Using a Waterford - questions...

[mystiandsunny]

Is it the only bit that will stop a horse leaning on your hands?

I need to swing my horse's head at the moment to encourage her to bring her hind legs forward enough. Is this still ok in the waterford with the many links?

Is it better/worse than a v thin bit (only other mouthpiece my horse seems to 'like' is a thin lozenge snaffle (much thinner than usual))?

Thanks!

 

[SimonH]

I'm not an expert at this stuff but this is my experience.

I bought a 17hh Irish X three years ago and found that at 9yo he seemed not to have been schooled (he'd clearly never been lunged) and he'd been underworked, certainly for the last year Result was that he the Dutch gag he came with was completely useless when he did his party piece of tanking.

For the first two hunting seasons I had him in a Pelham but he developed the technique of going for it while lowering his head down to the floor. That's deeply scary especially downhill with no brakes and nothing in front of you. The technique of see-sawing on the reins left then right to winch his head up is hard on a big horse who is enjoying a gallop!

I spoke to Neue Schule who suggested the waterford - they do several including a Pelham waterford- and I can confirm that it works a treat such that he rarely even tries to stick his head down other than to eat plants he's passing. It is a powerful bit so you need gentle hands once the problem is solved bit he accepts it without trouble and can still eat grass around it!

Archie is an exceptionally good natured horse with a wonderful temperament on the yard. I'm a late starter at riding - in my fifties - and it hurts when I fall off so it was very important not to be over-horsed. Now I have my lovely horse and confidence that my limited abilities can keep us both safe

 

[niagaraduval]

I bought a waterford for the same reason a few months ago, my horse is a right b*gger for leaning! It did nothing for me, I bought it brand new and for me it was a complete waste of money, although I have heard some horses go very well in it.....

PM me if you want to discuss..

 

[connie1288]

Agree with niagaraduval, a horse i rode leant like anything in a waterford, other bits to try and straight bar mullen mouth snaffle, twisted snaffle, copper roller, some bits with a slight gag action.
However some horses are fantastic in waterfords, they are very useful bits but some suit them and some dont.

 

[hellybelly6]

No My horse is a bggr for leaning, he even leaned in a hackamore.

I suggest a neule schule trans lozenge universal or a lozenge loop ring snaffle/wilkie snaffle.

The raising action of the mouthpiece discourages leaning. The worse bits for leaners are pelhams and kimblewicks as they encourage head lowering.

 

[MrsMozart]

When my mare was in pain, she managed to get hold of and lean on the Waterford

Disclaimer: we didn't know she was in pain!