Loose ring waterford snaffle

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Mr Punch

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I've just ordered a loose ring waterford snaffle for my boy to try. He tends to lean on my hands and after carrying out a bit of research I decided to give it a try and was told it was a mild bit. However after looking again, I've seen various reviews on forums saying this bit is "barbaric" and should only be used as a short term solution and shouldn't be used for schooling ?

Has anyone got any personal views that they could share with me ?
 
Any bit is only as harsh as the hands it is in.

The waterford can be a harsh bit, but only if it is used harshly. If you were, for example, to "saw" from side to side it would be horrific!

Jasper is in a waterford, because he has a lump on his tongue from an old injury. He is comfortable in the waterford as it fits around his lumpy bits! He has a Neue Schule Tranz lozenge loose ring snaffle too, but he much prefers the waterford!
 
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I'm not sure if I should give it a try or look for something totally different. Whilst I do ride with light hands, my horse can tend to be quite strong out on hacks and would be worried about having to take a pull. Whilst I understand it makes it difficult for them to lean on the the bit, i'm not sure ?

How do you find it schooling wise ?
 
I rode a pony at college who was ridden in one otherwise he would take hold of the bit and tank off around the arena!

With it in he was just the same as any other horse in a snaffle. As mentioned before, the main really bad thing to do with a waterford is saw from side to side.

Just pulling the reins normally will just have a stronger effect in small patches rather than all the way across the tongue. Shouldnt cause any serious problems IMO.
 
Irish_Mist said:
I'm not sure if I should give it a try or look for something totally different. Whilst I do ride with light hands, my horse can tend to be quite strong out on hacks and would be worried about having to take a pull. Whilst I understand it makes it difficult for them to lean on the the bit, i'm not sure ?

How do you find it schooling wise ?
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Trouble with bits is what works for one might not work for another. I'd say give it a go, you have nothing to lose! You won't hurt your horse if you have light hands, it can be very mild as long as you don't really haul on his mouth or "saw" with it.

I find it excellent for schooling, but as I have already mentioned because he is more comfortable in it he schools better in it. He is a typical cob, in that he is very on his forehand and can lean. The waterford definitely helps with both those things. It isn't dressage legal though.

I'd say give it a go and eBay it if it doesn't suit.

Good luck! x
 
Hi - I used for a long time a 3 ring waterford on my chap - on first ring when schooling and second when xc etc - he pulls like a tank (pulled only xc and fast work) and it did have some braking but I have to say that it took an experienced friend to show me that it was actually not having too much effect on him due to the action - it was not hurting him at all but just not doing much - I have changed to a different bit (myler with the moving links and ports for bridle/reins) which is good for everyday but then I use a curb with it if xc.

Like previous people have said u wont be hurting him if you are kind with it ! I was kind (maybe too kind) but found it didnt have the ABS required.
 
One of the most under-rated bits! I personally love them as they conform to the horses mouth shape, don't pinch, don't hit the roof of the mouth and have no nutcracker effect.

Like above its only as harsh as the rider makes it. If you have nice quiet hands this can be a god send! Its no harm trying it out! If it doesn't work out you could also try a french link, not quite the same but are dressage legal (if you plan on doing dressage competitions)
 
Feel better about giving it a try now. When I first looked into it sounded great then when I googled it and saw loads of reviews saying "barbaric" started to worry a bit !

I'm not planning on any dressage, so should be okay !

Thanks v much !
 
I recently (within last year or two) changed my 3 ring snaffle to a waterford mouthpiece instead as my mum rides my horse as well and can be a little off-balnce sometimes and if he spooked and she ended up grabbing the reins he would throw his head up. He would also do this on occasion if say i was trying to halt him when he didn't want to! I think the nutcracker action of the but did not work for him. He can be strong and pulls his head down so a gag type bit to lift his head has always worked best for him it was just the change of mouthpiece. He goes fine in it - I have just x-countried today. I still have to pull a bit if he pulls but I don't have to haul and he doesn't seem any the worse of it. I ride on the 2nd ring for any jumping but the main ring for flat work. I do use a single jointed hanging snaffle for dressage which works ok but there's not way I'd take him jumping in it! Lol

I have tried sooo many bits in the past to see what works best for me and te particular horse. It is a case of trial an error basically. i would much rather have horse repsonsive in a bit so you don't need to haul on their mouths than have them in a so called 'mild' bit and be yanking them this way and that. You will soon know if your horse is happy in it - I certainly do not see it as 'barbaric'. I imagine that's just one person's opinion!
 
