Waterfords.....again?!?

L

Loubiepoo

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 April 2007
Messages
568
Visit site
My horse really leans on the bit and is heavy in my hand, several people have suggested trying a Waterford bit and lots of people on here seem to have had good results with it. But..... I don't think its dressage legal so I would have to change back to my snaffle for competitions.

Has anyone found that even when using the Waterford in training when you put a snaffle back in it has still made a difference to your horses way of going, or do they just go back to how they were?

Hope that makes sense!! Thanks
smile.gif
 
My trainer rides hers in a waterford and then swaps to the snaffle to compete and it works well for her.

I use a combination noseband for schooling, but obviously cant compete in it, so i swap to a drop when im competing and its working out really well.

Ive got a waterford for my horse too, and im going to start schooling him in it a bit aswell to help lighten him in my hand some more.
 
Leaning is normally lack of engagement is most cases rather than just trying to escape.
Are you having lessons? What does your trainer say?
 
Dianchi, is this for me (Michelle73) or for the original poster?

Yes having lessons. Yes I know what my horse, wants and needs and he gets it. No he doesn't lean on me very often any more - just when he gets very very tired.
grin.gif
 
Thanks for your replies, yes i've answered it in new lounge too. We do have lessons with a BD instructor every fortnight and work hard on the leaning issue, lots of transitions between and within the paces, lifting him off my hand then really trying to push him on to engage his hindquarters. But he's naturally built on the forehand and has never really had any proper schooling before he came to me, so I'm just looking at things that might help us on the way a bit.
 
TBH its a bit false by swapping to waterford and not really getting them to truely engage. Will only show up when you resort to snaffle for dressage comps.
Have you tried raised pole work outside of lessons, unfortunately building up engagement is a long process!
 
Thanks Dianchi, no I haven't tried the polework. Unfortunately I only have a field to school in and I think we have all of two poles but I could give it a go. What about lunging over raised poles, do you think that would give the same effect or do I need to be sat on top, driving those hindquarters under him?
 
Both would work, some find it a lil dif at first if its usual so being sat on top can help to keep them pushing forward, but lunging would help too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top