Why Do Poeple Use Roundings With 3 Ring Gags?

ShowJumperBeckii

ShowJumperBeckii

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Iv Just Started BSJA And Some Of The Riders That Use 3 Ring Gags Use Roundings But Why?
Does It Have A Different Effect With Roundings?

P.s Im NOT Changing My Bit I Was Just Wondering :)
 
Same reason you'd use roundings with a pelham if you didn't want two sets of reins - they are designed for use with two sets. For some reason it seems to have been acceptable to use one rein on the bottom ring of a Dutch gag, but it is apparently technically incorrect.

I have no idea about the action of the thing with one / two sets / roundings, but would be interested to know.
 
By useing roundings you mess up the whole action off the bit as you would with a pelham. They shouldn't really be used if you want to get the correct use from the bit.
 
I wonder if its just a fashion. I must admit I haven't seen it.

The way a 3 ring gag works I can't imagine what the point of roundings would be. The whole point - as I understood it - of the bottom ring is the leverage on the poll pivoting on the bit which itself rasises slightly. I can sort of see the point of two reins - one on the snaffle ring and one on the lower ring - although I haven't seen that either. But roundings would soften the leverage action and pretty much reduce the use of the bit to a 2 ring gag with a single rein.

You might be able to pull the pony's teeth out a bit easier - but it is far from subtle!
 
3 ring gags seem to be a major fashion accessory around here (absolutly shocked by the pony club who I recently saw having a lesson - about 7 - 11 yr olds on lovely ponys with whips and 3 ring gags with the ponys trudging round with their noses out while being yanked in the mouth!) Anyway, back to the point - a three ring gag should be correctly used with one rein on the top ring so it works like a snaffle with a bit of poll pressure, the second rein on the bottom ring so you get more of a crank effect and then you can differentiate between the two effects when riding. Most people seem to do away with the snaffle rein and just use the bottom rein, but using roundings I guess at least admits there should be two reins, but (I guess esp when jumping) all the reins might get a bit much, so just people then just use roundings to get over that. Not so sure why they wouldn't just use a two ring gag then but each to their own. (odd / mad bitting is a pet bug bear of mine!!).
 
I believe that when using a single rein on the dutch gag, the lower rings you use, the less steering you have. So i know that double reins are used to have the steering and general affect of the snaffle, with the added poll pressure of the second rein. In the question of roundings, i am actually not sure if it would actually improve the steering more than a single rein on bottom ring, but i would guess it may make a difference.

Hope it helps
 
because they should use two reins, the thing is they wont be using the bit correctly with roundings, just like pelhams are not used correctly when being ridden with roundings.
 
Hmm, see I have recently just put roundings on with mine as (after trying many many bits over the years and still coming back to the dutch gag), I used to put the rein on the bottom ring but later found this was having too much of any effect so raised it to the middle ring - this did seem to work but I still wasn't getting the precise control I really wanted. I have put roundings on which seems to give me enough control without him backing of the bit (as he could do if on the lowest ring).

I know some people don't like them - although not sure why - I personally hate seeing people riidng in a 'kinder' snaffle yet yanking and sawing on a hores mouth to stop/steer it!

I guess it's what works for your own horse at the end of the day.
 
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