Waterford bits

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Madz123

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Anybody got any advice on Waterford bits ? My horse is normally in a full cheek snaffle but the previous owner sometimes used a Waterford bit wen hunting or hacking in larger groups, I have taken him out in a group and he starts getting strong and sometimes it feels like he's leaning on the bit, I want to try him on the hunt this year so wanted to find out about this bit before buying it

Thanks 😊
 
All my natives go best in a hanging cheek waterford they have big fat tongues and find the multijoints most comfortable. A bit is only as soft or harsh as the hands holding the reins so If you have good hands able to differentiate between pulling and holding you should be fine with a waterford as I say mine love them as it is the softest bit in their mouth due to fat fleshy tongues
They are not dressage legal though
 
I ride my mare in a loose ring snaffle when we are doing flatwork and a waterford when we are junping, because she is very strong when she sees a jump. Either one stops her leaning on the bit, which is her preferred way of going :-) I won't let anybody else ride her in the waterford though.
 
I have a Waterford dutch gag for my mare! she was used to a mullen mouth Pelham and she goes much better in the Waterford as she used to put down on the straight bar of the Pelham and she'd f off! because the Waterford is loads of little links she couldn't get a grip of it, which confused her a first, confused me too as I left like I had no control until she pulled up from a gallop really easily!
 
Thanks for replying I think il give it a go, I'm not really heavy with my hands but do sometimes give him little jabs whilst in a canter if he starts running away a bit do u think that wil be ok ?? Again thank you for replying
 
kerrieberry2 said:
I have a Waterford dutch gag for my mare! she was used to a mullen mouth Pelham and she goes much better in the Waterford as she used to put down on the straight bar of the Pelham and she'd f off! because the Waterford is loads of little links she couldn't get a grip of it, which confused her a first, confused me too as I left like I had no control until she pulled up from a gallop really easily!
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Ditto this on my heavyweight hunter! Worked a treat
 
I ride my boy in Neue Schule hanging cheek or sometimes a Beval if I need something a bit stronger. However,when I did my first couple of hunter trials with him, he was very strong and he always pulls down( especially after a jump pulling me out of the saddle) but this time his head was right down round his knees, not nice! I contacted NS and told them that I needed a bit a tad stronger but without any poll action. They recommended their waterford and I have to say I have ridden in it twice, once at a hunter trial and once in a jumping lesson and found it to be very effective. The HT was very enjoyable with no worries of him carting off and for the jumping lesson there was a huge improvement too. I'd say give it a go, you can always get one from the bit bank
 
My mare had a tendency to lean on the bit and I borrowed several different bits from the YO to try out. With the gag, she reared, the waterford she still leaned, but was really happy in the kimblewick. We now do 2/3 of the time in a NS verbindend and 1/3 in a Myler kimblewick. She is happiest in the very thin Myler than in the thicker NS, but we can't use the Myler for dressage comps.
If you can, borrow a few bits to see what your horse is happiest wearing that still gives you the required control.
 
Gazen said:
My mare had a tendency to lean on the bit and I borrowed several different bits from the YO to try out. With the gag, she reared, the waterford she still leaned, but was really happy in the kimblewick. We now do 2/3 of the time in a NS verbindend and 1/3 in a Myler kimblewick. She is happiest in the very thin Myler than in the thicker NS, but we can't use the Myler for dressage comps.
If you can, borrow a few bits to see what your horse is happiest wearing that still gives you the required control.
Click to expand...

Thank you yes will try and borrow a few before I make my mind up
 
If you do decide to give the waterford a go instead of "jabbing" as you've said try this...Imagine your doing little circles with your hand this way you will be giving and taking on the rein. If you do use your hand too harshly i should imagine the horse will either stop or throw its head in the air. Either way you know you are been to hard with your hand. You do still need to feel a contact but make sure your hands are very light. You could always try the bit bank as they will allow you to try the bit and if its not suitable you can send it back.
 
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