A running gag is a true gag. The gag cheek, usually rounded leather or cord, passes through holes at the top and bottom of each bit ring and the rein buckles to its lower end. When you use that rein, the cheek runs through the rings and the bit slides up towards the corners of the mouth while the headpiece is drawn down onto the poll. The horse feels lift in the mouth and pressure at the poll together.
It is most often seen on a strong horse across country or in the jumping ring, and it is a bit for an experienced rider with steady hands.
Always use two reins. The plain rein goes on the ring itself and works like a snaffle. The gag rein is held a little looser and only comes into play when you need it. With a single rein on the gag cheek, the lift is on all the time and the horse has nothing to soften into.
How it differs from the bits around it. A universal or Dutch gag has the cheekpiece buckled to a fixed top ring, so nothing slides and the bit works by lever action alone. A loose ring gag or multi-ring bit mostly gives you a choice of rein positions instead of a sliding cheek. Fixed ring gags put the gag on eggbutt or full cheek rings, which hold the mouthpiece stiller than a loose ring.
Cheltenham, Balding or Nelson? All three slide the same way; the ring is what differs. The Cheltenham is the eggbutt version, so the mouthpiece stays fairly still. The Balding uses loose rings, which move more and discourage leaning. The Nelson has full cheeks for extra help on a turn. Our article on universal bits compares gags and universals.
Measuring. Measure the mouthpiece between the inside edges of the rings on a bit that already fits, or use a marked length of dowel. On a loose ring Balding, allow a little clearance either side as you would on a loose ring snaffle; an eggbutt or full cheek can sit closer.
Fitting. With the gag rein slack, the bit should sit at normal snaffle height. Check that the cheeks run freely through the rings, and replace any that are cracked or stiff from the gag cheeks range, because a cheek that sticks holds the bit up in the mouth.
Many of the metal running gags can go on our 30 day trial; non-metal ones are sold outright. For advice on whether your horse needs a gag at all, ring 01405 861800.
It is a gag where the cheek runs through holes in the bit rings to the rein. Using the gag rein slides the bit up in the mouth and adds poll pressure. It is normally ridden with a second, plain rein on the ring.
The Cheltenham is the eggbutt running gag: a rounded leather or cord cheek passes through holes in fixed eggbutt rings, so the mouthpiece stays fairly still. It is ridden with two reins, the plain rein doing the everyday work.
On a running gag the cheek slides through the rings, so the bit lifts in the mouth. On a universal the cheekpiece is buckled to a fixed ring and the cheek pivots, which adds poll pressure without the lift.
You can, but it is not recommended on a running gag, because the lift is then applied every time you touch the rein. Two reins let you keep the gag in reserve. If one rein is all you can manage, talk to us about a different bit.
Not sure of the width? How to measure a horse bitHow leverage bits work