Loomis Gag Usage Tips

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Loomis Gag Usage Tips Moderators: luluwhit, gotothewhip, cindyt, crossspur, ForumAdmin Jump to page :	Last activity 2015-02-11 2:25 PM 8 replies, 3850 views View previous thread :: View next thread
General Discussion -> Barrel Talk


Zanadoo88 Reg. Sep 2010	Posted 2015-02-10 2:32 PM Subject: Loomis Gag Usage Tips
Extreme Veteran Posts: 540 Location: My own little world :)	So I have got my gelding working very well in a snaffle.... he is collected and soft but does carry his head quite a bit lower than I would like. He is very lazy and often I find that when working him he starts to really lower his head and when asked to give laterally he does very easily but it is more down than I would like if that makes sense. I want collection but with the head a bit more elevated than say a reining horse. I thought that maybe the Loomis Gag would help with this. This horse is also somewhat stiff by nature...not really a naturally bendy horse so we have really had to work on that. So I started putting the Loomis on him about a week ago and I just don't really like the feel I'm getting in it. It seems like the reaction time in the Loomis is slower than in the snaffle. Is that normal? Am I not using the Loomis correctly? I read up on it and found that you are only supposed to work one side of the horse's mouth at a time with it and I took that as not so much two handed work and finger tip control. I guess my gelding just feels like of slower to react in it. Is that normal? I'm thinking about going back to the snaffle and working on elevating him a bit in that because we are both very comfortable in it. If anyone had any tips or info I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks
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horsegirl Reg. Feb 2004	Posted 2015-02-10 2:55 PM Subject: RE: Loomis Gag Usage Tips
The One Posts: 7998 Location: South Georgia	If he is collected and doing as you ask, I would let him carry his head at whatever level he would like. That's where he is natural.
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merdth6 Reg. Jun 2009	Posted 2015-02-10 3:35 PM Subject: RE: Loomis Gag Usage Tips
Expert Posts: 2335 Location: IL	Make sure your saddle isn't pinching him. Many times a horse will ride with a lower head set trying to get away from the pressure in his withers. Just an idea.
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cyount2009 Reg. Apr 2012	Posted 2015-02-11 9:34 AM Subject: RE: Loomis Gag Usage Tips
Expert Posts: 1898	Is he having issues turning his barrels? My buckskin mare, the one in my avatar runs with a very low head set. When I was starting her, she would really cow a barrel and literally drag her nose in the dirt. It was SO SCARY! I can't tell you how many times she fell because she'd stick her nose down there and then lose her balance. Someone suggested a tie down and that made it worse but I went to a Sharon Camarillo browband tie down and for what ever reason it brought her head up so that she could turn, although she does still carry it pretty low. I also had my husband build me a knock off of the Carol Goosetree Delight with a chain mouth and a shorter shank and that helped too. Sometimes when I do my slow work I will use a Charmayne James leverage bit and no other head gear. They have a one to one leverage so there is not a lot pressure applied unless you reach full rotation. This bit really keeps her head where I like it, but I haven't gotten the nerve up to try it at a race because her other setup works.
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FlyingJT Reg. Jan 2014	Posted 2015-02-11 9:41 AM Subject: RE: Loomis Gag Usage Tips
Expert Posts: 1857	when a horse in collection lowers their head they are actually rounding out their back and are in "true" collection. unless he's pulling on you and running through the bit I don't know why you would want to raise his head. Horses that you see with their heads high and necks bent are usually hollow through the back.
