The difference in action of the gag and kimblewick?

[Vimto22]

Hello I was wondering if anyone could clear the confusion in my head please! I have a bombers happy tongue hanging cheek, goes wonderfully in this. Hoping for a bit of breaks xc and hunting, seemed a bit uncomfortable in a kimblewick version so was considering a 2 ring gag or even changing mouthpiece as wasn’t sure if the port rotated in these bits and isn’t nice for her. Played with them off horse but still can’t get my head around it!
Thank you

 

[Leandy]

Briefly: Gag acts on the bars and corners of the mouth as well as the poll and is designed to raise the head, so good for those which put their heads down and tank off but less good for those which put their heads in the air. The Kimblewick is a curb bit with a curb chain and acts on the bars of the mouth and in the curb groove to lower the head, so better for those which put their heads up.

 

[maya2008]

Dutch gags with the rings act differently from a Cheltenham gag. I use the latter on rare occasions (like after box rest) when the horse is desperate to buck buck buck to get you to drop the reins so they can run. Dutch gags offer more control than a snaffle but not a vast amount more. Anything with a curb chain is top of the control tree.

I go (in order of increasing ‘control’)
Snaffle
Dutch gag (ring 2 mostly)
Tom Thumb
Pelham with two reins (because you can ride off the snaffle rein and just use the other if you need it).

You can also use 2 reins on a Dutch gag if desired.

Then school with the greater firepower until they will happily listen and work your way back down the ‘tree’ (at least a bit) with only needing to go back up it in really exciting situations.

Other than the mouthpiece that comes with the Tom Thumb (and a Mullen for anything with a curb chain) I stick to a French link in the middle, or a lozenge. I have had the rare one who preferred a single joint also. Some people prefer to up the severity of the mouthpiece rather than adding leverage. Personal choice I guess?