Balding Gag Cheeks (Loose Ring)
The Balding Gag has Loose Ring cheeks which are a more mobile bit than an eggbutt or fixed cheek bit, which should encourage your horse to keep a relaxed jaw and mouth the bit. The loose ring may be useful if your horse leans on the bit, or takes hold, as the bit is always movable so the horse cannot take hold as easily as they could with a fixed cheek. This bit is also useful for gaining contact as the movable mouthpiece enables the bit to fit the mouth, contour the mouth natural position and sit comfortably.
This Gag looks like an ordinary loose ring bit, but it has two holes in the ring, vertically; one at the top and one directly underneath. This bit is used with gag cheeks, the gag cheeks thread through the holes they are normally either made out of rolled leather or cord – the leather cheeks look better but they dont slide through the cheeks as quickly as the cord ones do, which means the cord gag cheeks have a faster and clearer aid. The Balding gag should be used with two reins, the first rein should be attached to the actual bit ring and then the second should be attached to the rings on the gag cheeks. The rein on the first ring should act as though a normal loose ring Snaffle would. But the second rein on the gag cheek has a running effect using poll pressure, lip pressure and various pressures in the mouth depending on the mouthpiece of the bit. The poll pressure encourages the horse to lower the head becoming round giving an outline and gives great help with breaks, and is normally superb used on strong horses. This bit would be useful if your horse goes on the forehand or is heavy on the front end, it should encourage your horse to lift up off the forehand and ride from the quarters.
Single Jointed Bits
The single joint puts pressure on the sides of the tongue, on the lips and on the bars due to the nutcracker. The single jointed bits also may have a head raising action so would be less suitable for your horse if they ride with a high head carriage or above the bit. Also breeds such as Irish Draughts, may have particularly large tongues, therefore having less room in the mouth for a single jointed bit as this pushes the bit nearer the roof of the mouth, also Arabs and alike may have a low palate, both of these examples may not benefit from the single jointed bits as the nutcracker action may cause brushing of the roof of the mouth.
Hollow Mouthpiece bits
This bit is a lightweight bit due to the fact it is hollow! The hollow mouth bits should be checked regularly as sometimes with them being hollow they can dent if the horse chews. The Hollow mouthed bits are renown for being milder or kinder than the solid mouth pieces, this is because the hollow mouthpieces are thicker in diameter which means the pressure of the mouthpiece on the lips is distributed over a larger area, this may be the case for those horses who have enough room in their mouths, but it also may prove uncomfortable in some cases (e.g. those horses with thicker lips and thicker tongues) and may result in the horse not being able to close their mouths as they have too much in there! – Please be aware that if you use such a thick bit, not to use it with a flash noseband as you may restrict your horse from swallowing.
| Mouthpiece Width | 5.5inch / 140mm, 5inch / 125mm |
|---|---|
| Mouthpiece Material | Stainless Steel |
Choose your bit from our extensive range and don’t forget to select your size.
Choose if you would like to buy the bit for a straight purchase or choose to Trial for 30 days
Payment can be made using debit or credit card through our secure payment gateway
If the bit is unsuitable and was a buy now, it can be returned if it is unused and in its original packaging. If you have opted for the 30 day trial you can return the bit within the 30 days and will receive a refund minus the hire fee applicable to the item trialled.
The trial fee varies per product as this price is related to the retail price
Please take care of the bit, as it is the customers – (the holder of the account that the bit is purchased on) responsibility to make sure that the bit is kept in good condition throughout the trial period and thereafter, the customer is also responsible that the bit is kept safe from theft and loss, as if you cannot return then you will be unable to return the bit for the part refund.
It is recommended that the bits are returned via a tracked postal facility as The Horse Bit Shop cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage in the post when being returned
The 30 day’s trial period will start from the postage date that The Horse Bit Shop posts the bit which will be postal dated on the envelope, which takes less than 48 hours from dispatch for delivery to the UK. The return date that the bit has reaches The Horse Bit Shop will be the date of despatch which will be 30 days after the postal date. Please note it can take 3 – 5 working days to dispatch and deliver orders.
Dates to which the bit should be returned may be subject to change if the day falls on a Public Holiday. If the bit is not returned by that date then or the bit is returned damaged or not fit for purpose you will not be entitled to a refund.
For other countries where shipping times are longer, the trial period will be increased to a maximum of 36 days according to the current postal delivery times, the date to be returned will be stated in the letter included in with the bit, the bits will be dispatched via airmail and will be expected to be returned via airmail, as surface mail can take up to 50 days for some countries. Please allow plenty time for the bit to reach the UK, you will not be entitled to a refund, even if the bit is in transit.
On return of bits on 30 day trial you will receive a refund for the price of the bit minus the trial fee.
The 30 day trial is not be available on such products which are of plastic/rubber due to the fact they are not as resistant to wear and tear and cannot be sterilised to the required standards. Trial bits can be bits from our bit library and may have been used previously and therefore not always brand new bits however should you have received a trial bit it can be exchanged for a brand new before the end of the trial period should you be keeping the bit. We do aim to send brand new bits when possible and all bits sent will be fit for purpose and fully sanitised.
| BITS VALUED/TYPE | HIRE CHARGE |
|---|---|
| up to £50.00 | £8.50 |
| £50.01 – £75.00 | £9.50 |
| £75.01 – £100.00 | £10.50 |
| £100.01 – £125.00 | £12.50 |
| £125.01 – £150.00 | £14.50 |
| £150.01 – £175.00 | £16.50 |
| £175.01 – £220.00 | £17.50 |
| £220.01 – £250.00 | £19.50 |
| £250.01 – £275.00 | £21.50 |
| over £275.01 | £24.50 |
| Micklem Bridle | £24.50 |