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Zanadoo88 Reg. Sep 2010	Posted 2015-02-11 12:20 PM Subject: RE: Loomis Gag Usage Tips
Extreme Veteran Posts: 540 Location: My own little world :)	So I went out and rode my gelding last night. I switched him back to a smooth snaffle and it felt awesome. I took what you guys said and it sounds like we are actually finally achieving true collection. He just feels more responsive in the snaffle to my small hand movements than in the Loomis. He is five this year and I have heard that you shouldn't keep a horse in a snaffle too long...is that true? I've always heard you need to get them into a real bit at some point. But i also seems like in barrel racing if it works don't change it. So I am going to continue in a snaffle for my barrel work but when my husband does cow work I will put him in a shank bit. He does really well in a Les Vogt Sidewinder for stuff like that. I also checked my saddle fit and changed to a different one that is a bit wider and he seemed more comfortable. Thanks for all the info and keep in coming :)
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Zanadoo88 Reg. Sep 2010	Posted 2015-02-11 12:21 PM Subject: RE: Loomis Gag Usage Tips
Extreme Veteran Posts: 540 Location: My own little world :)	So I went out and rode my gelding last night. I switched him back to a smooth snaffle and it felt awesome. I took what you guys said and it sounds like we are actually finally achieving true collection. He just feels more responsive in the snaffle to my small hand movements than in the Loomis. He is five this year and I have heard that you shouldn't keep a horse in a snaffle too long...is that true? I've always heard you need to get them into a real bit at some point. But i also seems like in barrel racing if it works don't change it. So I am going to continue in a snaffle for my barrel work but when my husband does cow work I will put him in a shank bit. He does really well in a Les Vogt Sidewinder for stuff like that. I also checked my saddle fit and changed to a different one that is a bit wider and he seemed more comfortable. Thanks for all the info and keep in coming :)
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cheryl makofka Reg. Jan 2011	Posted 2015-02-11 1:21 PM Subject: RE: Loomis Gag Usage Tips
The Advice Guru Posts: 6419	Zanadoo88 - 2015-02-11 12:20 PM So I went out and rode my gelding last night. I switched him back to a smooth snaffle and it felt awesome. I took what you guys said and it sounds like we are actually finally achieving true collection. He just feels more responsive in the snaffle to my small hand movements than in the Loomis. He is five this year and I have heard that you shouldn't keep a horse in a snaffle too long...is that true? I've always heard you need to get them into a real bit at some point. But i also seems like in barrel racing if it works don't change it. So I am going to continue in a snaffle for my barrel work but when my husband does cow work I will put him in a shank bit. He does really well in a Les Vogt Sidewinder for stuff like that. I also checked my saddle fit and changed to a different one that is a bit wider and he seemed more comfortable. Thanks for all the info and keep in coming :) I don't move horses from a snaffle till the snaffle no longer does it's job. A snaffle can cause a barrel horse to push on it or balance on it, when this happens, then I will move up. Depending on what the horse is doing and what I need to fix is how I choose the bit.
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Zanadoo88 Reg. Sep 2010	Posted 2015-02-11 2:25 PM Subject: RE: Loomis Gag Usage Tips
Extreme Veteran Posts: 540 Location: My own little world :)	cheryl makofka - 2015-02-11 1:21 PM Zanadoo88 - 2015-02-11 12:20 PM So I went out and rode my gelding last night. I switched him back to a smooth snaffle and it felt awesome. I took what you guys said and it sounds like we are actually finally achieving true collection. He just feels more responsive in the snaffle to my small hand movements than in the Loomis. He is five this year and I have heard that you shouldn't keep a horse in a snaffle too long...is that true? I've always heard you need to get them into a real bit at some point. But i also seems like in barrel racing if it works don't change it. So I am going to continue in a snaffle for my barrel work but when my husband does cow work I will put him in a shank bit. He does really well in a Les Vogt Sidewinder for stuff like that. I also checked my saddle fit and changed to a different one that is a bit wider and he seemed more comfortable. Thanks for all the info and keep in coming :) I don't move horses from a snaffle till the snaffle no longer does it's job. A snaffle can cause a barrel horse to push on it or balance on it, when this happens, then I will move up. Depending on what the horse is doing and what I need to fix is how I choose the bit. Awesome! Well that is what I'm going with! He is really soft and responsive in it....mind you we are still just loping through. But I don't really even make contact with the bit he pretty much just goes off my body/legs and the weight of the rein. Hopefully I can keep him like that. Thanks for the info it is greatly appreciated.
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