26 January 2023 - Flipbook - Page 70
70
HORSEWEEK
FARMWEEK
FEBRUARY 04 2021
ITBA hosts virtual From the
National Breeding horse’s
and Racing Awards mouth
BY JACQUI PORTER
continued from
back page
The year’s Special
Recognition Award
went to the much
loved and respected
Todd Watt, who has
served Irish vendors
at Tattersalls and
Tattersalls Ireland so
very well over many
years and is seen as
“The Go To Man”.
Commenting,
ITBA chairman,
John McEnery said:
“Despite all the many
challenges facing
the industry in 2020,
Irish breeders and
Irish bred horses
continued to excel
on both the national
and international
stage. We are
indebted to our loyal
sponsors, without
whom we would be
unable to stage these
awards. We were
delighted with the
level of participation
and engagement by
the many viewers,
who tuned in from
all corners of the
bloodstock world
via social media
to acknowledge
the wonderful
people and horses,
Understanding the Gag bit
AWARD: The Awards Trophy received by award
winners at the ITBA National Breeding and
Racing Awards 2020. (FW05-508NN)
BREEDER OF THE YEAR AWARD: Derek and
Gay Veitch of Ringfort Stud in Co. Down won
the Breeder of the Year Award at the ITBA
National Breeding and Racing Awards 2020.
(FW05-505NN)
who made 2020
such a memorable
year for the Irish
Thoroughbred
breeding industry.”
Below is a list of
the ITBA National
NEXT GENERATION AWARD: Clare Manning
won the Next Generation Award at the ITBA
National Breeding and Racing Awards 2020.
(FW05-503NN)
WILD GEESE AWARD: Gordon Cunningham
won the Wild Geese Award at the ITBA National
Breeding and Racing Awards 2020.
(FW05-504NN)
Breeding and
Racing Awards
2020 Winners.
Congratulations
to all deserving
winners!
AWARDS
ITBA National
Breeding & Racing
Awards 2020
Winners
Next Generation
Award 2020: Clare
Manning
Novice Hurdler
of the Year Award
2020: Shishkin Breeder: CJ and EB
Bennett
Novice Chaser
of the Year Award
2020: Champ Breeder: Philip and
Jane Myerscough
Hurdler of the
Year Award 2020:
Paisley Park Breeder: Michael
Conaghan
Chaser of the Year
Award 2020: Altior
- Breeder: Paddy
Behan
Breeder of the
Year Award 2020:
Ringfort Stud
Two-Year-Old Filly
of the Year Award
2020: Aunt Pearl
- Breeder: Ecurie
Des Charmes and
Ballylinch Stud
Two-Year-Old Colt
of the Year Award
2020: Supremacy
- Breeder: Kangyu
International Racing
Three-Year-Old
Filly of the Year
Award 2020: Love -
CHASER OF THE YEAR AWARD: Paddy Behan,
pictured with his wife Rose, won the Chaser of
the Year Award at the ITBA National Breeding
and Racing Awards 2020 for breeding ‘Altior’.
(FW05-507NN)
Breeder: Coolmore
Three-Year-Old
Colt of the Year
Award 2020:
Pinatubo - Breeder:
Godolphin
Older Horse of the
Year Award 2020:
Ghaiyyath - Breeder:
Springbank Way Stud
Wild Geese Award
2020: Gordon
Cunningham
Special
Recognition Award
2020: Todd Watt
Hall of Fame 2020:
Irish National Stud
IT is important to
understand the
function of the ‘gag’
bit before deciding
if it could be a
good t for your
horse. I am quite
surprised by the
number of riders,
who are using bits
on their horses and
not understanding
what action the
bit causes in the
horse’s mouth.
A popular bit
introduced to horse
for ‘brakes’ is a gag
bit, but what many
people are really
using is a Dutch gag.
ACTION
This month, I
would like to take
the time to look
at the gag bit
and what action
and pressures
it causes. A true
gag bit creates a
head-lifting action.
It manages this by
increasing pressure
on the corners of
the lips, asking
for the horse to
raise his head. In
very simple terms,
a running gag is
accentuating the
action of a snafe.
When using a gag,
the cheekpieces
of the bridle run
through holes
in the bit rings
directly onto the
reins. When rein
pressure is applied,
the bit runs along
these cheekpieces,
so as to draw
the mouthpiece
upwards in the
horse’s mouth. The
action of the gag
is almost entirely
on the horse’s lips,
though there is
some very mild poll
pressure, with little
or no tongue or bar
pressure.
SYMPATHETIC
HANDS
The severity of
this bit, and all
bits, is governed
by the nature of
the rider’s hands
and, according to
Anita Marchesani
of The Bit Bank
Australia: “The
cheekpieces should
have a stopper
tted to limit the
upwards action
of the bit, and a
second rein used
on the bit rings, so
as to employ the
gag action only
when necessary. It
is an example of
mechanical means
to produce a strong
system of control,
and has a place in
competition riding
when used by
sympathetic hands.”
OPTIONS
There are a
number of different
options available in
a running gag. The
most common is
the Balding Gag,
which is a loose
ring variety. The
Cheltenham Gag
features an eggbutt
ring, for a quicker
action with more
leverage, and the
Nelson Gag, which
has a Full Cheek, is
very popular with
eventers to help
with twists and
turns on the course.
HARMONY
The Running
Gag is certainly
not suitable for
everyone, and can
be too strong for
some horses. The
mechanics of
how it moves up
the bridle and
therefore upwards
in the horse’s
mouth can lead it
to be misused, if
the rider is not very
good with their
balance and their
hands. There is
certainly the danger
of the cheeks
being pressed and
pinched between
the teeth and the
bit, which when
done repeatedly
or with force, can
injure the horse’s
mouth.
However, when
used well and
sympathetically,
like any bitting
choice, it can help
to produce a more
harmonious round
for both horse and
rider.
GAG BIT: The
cheekpieces of the
bridle run through
holes in the bit rings
of a gag bit, directly
onto the reins.
(FW05-500NN)
HURDLER OF THE YEAR: Michael Conaghan
won the Hurdler of the Year Award at the ITBA
National Breeding and Racing Awards 2020 for
breeding ‘Paisley Park’. (FW05-506NN)
Jacqui Porter BSc (Hons) BAEDT
EQUINE DENTAL SERVICES
Tel: 07395 830535
Email: jpdentistry@icloud.com
