wench
Well-Known Member
Does the bit need to sit at the same height as an ordinary snaffle?
Positioning of NS universal/dutch gags in mouth?
- Thread starter wench
- Start date
jen1
Well-Known Member
My horse has one you fit it so that you have the usual couple of soft wrinkles at the side of the mouth, as you would the snaffle. You will need to shorten the cheek pieces to accomodate the top ring. There's an arrow this must be on the left side facing forwards so you know you have the bit the correct way round in the horses mouth.
"It is very important that the arrow engraved at the end of the mouthpiece is positioned on the left hand side (nearside) of the horse pointing forwards otherwise the lozenge will be positioned in an incorrect angle over the tongue."
Look on Shop for bits web site they have lots of useful info on there!
"It is very important that the arrow engraved at the end of the mouthpiece is positioned on the left hand side (nearside) of the horse pointing forwards otherwise the lozenge will be positioned in an incorrect angle over the tongue."
Look on Shop for bits web site they have lots of useful info on there!
flyingfeet
Well-Known Member
Wrong!
If you set it so it has the standard 2 wrinkles, the minute you pick up a contact, it already lifts in the mouth and heads for the teeth. This is not desirable.
You should have one soft wrinkle at the most, so when a contact is established the bit then sits in the desired position and gets jacked up when more pressure is applied
I see continental gags fitted wrongly every day, because books only ever cover the fitting of a snaffle and ignorance is bliss.
If you set it so it has the standard 2 wrinkles, the minute you pick up a contact, it already lifts in the mouth and heads for the teeth. This is not desirable.
You should have one soft wrinkle at the most, so when a contact is established the bit then sits in the desired position and gets jacked up when more pressure is applied
I see continental gags fitted wrongly every day, because books only ever cover the fitting of a snaffle and ignorance is bliss.
JessPickle
Well-Known Member
I have mine positioned with only 1 wrinkle as that is how it appeared to be fitted in the brochure that came with it.
jen1
Well-Known Member
Ohh ok I stand corrected as this was how my instructor fitted it! Will check tonight thanks!!
Also should it be stated that it should be used with 2 reins??
Also should it be stated that it should be used with 2 reins??
hellybelly6
Well-Known Member
A NS Universal can be used with one, 2 reins or Pelham roundings. If using a dutch gag, you can use 1 rein, but if you need to use the 3rd - bottom ring, use pelham rounds as otherwise the bit can over rotate in the mouth.
This is Jake in his Universal, I use roundings since this picture was taken. I would have only one crinkle/wrinkle when fitting this bit otherwise as the mouth piece is raised in the mouth, it can go into the teeth.
This is Jake in his Universal, I use roundings since this picture was taken. I would have only one crinkle/wrinkle when fitting this bit otherwise as the mouth piece is raised in the mouth, it can go into the teeth.
Madasmaz
Well-Known Member
Agree with Cotswolds..one wrinkle. If you have two you are riding with the handbrake on. Its a stronger bit than a snaffle so you need to watch the contact.
Tonks
Well-Known Member
Just to add to information, and please correct me if I'm going over stuff you already know, but it may be best to check the fitting of your bit with a professional as there are many aspects to consider.
One veterinarian article stated that when fitting, a bit should be first placed low in the mouth. Then, the horse will naturally take up the bit. At this point this is the correct fitting. Not sure about this one!
From reading and chatting to professionals these are some of things I've learnt over the years - but please correct me if I'm wrong!
*I always open my horses mouths once the bit is fitted as it may look right but it might be sat on their teeth (!) with very little wrinkling on the outside or vice versa as the position of their teeth is set how/high in the jaw in comparison to the lips which may be long/short!
*are your horse's lip fleshy? Therefore, it may be more appropriate to have bit slightly higher than a non fleshy horse.
*age of your horse - as the horse get older it has less space in its' mouth. This is not obvious when just looking at the horse.
*is your horse's tongue large or small? As this (along with the palate) tends to be the most sensitive part and will therefore, dictate fitting/size/type of mouthpiece. When the contact is taken up the DG bit will not only be raised in the mouth but it will also rotate in the mouth and put pressure on the tongue more than some other types of bits.
*Breed of the horse - TB's can have narrow bars, for example.
*movement of tongue whist being ridden. I believe that all horse's tend to draw their tongue back to swallow, to some degree, but some put pressure on the bit which may nessitate a change of position - but this is usually a symptom of tension and not desirable to simply lift the bit (tongue over the bit.)
Changing subject - I've heard that dutch gags were originally designed to be used only with 'roundings' and not with individual reins at all. Has anyone else heard this one?
One veterinarian article stated that when fitting, a bit should be first placed low in the mouth. Then, the horse will naturally take up the bit. At this point this is the correct fitting. Not sure about this one!
From reading and chatting to professionals these are some of things I've learnt over the years - but please correct me if I'm wrong!
*I always open my horses mouths once the bit is fitted as it may look right but it might be sat on their teeth (!) with very little wrinkling on the outside or vice versa as the position of their teeth is set how/high in the jaw in comparison to the lips which may be long/short!
*are your horse's lip fleshy? Therefore, it may be more appropriate to have bit slightly higher than a non fleshy horse.
*age of your horse - as the horse get older it has less space in its' mouth. This is not obvious when just looking at the horse.
*is your horse's tongue large or small? As this (along with the palate) tends to be the most sensitive part and will therefore, dictate fitting/size/type of mouthpiece. When the contact is taken up the DG bit will not only be raised in the mouth but it will also rotate in the mouth and put pressure on the tongue more than some other types of bits.
*Breed of the horse - TB's can have narrow bars, for example.
*movement of tongue whist being ridden. I believe that all horse's tend to draw their tongue back to swallow, to some degree, but some put pressure on the bit which may nessitate a change of position - but this is usually a symptom of tension and not desirable to simply lift the bit (tongue over the bit.)
Changing subject - I've heard that dutch gags were originally designed to be used only with 'roundings' and not with individual reins at all. Has anyone else heard this one?