacking and jumping) so we now use 2 reins as it give me the option of the extra poll pressure or not. It has worked great for my boy and I hardly use the bottom rein now as he knows that it is much nicer if he is polite but what ever works for your horse you know them best. Just for a laugh when I told a girl I know I was using 2 reins she insisted that a gag on the 2nd ring was just snaffle :p
 
Two reins, pointless with roundings as you lose the ability to adjust the pressure on the lower ring.

If he goes nicely in a pelham with two reins for showing why not try jumping him in that?
 
I stopped being a 'purist' a long time ago (when I was galloped off with on a xc course in a double bridle and got my reins in a total mess) use the one rein...

Bx
 
I've always used two reins in a dutch gag and we used to xc in it, never had a problem with getting my reins tangled but I had been riding in either a pelham with two reins or a double bridle for a while so I find two reins just as easy as one.

But I know one rein doesn't give the same action but its not like your riding on the very bottom ring and if your horse isn't objecting to it even though its not correct I would carry on how you are, but perhaps try two reins and see if he's any different if he's better with two I'd work on riding in two so you can happily jump in it.
 
Experiment and use whatever works for you and your horse!

I hunt in a waterford dutch gag with two reins (1st and 3rd rings); it works for me......if I have a big hedge coming up I can ease off the bottom rein so that the boy 'takes me' and then re-engage it on landing when he thinks 'wahay!'. It helps with two reins to have the reins of different thicknesses/materials so that you can easily distinguish them.

To get to the above solution though I had many a day in the hunting field with various roundings/reins on 2nd ring/ reins on 3rd ring etc etc.

Play around, get some advice from someone who can see you on the ground and go with what suits you both.
 
Thanks all for your advise - he is much more polite and steady coming into the jump in the gag on the second ring and I feel like I am able to keep a consistent but kind contact without the need to take a pull because he is going like a train - in other words I can sit quietly into the jump and he goes nicely for me lol. :)
 
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