My cob goes in a loose ring waterford for everyday and a waterford pelham for showing. He has a very light mouth but can tend to lean sometimes. Lots of people have made comments to me about this bit being really harsh but its what hes happy in. I have tried lots of different bits and he always shakes his head and grinds his teeth (his teeth are checked regulary by dentist and no problems). I think he just finds a waterford comfortable as his mouth is really soft and relaxed in it. Its a bit of a pain for me now as I want to try dressage with him but he just seems to hate any type of snaffle, french link or mullen bit!
 
Have just tried one on my boy tonight, had all the same concerns as you but have to say he went really well in it, very light and responsive and softer than ever!
 
I'm sure someone will tell they are awful and "barbaric" but as mentioned ANY bit is only as strong as the hands using it.

My boy doesn't pull but really leans, I would much rather give him a quick tweak of the bit to get him to listen to me and then sit still than have to be hauling his head around in his normal snaffle until the last second on a XC. Coming into the big solid jumps on a not very big horse isn't funny if they aren't looking at the jump!
 
ashlingm said:
One of the most under-rated bits! I personally love them as they conform to the horses mouth shape, don't pinch, don't hit the roof of the mouth and have no nutcracker effect.

Like above its only as harsh as the rider makes it. If you have nice quiet hands this can be a god send! Its no harm trying it out! If it doesn't work out you could also try a french link, not quite the same but are dressage legal (if you plan on doing dressage competitions)
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^^this :)
 
I would never use one. The narrow bars of the mouth get caught between the nobbles and so horses do not dare move too much or lean on the bit. Time and time again people defend the use of this bit with 'a bit is only harsh if in the wrong hands'. A piece of coat hanger wire is only harsh in the wrong hands, but would you ride your horse in it? What happens if your horse stumbles and even the best of riders jabs him in the mouth? So long as you can keep the waterford rock steady in the mouth and never ever are unbalanced, horse never shies, stumbles etc, then yes, your horse will be fine. Having said that, I hate the nut cracker action of the simple snaffle too. :)
 
Schooling is the answer for a horse that leans. Plenty of half halts and not giving them anything to lean on. I ride all kinds of horses from TBs to cobs and it doesn't take long to get a horse off the hand with kind sensitive riding. Honestly. I blame the BHS method of teaching that seems to preach short reins and a strong leg, for all these horses that seem to be leaning on people's hands.
 
No I wouldn't ride my horse in a piece of coat wire hanger. Seen as the majority of people have had good results with this bit, I will see how my horse goes. If it doesn't suit him, it doesn't suit him.
 
Wagtail said:
I would never use one. The narrow bars of the mouth get caught between the nobbles and so horses do not dare move too much or lean on the bit. Time and time again people defend the use of this bit with 'a bit is only harsh if in the wrong hands'. :)
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I was at a bitting clinic with Heather Hyde from Neue Schule recently. Their waterford has a smooth section inside the bit rings like a shelf for the lips to rest on. HH did say that some horses really like the waterford and that this innovation makes it less accidentally severe. My guess is that it is down to the individual horse, just as it is with everything else.
 
I have a KK Sprenger with the lozenge and a waterford. I was given the waterford as she was leaning so heavily on the KK, it worked a treat, so much so she actually goes better for me in the waterford!

I do have "soft hands" though, but as most say a bit is only as harsh as the hands using it.
 
I've used a waterford in quite a few of my bolshy bad mannered mares as a short term solution and it has worked fab in teaching them to not lean on or rely on contact and has also vastly improved their way of going.

It can be a strong bit but not if used correctly and in the right hands.
 
My boy loves his, goes like a dream in it. He has loose ring Waterford for everyday hacking and schooling, Waterford gag for Cross Country and then a standard loosering French Link for dressage (put on literally day before a test so he still thinks its the Waterford). I have a good seat and soft hands. I agree in the wrong hands that it wouldn't be the best option, however, since my boy warrants a Waterford in the first place, he won't be having any novices ride him.

Just a quick one though, I did try a Dr Bristol as an alternative to the Waterford, BIG MISTAKE. He hated it and made this very clear
 
I ride my mare in a waterford as she can be very strong. I chose it because I needed something that could hold a strong horse but would offer no poll pressure unlike a gag. My mare is happy in this and it works for her and when I evented her I had a real problem trying to find a bit that I could hold her in without overly biting her and having her back off. I don't, however school my mare any more (she is now 22 with arthritis in her neck) so don't have that problem.
 
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