Waterford bit questions

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MyBoyChe

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Not strictly competition but you guys are so knowledgable Id like to pick your brains if I may! I have been recommended to try a waterford bit for my very strong highland, he does not take off with me and works nicely at home, my problem is that when we are out hacking he is so damn nosey that he simply stops, sets his neck and stands and gawps at whatever. I find myself having to haul at his mouth to get him to look where he should be going and walk on. Ive just looked on ebay and there are so many variations of this bit and Ill be honest, I dont really understand the differences. Could someone help me to understand which, if any, of them would best suit my needs or suggest another option. I would like to be able to keep him walking on and looking where he is meant to be going at the same time,he has a very neat trick of walking straight but looking left or right and as a consequence is likely to trip over whatevers under his feet. As I say, I dont really need brakes, just more responsive steering!
 
Full check will help with steering so the bit doesnt pull through his mouth. Maybe using your voice to keep his attention or a tap on the shoulder along with leg could help.
 
a waterford bit is generally used for horses that get hold of the bit and have no brakes, the design of the bit means there is not a solid piece of something in their mouth so they cannot get hold of it.

i would be inclined to try a full cheek with whatever mouthpiece you ride in now and if he stops to gawps then i would deliver a short sharp tap with a schooling whip to get him going forwards pulling on his mouth with any bit is not the answer IMO
 
Thank you. Currently he is ridden in a 3 ring gag on the bottom ring, its an aurigan mouthpiece with a lozenge (its what he came with). I dont really like meddling with bits, always worried Im going to do more harm than good. Would you suggest a full cheek snaffle in the same metal with a lozenge. As I say, its simply the fact he will insist on fixing his neck against me, not to take off but simply to nosey at whatever takes his fancy. Although he schools nicely at home when he does this I do feel that he has gone completely dead in his mouth and just doesnt feel me on the other end. Giving and retaking does nothing and tbh pony club kicking doesnt really do any good either. Would a pair of blunt spurs be the answer, trying a completely different tactic to get his attention back?
 
Does he work on the aids all the time when you're hacking? I'd get on and have his attention completely on me before he takes so much as a step the keep it there. Use one rein with your other hand on his crest and force his head round to your knee if you lose him and he insists on gawping.
 
I have recently tried a Waterford Snaffle for my chunky cob who just didnt respect his snaffle mouthpiece, so when i was riding if he wanted to keep going i had no say whatsoever! He respects the waterford a lot more, so i feel better as i hated having to pull him around :) dont think this is quite the same as your problem though?

the waterford may help your problem as he may respect the mouthpiece more and listen to your aids,
or from your description it sounds does sound like a steering problem, so possibly a full cheek?

hope you can resolve the problem :)
 
a 3 ring gag has as much effect on the steering as a full cheek, and most horses will be rounded in a 3ring on the lowest hole but it does not mean they are working from behind

i would be re-schooling from scratch and ditching the 3 ring unless you are jumping or cross country, it creates a dead mouth on the lowest setting and maybe the cause of your problems
 
A full cheek does not help steering in my opinion. Say when you turn left: squeeze/pull left rein which pulls bit to left side of mouth. The right full cheek then presses against right side of mouth which is not an aid for turning left. If anything, the head may turn to the left while the shoulder falls out to the right. If the bit is sliding through his mouth then a full cheek or bit guards would be applicable.

Finding a bit that works for you both will be trial and error - one that works for someone else may not work for you. Start at the basics and work your way up. Perhaps go back to an eggbut snaffle and go from there - a 3 ring is quite excessive if you don't need brakes. Also, if your highland has quite a fleshy tongue and a small mouth a thin bit will be comfier for him. Good luck and let us know how you get on!
 
Jools2345 said:
a 3 ring gag has as much effect on the steering as a full cheek, and most horses will be rounded in a 3ring on the lowest hole but it does not mean they are working from behind

i would be re-schooling from scratch and ditching the 3 ring unless you are jumping or cross country, it creates a dead mouth on the lowest setting and maybe the cause of your problems
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^^^^! If he doesn't need brakes I agree, toss the 3 ring. Also a huge pet peeve of mine- 3 ring bits should be used with 2 sets of reins: one one the 'snaffle' and one on the lower ring for extra 'whoa' when needed.

I agree with everyone for trying the full cheek, good luck :)
 
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