Waterford?

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Overgrown Pony

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Hey guys

Have my horse (17.2hh 7yr old DWB) in a loose ring snaffle with lozenge and cavesson noseband for flatwork, and a vulcanite pelham with roundings, rubber covered curb and cavesson for exciting things (XC, SJ, hunting, canter work etc).

He's naturally quite downhill and a lot of horse to hold together. He's quite heavy in my hands in the snaffle. The pelham gives me a nice solid direct feel for fast work. He also feels a lot lighter in my hand in it when schooling.

Had a jump lesson yesterday. I'd been feeling like I was being pulled out th saddle on landing. I didn't mention it to my instructor but she picked it up and said he's pulling down on landing because of the feeling the pelham is giving him. She said he's struggling to balance on landing in it. I'm very giving with my hands jumping so I'm not hindering him.

She suggested a Waterford. Any thoughts? Tips on which to try? Which cheek style/make?

Cheers guys xx

Ps Teeth, back and saddle are up to date.
 
I use a loose ring waterford bit on my gelding as he used to grab the bit in his teeth when I first had him, leaned on it a lot. My Instructor suggested this bit and he's been in it ever since. We use it daily and he goes very well in it.
 
The problem with using roundings is that however hard you try the bit will have a downward pull whenever you use the reins, it is not a subtle bitting arrangement especially the chunky vulcanite type, if he is happy in it I would try using 2 reins so you can get more feel, he should not be balancing on the hand when landing anyway.

Otherwise try having a lesson in the snaffle and see how that goes it may be that he just needs a lighter bit so he does not lean on the hand, work on getting him lighter by using himself behind properly, If you do need a waterford use one with the same rings as your snaffle to start with.
 
Cheers for your replies.

He doesn't balance on my hands on landing. I got my instructor to confirm that. It's like he pulls me out the saddle with a small yank on landing. Instructor said he's not liking the feel of the pelham and its making him feel unbalanced on landing... even though I have a feather light contact so as to give him the freedom to move.
 
Waterfords can be really useful for some horses , the biggest issue with them is the tendency to rub the corners of the mouth.
The neule schule ones have a slightly different design at the outer edges that minimises this issue.
 
Blimey, a Waterford is the last kind of bit I would use in your situation. If the horse is unbalanced on landing then the poor thing will be hurt by this bit. It is for horses that lean on the hands in normal flatwork situations, not for horses that are unbalanced because they are on the forehand. Goldenstar has mentioned that they can tend to rub. I think this is putting it really mildly. These bits have the tendency to trap the narrow bars of the mouth between the nobbles and cause a great deal of pain. Though she is right in that the nue schule is slightly better than the other versions.
 
Waterfords bend so they are hard for a horse to grab. If he is unbalanced then how much schooling are you doing to correct this. Has your instructor ridden him?
 
He's not unbalanced on the flat, and he doesn't feel unbalanced jumping, it's just this slight yank downwards that he gives on landing.

I'll definitely go for a Neue Schule version if I end up giving it a try.

I'll definitely get my instructor to get on him next time so she can have a feel.

Cheers guys
 
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