gag: one rein or two?

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madeleine1

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i hope you lot can help me.

i brought a horse in may from a riding school where the grandaughter of the place used to compete her to medium dressage when she wasnt in the riding school.

the horse has always been in a gag in the riding school,(dont no what she was in for dressage but i assume it was a snaffle). the rains are always on the second ring, one rein. i know the people i brought her of know alot as people drive for hours for lessons with these people. however they might have been useing one rein in the school as people cant cope with two.

should i put two on, and how do i do this, i have another set of basic reins, should i just use these? confussed me. do i just have one set of normal reins on the first ring and one on the next if i want?
 
you use two normal reins =- usually a thicker one on snaffle - thinner on lower rein

put the snaffle rein on the large ring and a 2nd rein on the lower ring - then you have to learn to hold and use them correctly - tbh that's best done by a RI as difficult to explain/show over a forum in case you get wrong end of stick from description!
 
Best thing to do is have a lesson while using two reins, before going out hacking etc.

You just need another set of reins to add to another ring! I'd get slightly different set so you at see or at least feel the difference between the two.

Most people take both reins in your hand as normal then take the bottom rein between your middle and 3rd fingers. Some use them paralell, but you'll have to try it and see what works for your horse.
 
noblesteed said:
Does the horse really need something as severe as a gag? If it competed medium dressage it will be used to going very nicely in a snaffle anyway.
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um yes as she is very strong. the girl who used to ride her is very good and is aiming for the olympics, after pony champs in the past
 
Without sounding too sarky. Why are you querying the successful bitting arrangements implemented by an international rider, in favour of those proposed by a bunch of armchair experts on the internet.

I agree that experimentation is a good idea also you horse may change in a new environment. Don't automatically believe everything you read on here though, speak to the previous owners, get their advice. If she is strong and happy in her current bit, don't stress it.
 
siennamum said:
Without sounding too sarky. Why are you querying the successful bitting arrangements implemented by an international rider, in favour of those proposed by a bunch of armchair experts on the internet.

I agree that experimentation is a good idea also you horse may change in a new environment. Don't automatically believe everything you read on here though, speak to the previous owners, get their advice. If she is strong and happy in her current bit, don't stress it.
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i totally understand what you are saying and most of the time i would agree.
however the horse is still at the same yard and before the rider went away from training fro a couple of months she suggested that two reins might be a good however she has gone away and i havnt had chance to ask her how to do it so i thought id ask on here for the basics and have a go.
btw i used the double reins how described on here and my wonderful princess kept her head nicely and worked really well. as soon as i can afford some on the lessons at my yard i will have some to progress further
 
cm2581 said:
The horse was probably competed in a double bridle!! If what you are doing works then stick with it! If it ain't broke don't fix it!
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thing is she was being nice but she wasnt getting to the level i had seen her at and altho shes happy i wondered if i could make it all better and happier.
 
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