Waterford universal bit.....

[KatB]

Thoughts? Going drag hunting this weekend, and boyo is STRONG! he sticks his head down, and goes, with little respect for me! Tried a Cheltenham gag, but he ran away from the single joint, so pulled even more, and manages to lean on a Tom Thumb with rollers too. Now, I think part of the problem is the more we put in his mouth, the more he pulls. Tried a Ported pelham at the weekend, and he loved it (fussy with tongue pressure) but concerned about him being able to lean on it. He likes waterford mouthpiece (SJ in a full cheek waterford) but still gets strong, was wandering if the universal with a curb would have a similar pelham action, but less likely to lean on!? Or alternatively a waterford pelham.... any opinions/experience of bits?!

 

[RunToEarth]

I like waterford mouthpiece, I sometimes hunt my boy in waterford dutch gag. Dont know what action the universal has but the mouthpiece seems a wise idea, my lad got nto habits of taking the pelham and pissing off, he seems to get used to bits and they become useless. Dont like pelhams with a joint, I dont understand how they can work- curb and the nutcracker effect. I think you should try a universal/dg waterford, nothing to lean on that way!

 

[H-J]

Is this your baby in the pics that is strong?

Maybe somthing with rollers on so he cant lean

 

[KatB]

Yep thats the one!! Prob is, Cherry rollers are too thick for his dinky mouth, and he doesnt like single joints!!

 

[Baggybreeches]

Cherry Rollers? Sov went out on Boxing Day and pulled so hard his mouth was sore for a couple of weeks. I wished I hadnt over bitted him because that was part of the problem I think

 

[Patches]

I have the Neue Schule universal waterford with a curb. Haven't used it on the lower ring with curb yet though so I'm a useless hopeless waste of a reply sort of person!

 

[KatB]

How are you getting on with it Patches?

 

[Patches]

I love the bit, more importantly so does Patches. She's very light in my hand, steering is great and brakes are fine.

Not had a chance to use it on faster work yet but she certainly pulls up when she has a minor "skit" and canter up the road at the Falabella ponies she hates! The "balls" in the mouthpiece are smoother and smaller (thinner) than my old Stainless Steel Waterford gag. She certainly seems to mouth it more readily than the old one. Like your horse she doesn't seem to like a single jointed mouthpiece. She's got a fleshy mouth so I wonder if they hit the roof of her mouth.

I'm going to get the verbindend for general schooling when the weather picks up. (don't have a school, so only ride in fields or hack out at the moment)

 

[Heidi1]

I like the waterfood mouthpiece, have Spur in Hanging Cheek for SJ, and Dutch Gag for hunting, she loves it, have no problems with sore mouth or even pulling.....

 

[KatB]

Can I ask what bit you used? Am very conscious dont want to be hauling on his mouth constantly, but cant use a chunky bit cos of ickle mouth!! And at least a waterford is relatively mild.....

 

[KatB]

Well that was my thought! Thoygh he is strong in the full cheek waterford....

 

[JessPickle]

I use a waterford dutch gag on pickle for hacking (partically in big groups) so I can hold him, works really well and he is like a different horse in it as he cant lean on riders hands

 

[Benjamin]

This is going to be no help at all but I am looking at the NS Waterford pelham for hunting. Benj goes very well in the waterford mouth, just need that little bit extra!

 

[air78]

I love NS bits, and have the trans (jointed mouth) universal, I use it with out a curb.
I normaly ride in their starter bit, and have to take a good pull if we canter with others- but as we're going hunting soon I thought I try this for a bit of extra help pulling up. I LOVE it! The difference is amazing, I might just use it all the time-no more aching arms!

I would give it a go with the waterford mouth, it's certainly given me more brakes..... but I do think it lowers my boys head (good in my case), this might be the action of my mouth piece though.

 

[Baggybreeches]

I think it was a cheltenham gag with rollers, it was on my mums horse when she was being a bit wild! I can also recommend the NS bit (on page144) in H&H this week, dont know what it is called but Sov really goes nicely in it and we have instant brakes when required, without getting an overeaction if you Know what I mean!

 

[KatB]

Ok, thanks, not a fan of rollers cos they pinch!! Will have a look for bit, thanks!!