A gag bit contains a rope or rolled leather cheek piece that slides through the bit ring when the rein is used. This pulley effect is designed to increase the lifting action of the snaffle bit upward against the corners of the mouth, making it an option for horses that like to run on the forehand with their head “on the ground” going to jumps. Since this can be a dangerous mode of transport, a tap from the gag rein is certainly a better option.
The gag should also be ridden in two reins, making it a normal snaffle bridle at all times until the horse plunges his head down. The mouthpiece works best when not excessively thick (a single-jointed metal type is most often seen). An eggbutt ring is recommended in order to keep the pulley cord on the correct vertical plane to signal the horse to come up.
Next bit >>
Back to HorseChannel’s Online Bit Guide.
Back to HorseChannel’s Online Tack and Horse Equipment Guide
It’s full-on fall here in western Pennsylvania. As the leaves change, the air turns crisp,…
Get to know the essential parts of a western saddle with this comprehensive guide. Plus,…
Finding a bit that gives you the ability to communicate clearly with your horse and…
Blue Ridge Trailers is a family-owned business, Donna and Rob Martin found their way into…
It's often what you can’t see that leads to trouble, and that’s definitely the case with white line disease. Understanding…
Welcome to Horse Illustrated’s weekly installment of the Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, offered in partnership with the…
Two hours’ drive from Budapest in the picturesque Bükk National Park lies Szilvásvárad, a beautiful little village that is home…
During the height of the pandemic and racial tension around the U.S., two boys struggling with ADHD found healing through…
When you think of the term “companion horse,” one that is versatile with the ability to fill a variety of…
Each year, hurricanes, wildfires, and severe storms force thousands across the country to evacuate their homes. When preparing for a…