Waterford Bits

monkeybum13 said:
Heading off to Badminton in a little while and was thinking I might pick up a waterford to add to my bit collection ;)

Do I buy normal size or go up one size?

TIA :)
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You do realise that your going to have to walk around all day long with this waterford in hand .....so other HHO's can identify you and say hi! :D
 
i go up half a size with jay, but hes a 6" normally so its hard to get them bigger here.

i have to say all the waterford bit bashing really gets on my nerves, its the ONLY bit my horse is happy in and goes well in, much rather have him in the waterford and happy than a snaffle and unhappy!
 
I agree if used with light hands they are a good bit, I had my old horse for 16 years and never found a bit that he liked untill I put him a ns waterford bit and that was all I ever had him in after that. I also have my 8 year old in one and he loves it very light in the mouth.
 
Another satisfied waterford user here :D FWIW OP, I bought her usual size when I got one for my mare, but it is eggbutt with full cheeks and tbh I wouldn't want it any wider.
 
I love waterfords! I find them particularly brilliant on my 2 ex racers who both have a tendancy of leaning down onto the bit, and onto their forehands when jumping. It has really helped both of them!!!!! I would go for 1/2 inch bigger than normal, as I have found they often come up quite small.
 
Mine's the same as all my other bits too.

Any kind of bit can be dangerous in the wrong hands even a snaffle! As long as your aware of the bit you using then there's nothing wrong with a Waterford. My boy has been much happier in this than anything else
 
asbo said:
i have to say all the waterford bit bashing really gets on my nerves, its the ONLY bit my horse is happy in and goes well in, much rather have him in the waterford and happy than a snaffle and unhappy!
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^^^ I TOTALLY agree with asbo here...

I put my coblet in a KK sprenger, with lozenge for 4 years and to be truthful I thought she went well in it... until I changed it for a waterford (in an effort to stop her "grabbing hold" when she went off on one).A friend gave me her old bit and I had it hanging around for a year before giving it a go as the last thing I wanted to do was annoy my horse. Well all I can say is WOW, she loves it, goes way, way better in that than any other bit, she's had that a year now and I can't see me changing it (unless my instructor suggests I do).

I do have light hands, too much so at times and she is more settled in her head (she does have mouth issues due to missing teeth)...

So I suppose the moral is. in the wrong hands ANY bit can be severe, so please don't be damning about the waterford, like anything if used correctly, its absolutely fine...
 
I use my waterford the same size normal it is a full cheek, i dont think waterfords are particularly severe bits more concerned with novices jumping in curb chain but never mind ;)
 
Another waterford convert here, I must have tried 20 bits before turning to a waterford and my boy is like a different horse in it, it's the only bit he doesn't try to get his tongue over or throw his head around in, other than a rubber snaffle, but unlike the rubber snaffle I can stop him straight away in it.
 
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