Gags: Tranz Angled Lozenge Nelson Gag 16mm @ shop4bits.com

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Tranz Angled Lozenge Nelson Gag 16mm, available in sizes 5" - 6" in 1/4" increments.

The Neue Schule Salox is Neue Schule’s unique composition - This is a warmer softer metal with a very high copper content and Neue Schule additive to maximise on oxidation (Nickel Free). This promotes salivation, mouthing, acceptance and harmony. Many horses that have previously only been bittable in rubber or nylon have proven extremely comfortable in the Neue Schule Salox. All bits in the Neue Schule Collection have high density stainless steel rings, cheeks, etc., for appearance and durability.

The Action of the English Gag (Running Gag - Lifting Action)

The recommendation is to ride on two reins and I would generally endorse this as I have known horses start off brilliantly on one rein and end up over-bending (chin on chest). It helps tremendously with brakes and outline and is often used on horses that are strong, heavy in front (on the forehand) or too deep (head too near the ground). It is available with rolled leather cheeks (aesthetically more pleasing) but not as fast in their action as our rope cheeks that slip back and forth through the rings much more quickly, giving a faster and more clearly defined aid, however, you will find Neue Schule gags have slightly larger rings so the rolled leather cheeks do slide more easily if you prefer to use leather cheeks. The eggbutt is referred to as the Cheltenham Gag, the loose ring is the Balding Gag (also referred to as the Polo Gag if the rings are larger), and the full cheek is known as the Nelson Gag which is a very popular show jumping cheek (aids turning).

The Action of the Full Cheek

This reinforces the turning aids and providing the mouthpiece is the correct size (snug fit) will not allow the mouthpiece to slide back and forth across the tongue and bars thus reducing friction. If the upper cheek is fixed to the bridle cheekpiece with fulmer keepers this will fix the mouthpiece in the mouth and also give some poll pressure. The full cheek is very useful for babies as it will not allow the bit to pull through the mouth. It is common practice to start babies in the full cheek and they are also ridden away (introduced to road work, general hacking etc.) in the full cheek although at this stage of their training I would not generally fix it as we wish to encourage mouthing and acceptance.

The Tranz Lozenge Mouthpiece

It is very important that the arrow engraved at the end of the mouthpiece is positioned on the left hand side (nearside) of the horse pointing forwards otherwise the lozenge will be positioned in an incorrect angle over the tongue.

The Tranz (or any other rounded lozenge) does not suffer from the major design flaw of the French Link. When a contact is taken with the French Link there are two proud semicircles either side of the flat link which dig into the tongue - this often discourages a true contact. Compare the feel between the Tranz and the French Link by wrapping them both around your upper arm and try to imagine how much more sensitive the tongue is. The Tranz Link is ergonomically designed for both comfort and communication. This design is a very popular dressage mouthpiece. It encourages a true contact and higher level of responsiveness. The lozenge is set on at an angle activating more feel over the tongue, so when a contact is taken, the rounded lozenge rolls down contouring smoothly over the tongue, utilizing feel but not abusing it, thereby enabling clearly defined aids to be given through the reins.

The ergonomically designed Tranz is shaped over the tongue, thereby taking up less room in the mouth and not interfering with the palate. The fitting of the Tranz (or any other lozenge) is critical - the lozenge is designed to sit centrally on the tongue and we do not want it sliding back and forth across the tongue. This bit does not shorten up in the mouth, unlike single jointed bits. In order to assess the size a bit measure is available on our website. When the Tranz is in situ the lips may touch the hole that the bit ring slides through, though not cover any part of it. When a contact is taken the holes will shift further away from the lips. The ergonomically designed Tranz conforms to the horse’s mouth anatomy. It is smoothly contoured over the tongue, giving even pressure and shifting the emphasis away from the outer edges where the horse is more sensitive, encouraging contact and response. The single jointed bit shoots forward in the mouth, shortening up, creating an acute angle (nutcracker), hitting the outer edges of the bars and excessively squeezing the outer edges of the tongue, thus creating the possibility of palate interference which will not encourage a true contact or outline.

Price: £64.95

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