10/07/2026
🫨 did you know this?
I didn't 10 years ago!
📷These are photos of myself and my horse Cinderella! Back when I was young and didn't know any better. 1 rein, no curb strap 🙈🙈
We've all done it but now we can learn and know better!
🤔Did you know that you're not supposed to use a martingale with a gag bit?!
🐴That includes bevels, wilkies, universals, 2 ring 3 ring 4 ring and true gag bits.
😳You're only supposed to use them on the snaffle rein. So if you have 2 reins thats okay - but only on the snaffle rein.
❌️And NEVER a standing martingale!
🌞Here is why...
✨️The purpose of a running martingale is to bring the head down from beyond the angle of control. If the head lifts so high it adds pressure to the rein and bit which translates into poll pressure to bring the head down. This pressure releases once the head is back down.
A standing martingale uses nose pressure by attaching to the back of the noseband do bring the head down. 👇👇
Whats the mechanics of a gag bit?
- to lift the head! 👆
👆So when you use your rein you ask for the head to lift.
👆The horse responds by lifting the head
👇👆👆The martingale acts on the rein, asking what you think is "bring your head down". Well, it doesn't. If you are using the rein on the leverage options then the martingale will be asking for more of the lift when it comes into action.
👆👆👆So your horse responds by lifting its head more.
👆👆👆👆👆Then you now get out of control because your horses head is so high it can't go forwards properly. You start to panic, use the rein more. Asking for yet more of that lift.
👆👇👆👇... see the conflict and cycle you're about to get into?
🫤A gag bit and a martingale are conflicting pieces of equipment and shouldn't be used together unless you use 2 reins (which you should be).
