Views on cheltenham gag please

B

BeckyD

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 September 2004
Messages
4,213
Location
Milton Keynes
Visit site
My instructor has today lent me a cheltenham gag to assist me with brakes when Ronnie is napping/bolting at shows etc. I rode in it during my lesson today and he seemed to accept it fine and TBH felt a bit lighter in canter but no different. She said it will come into its own when I can't stop.

Would just appreciate peoples' views on the bit and whether there is anything I should be careful of when riding in it? It's the first time I've ridden in one (other than polo ponies). It has rope/nylon cheek runners rather than leather.

Thanks guys!
 
I use one on my gelding for xc and outdoor sj. I use it with 2 reins though, so most of the time he's ridden off the snaffle rein and it's only when he gets very strong, i.e sets his neck and goes that I take a check on the gag rein. They are a severe bit, especially if used in the wrong hands and I only started using one on my boy as a last resort after he became dangerously strong and bolted with me. It is the only thing that will stop him though and like I said 99.9% of the time I ride him off the snaffle and the gag rein is loose.
 
I personally find they are a good bit for very strong horses and have known a few go well in them and respect them, I would use two reins on it though same with any other gag.
You can always swop him if you find it doesn't help or he doesn't like it.
I don't think there is anything you have to be careful of when riding in it other than to remember that it is a very severe bit if used in the wrong hands (like any other) as Calzy rightly says.
 
Do you use a martingale? I'm thinking of using this bit with two reins as well, in which case I assume I use the martingale on the snaffle rein?

I was very worried about it being severe but instructor assures me I won't do him any harm
blush.gif


If it does work, then it'll only be for "emergency" problems - 99% of the time he's stoppable - even from gallop in company. However when he gets panicky about leaving other horses and then bolts back to them, I cannot stop at all. This is when I'm hoping the gag will work... I'm hoping with time and practice he'll stop getting worried and I can go back to my usual Neue Schule training full-cheek.
 
OK thanks. I think I only still use the martingale for the neck strap safety net
laugh.gif
But also at shows when he gets anxious the head goes up and I get a mouthful of ears!
 
The cheltenham gag is designed to use with two reins, it is the only "true" gag. They come in several different variations of the snaffle mouthpiece, ie, single joint, lozenge, loose ring, eggbut etc. The gag rein lifts the head and is designed for horses that take a pull down when hunting/jumping etc. If you need a martingale this is probably not the bit for you (in some cases) as you have conflicting actions, the martingale stopping the head from going to high and the gag to "lift". (technically you could use the martingale on the snaffle rein). Hope this helps.
 
It sounds like it might be worth a try, especially in an emergency situation! I call my gag rein my emergency brakes! I've found with my boy that I've only to use it once and that's that. He knows not to try it again! I only used it for first few outdoor sj comps and then I was able to use a 2 ring gag and he was very well behaved!

Logically, as moneypit said, a gag raises the head and so using a martingale conflicts this action, but I use a hunter breastplate on him and so put the martingale attachment on it, although it's a bit too loose to do much good!! You should never use martingale on the gag rein, I used to use it on snaffle rein but now I use it on both reins for xc as it keeps them together which is handy when you're doing drops, banks etc. and have to be able to slip and then gather up your reins quickly. Also a good idea if I ever fall off and he goes galloping over the horizon, I know he's not going to get his legs caught up in his gag rein! Hopefully that won't happen though!
 
Thanks for the help. I used the bit at the sponsored ride yesterday (have to confess I just used the martingale on the gag rein). He didn't put a foot wrong, we had a couple of gallops, I took a check on it at times and he didn't try even once to get away from me. I rode with two reins on Saturday and found it difficult to juggle so as I was very worried about his behaviour yesterday I opted for the single rein at the sponsored ride. But in future I'll be getting to grips with 2 reins.

I could probably take the martingale off him TBH. I treat the neck strap as a safety blanket. The martingale is very loose.
 
Hi - thanks for the guidance! Yes, it's very much emergency brakes as normally I can pull up from gallop in his usual lozenge snaffle. But at times (if he bolts) I cannot stop at all, and he doesn't tend to look where he's going!

I think I'll look into taking his martingale off. I rode on Sunday with one rein and martingale on the gag rein, but it's awfully loose (too loose to be much use as a martingale, but the neck strap gives me comfort).

I need to learn to use 2 reins!
 
2 reins is easy when you get used to this - polo players manage 2 reins, mallet and a whip!!!

Take the martingale off and leave the neck strap, if you horse needs a head raising bit (assuming they stick head down and tank off) then you won't need one.
I can understand wanting to use one to pretend its not a neck strap, but all the best riders use neck straps and grab handles (now named balance straps by the weird dressage fraternity) on youngsters, so if anyone comments tell them where to go!!!

I like the running gag as its a 'clean' action, but would prefer people not to use a single joint if possible!
 
Now that's interesting as I'm looking at the NS lozenge gag to buy, and wondering whether it's worth the extra cash (bearing in mind this bit won't get much use). I hate single joints but they are cheaper
frown.gif


I'll get used to double reins eventually I hope, just need the practice! 2nd ever time using them but at a sponsored ride probably wasn't the wisest plan although he was so beautifully behaved as it turned out that I would have been fine
laugh.gif


I don't know whether I need a head-raising bit per se, it's just what my instructor recommends. Although thinking about it yes, it does feel like his head is between his knees when he goes, so I guess that's low!!

Argh I'll take the martingale off. I'll use a simple neckstrap for jumping, he can put in massive leaps sometimes and I fear getting left behind and jabbing him in mouth, so have learnt to slip a thumb thumb under neck strap if I can feel one of "those" jumps coming. I'm not ashamed of using neck strap
laugh.gif


Thanks so much for the advice.
 
Well normally I'd try flogging you one of ours as we do a lozenge loose ring running gag for £20. However I think we are out of 5.5" at the moment, so only have 5" left!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top