Dutch Gag bit

[HaffiesRock]

Hi everyone, this is my first post on this forum

I have just taken on a new loan horse. Shes coming on 17th September but just have a question.

When i went to try her she was wearing a dutch gag bit with the reins on the biggest ring. The woman said all she does is hack her out and never schools, so she can be strong when schooling.(she was schooling in an open field) She was very strong and did pull alot! Im 5ft 2in and slight in build, the mare is a 15.2 gypsy cob and is very cob like!

What I am getting at is how best should I use this gag bit? When I get her home ill school her on the biggest ring and see what happens, but just wanted some advice on what actions I can use with this bit, and if it is at all suitable? I will be having lessons and restarting the schooling from scratch so dont want a quick fix. Ideally Id love to change her to a basic snaffle and work from there, but any advice would be great

Thanks

 

[Dutch1horse]

You could use 2 reins, 1 on the Snaffle ( big ring) and 1 on the second or third ring, depending on how strong she is. That way it's there if you need it but you don't have to use it.

 

[tigerlily12345]

if the reins are on the biggest ring then the bit is having the same action as a snaffle.

 

[You Wont Forget Me]

if the reins are on the biggest ring then the bit is having the same action as a snaffle.

Its still stronger than a snaffle and uses poll pressure prob closer to a hanging snaffle

 

[classicalfan]

There is more problem with severe hands than severe bits. Even a mullen mouth can cause pain in the wrong hands. Good lcuk with your new mare and have fun.

 

[POLLDARK]

It is a very versatile bit. If you school on the top ring it will then feel the same using a hanging cheek to do a dressage test. If you feel like going for a blast in open country try dropping it down a ring, even two if she is very strong, then you will have brakes when needed, just remember to use it lightly at other times.

 

[ex racer rider]

My mare has a very very soft mouth and responds well but if she wants to have off she will push through any pain she feels, so I have her in a dutch gag on the second hole but with a french link mouth so it is mild and I rely on the poll pressure rather than mouth pressure. Thats for schooling if she's being a tit or for fast work, hacking and jumping. Other times she is in a hanging cheek plain snaffle

 

[sydneyfree]

Hi,

Like the others said, the dutch gag is a really versatile bit. Basically the lower you have the reins the more leverage you have and the stronger the bit is. Always start with the biggest ring first and only move down if you need more help with brakes.

The first thing to do is wait and see how she reacts when you get her home and try her where you are going to ride her. You said that when you tried her it was in a big field, so you may find that if you are schooling her in a more confined space you won't need more strength from the bit.

Another thing to consider is the mouthpiece on the bit. Some horses don't like bits with a single joint in the middle as they don't like where the pressure is when you use the bit and therefore they actually get stronger and react against it. You can get the dutch gag either with a single joint in the middle, or with something like a french link mouthpiece which has a link in the middle and means that the bit lies flatter in the mouth and works more on the tongue than the bars of the mouth when you have to use it. Although the french link is seen as a stronger bit than the single joint it can actually be softer as some horses prefer the linked bit and therefore don't react as much against it which means you don't have to pull as much.

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Good luck with her, I hope you have lots of fun.