Waterford bit

[winkles]

One of the horses I ride has randomly been put in a waterford snaffle by the owner, who doesn't ride said horse. Previously in a looseringe w/lozenge, I had no complaints and have never mentioned bitting to the owner.
The horse is not a leaner and schooling is pretty established so we're working towards competitive dressage.

I know the waterford is not dressage legal so, in your point of view is this a logical bit change, or could it cause more harm than good? I plan on asking why the bits been changed but should I also ask for it to be changed back? I've never ridden in a waterford before and know little about them, hence asking advice before talking to owner and making self look like a t*t

Cadbury's buttons & a cuppa for all

 

[dressagelove]

Ooh I could kill for some chocolate, I'll take that! lol

Waterfords are reknowned for being quite harsh, is a fairly strong bit I would say! I used to XC my very strong tb in one. If his schooling is established and he's not a leaner, then it seems a strange swap! I'd ask them why for sure!

 

[winkles]

Thanks for your input! I think I'll ask about it casually and see where that gets me...
Enjoy the choc

 

[jalapeno]

I too think this is strange. If you ride the horse, surely your opinion matters and if not.. you are definitely entitled to ask questions. How often do you ride the horse? what do you do with the horse? Maybe the owner XC or hunts the horse and feels the waterford is necessary?

 

[SplashofSoy]

Waterfords have a reputation for being harsh but they are not, the links give nothing to lean on and it is a quite a useful bit age lots of horses go well in it. A bit being only as harsh as then hands attached to it. However I would just ask the owner as there must be a reason as u r right not dressage legal but may be using it as a short term aid for something.

 

[rubydog]

I am in a similar position to yourself, the horse I ride has a Waterford I am happy to hack him in this as he is a very strong horse, however he is only 5. I want to start doing my schooling work and my instructor had suggested swapping his bit to a*
snafle for this type of work,the owner won't have any of it, don't know what to do about it really, so i will watch this thread with intrest to see what other people's thoughts are on the Waterford.

 

[whizzer]

My horse is established on the flat but can get strong so I use one for short periods to regain some respect! When I was doing a lot of dressage I tended to try & avoid it if I could so I didn't get to rely on it. Now I've given up doing tests I'm using it more but not for flat lessons as don't think dressage judge instructor would approve! I also use a Waterford Willkie for hacking & jumping as he can get really strong. Pelhams etc are too much for him jumping & he just ducks behind the contact but he seems to really like the a Waterford mouthpiece & the wilkie is working well. A lot of people seem to really hate them but I'd rather be able to hack my horse on a loose rein in a bit he respects than fighting in a snaffle all the time!

 

[tinap]

Does seem an odd change. We change from a Waterford to a snaffle with lozenge for dressage, but don't see why you would change to a wf if you don't have a leaner!

After months of trying countless other bits, our ponio is back in his wf. We found that 1 link always gave him a papercut like cut on his lip at one side,hence the trying to change (did it when ridden with no reins too so not riders hands!!) . We found that the wf is the only bit he responds well in so now one side has a bit of bitwrap on it & everyone is happy again! Think they are only as harsh as the hands in control.

 

[winkles]

Thanks for all the replies!

jalapeno,
as far as I'm aware, she doesn't ride at all. She gave up last summer after hacking and doing light schooling to keep the horse fit. I ride 2-3 times a week.
We (the horse and I) are concentrating on dressage at the moment, although we do jump and hack. I haven't XC'd him though. Thanks for the reply

I understand the waterford has it's place but I'm not really convinced it's the bit for us right now. Choc buttons for all as promised, thanks everyone!