General info about bitting?

[mandwhy]

Hello

I have been reading a bit about bitting and as I don't know that much about it wondered if anyone wanted to tell me what bits they use, on what sort of horses and why they use them?

I don't know what my share horse wears - it pretty much looks like a snaffle (single jointed) but with three rings including the snaffle ring. Having looked at pictures it could be a dutch gag, I thought this was quite a severe bit but reins are only attached to the snaffle ring so does that mean it just has a snaffle action?

She is quite a fast horse despite her 22 years and does on the odd occasion put her head down and tank off! She does it less now we have got to know each other and she has started to respect me more, and when she does do it she will slow down when it's important, it's more like not differentiating between canter and gallop! Now I have got used to it I am more able to think about my seat and what I am doing in general as I am not worried so much about falling off, but I am mostly just interested in bits and what they do.

Also I am curious how double reins work?

 

[spotty_pony]

Yep, it sounds like the bit your are describing which your horse has is a Dutch Gag. Riding with it on the Snaffle ring (main big) ring it will give the same action as a normal snaffle bit. If you were to put it on the 2nd, this would give the bit a little bit more leverage which would also apply some poll pressure. The bottom ring provides even more leverage and even more poll pressure.

Hope this helps