Those who use cheltenham gags - help me with reins!

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LizzieRC1313

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I've taken the plunge and got a NS waterford balding gag out of the bitbank for the horse x tank for use only on hacks and fun rides etc and I'm hoping it may give me some semblance of brakes. I went & bought a second pair of reins yesterday but as I have never used 2 sets of reins I want some advice on how to use them? How do you guys use yours for out hacking? Do you hold both at all times or do you just hold the snaffle rein and pick up the gag if you need it? I've heard they are only really effective if you pull on the gag rein only, so where is the snaffle rein in this situation? My boy is good most of the time so this is why this set up appeals because most of the time he only needs a snaffle, but he does have a tendency to jog/rush home and as my other posts have said, he can bog off if he fancies it :rolleyes:

Would really appreciate opinions/advice.
 
For fast work (hunting) I use just one rein on the gag ring - for slower work I have in the past knotted the gag rein over horses neck and used snaffle rein then picked up gag when needed it (just before jumping/cantering) WHATEVER YOU DO !! DONT use the 2 reins together as you will have nothing (I can vouch for this out hunting - I had both reins and tried using both and then tried using a hedge to stop whcih we ended up jumping .... mmm)

In an ideal world you would hold both reins but only have contact with one rein at a time ! if you can do this great but if you think you will panic and take a hold on both I would either knot one or just use one rein !!

I try to go back to a milder bit if not hunting (myler with port and if needed curb) but have to say that the cheltenham gag I used was a brilliant bit for fast work !
 
meesha said:
for slower work I have in the past knotted the gag rein over horses neck and used snaffle rein then picked up gag when needed it (just before jumping/cantering) WHATEVER YOU DO !! DONT use the 2 reins together as you will have nothing (I can vouch for this out hunting - I had both reins and tried using both and then tried using a hedge to stop whcih we ended up jumping .... mmm)
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Thanks for your reply! When you pick up the gag rein though, isnt the snaffle rein sort of worryingly flapping about your horse neck? Or am I being thick?? This is what I can't get my head around!! I've bought a very thin and slightly shorter rein to use on the gag which can easily just be knotted on his neck, but am thinking it might be better knotting the snaffle rein ( basically shortening it) and then having the gag loose and then if I had to drop the snaffle and pick up gag the snaffle wont be really long and flapping about?:confused: As I can ride on the buckle for a lot of the time out normal hacking, I don't need a contact. I think for fun rides etc I'll just use the one rein on the gag!

Note to self, in future always buy horse with brakes included.....
 
I use one for my cob out hunting, with a grakle, like Meesha does. My cob is so light in this that I literally have to touch the curb rein and she is back to me. I only use the one rein when hunting.
If you can ride lightly 99% of the time and only need it that 1% when horse has taken a hold or isn't listening then I would say just use a curb rein but remember it it very strong.
 
I would keep ahold of both reins all the time and if need be just let the snaffle or gag rein (whichever you're not using) slip through your fingers so you don't actually have to drop it. That way if your horse drops his head and goes to buck the loose rein won't fly all over the place and be in danger of you losing it altogether (past experience taught me this valuable lesson :D)
 
Thank you so much for everyone's replies. I have finally received all my new bits of tack - NS waterford balding gag, rope cheek pieces and grackle noseband. Now to go about fitting it all and learning how to use it. Am just praying to god that I may have some semblence of control in it all and we can start going on some more adventurous hacks and possibly fun rides this summer!

Thank you so much for all your help, this forum has been great for suggestions and advice.

Lizzie
 
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