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THE DUTCH GAG - SOLVING OR CAUSING PROBLEMS
By Ken Perrin of the SALE or RETURN BIT BANK

'I want to be able to stop him'. 'He's very strong', 'he's forward going' . 'He flattens his jumps and tanks off' Common problems encountered by many riders and frequently the 'first half' of a conversation made to me at the Sale or Return bit bank. What can you suggest? is the next part of the conversation.

I usually respond with 'I probably know what your riding in - a Dutch Gag, with a flash noseband, a martingale and single reins'.
HOW DO YOU KNOW? i'm asked.

Well, experience during my work on the bit bank leads me to KNOW that the most problems I get are with horses with this, or part of this combination of Bit/Noseband/Attachment. Let's now go through these problems individually.

I WANT TO BE ABLE TO STOP HIM. Well, there are a couple of suggestions if this is all you want. Either put him in the stable and never let him out, or have the Vet or Hunt put him down. I guarantee that he will be stopped permanantly.

HE'S VERY STRONG. Horses are! They have more muscle in their necks alone than the average rider has in their entire body. You are never going to win with strength. Remember 'IT TAKES TWO TO PULL'. So let's approach this in a different way. Keep it simple and remember that we are onle ever asking a horse to do two things:
(A) Listen & (B) Move off your leg. This can only be achieved by regular schooling at the slower paces. Too often I am informed of horses that are very strong or uncontrollable in canter.

What about walk & trot. To achieve something out of a lesson we must be able to walk, trot and canter - every lesson. Well, i'm sorry to disagree. In December last, I brought my own horse back into work. I ride him every day, take two lessons a week from an International Dressage rider and only introduced SOME canter work at the beginning of April. Three and a half months of mainly walk & trot with lots of transitions (listening) and the introduction of lateral work (moving off the leg).

When it goes wrong in a lesson - as it does - we spend the next lesson or two in walk again, gradually building up to trot. And what a walk he's got. HIS TROT'S NOT BAD EITHER. The canter is still unbalanced - I don't expect any more after only four months. Give him another year and he (and me) will be getting there. Who's in a Hurry. HE'S FORWARD GOING. to which I reply 'then you should be able to ride him in a headcollar'. SILENCE! A horse that tanks off or won't stop is not 'FORWARD GOING', it's either badly mannered, over fed or badly schooled. A forward going horse is one that ' moves off a light leg into a gentle and consistent rein contact'. Top quality dressage horses, eventers & showjumpers are forward going. A horse or pony tanking round at 90MPH is not! It's out of control. FLATTENING JUMPS AND TANKING OFF.

Well, the Dutch gag can be a very strong bit, who's action is to roll against the gums and lift the head, coupled with this is a lever system (martingale) that makes it even stronger. Then, someone comes up with the bright idea to put a flash noseband on it because during all this, the poor animal keeps opening it's mouth. Imagine yourself with a tooth ache. You either hold the side thats hurting, are constantly moving your jaw and playing with the sore tooth with your tongue to get in a comfortable position to lessen the agony - WHILST MOANING IN AGONY. Poor Horse. It's already in pain and frightened of getting hurt anymore so it's natural 'Fright & Flight' instincts takes over and it zooms off! Oh, and it cannot moan to let you know!

Look, i'm not here to say NEVER use a Dutch Gag - a lot of people use them very successfully. However, what I am saying, is there are different ways to achieve more harmony and control than by using one of these bits. What I am saying is that they are sometimes used in ignorance (not malice). Ignorance can be overcome by regular lessons with an instructor. Also, you may need to look at other aspects of the horse, Teeth, Back, Muscles, Saddle fit, Feed regimes that could be causing a problem.

Firstly, how much Instruction do you get? The top riders in the world all have lessons. Put a Dutch gag into their hands and the Horse probably wouldn't even know it's there. They have the seat and more importantly the 'hands', through years of schooling and instruction not to let it make much difference. Unfortunately, the Dutch Gag is often used to overcome a deficiency in the riders (or instructors) ability to understand the basics of schooling, or is used on the advice of a 'friend' who 'thinks' it will overcome your problem. If you are using a Dutch gag through a 'friends' advice, ask this friend how many sets of reins it should be ridden in. They probably would say one. Actually, it should ALWAYS be used with two, one set on the bit ring (snaffle action) and the other on either the first or second ring down.

This gives the horse the freedom to relax and is only 'reminded' when the Gag rein comes into action. If using a martingale, this can be attached to the snaffle rein, not the gag rein. In conclusion, and I know I have been very forthright about Dutch Gags, but I really feel that they cause more problems than they solve. If you are having to use a 'strong' bit, maybe instruction and schooling will allow for a gentler, kinder bit to be used with better results and more pleasurable riding.

Ken Perrin will gladly answer all bitting enquiries and problems. Just Ring HTS Equestrian on (01933) 277515.

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