Waterfords....again?!?!

[Loubiepoo]

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

 

[dianchi]

Waterfords def not dressage legal.
I found that it woked well for mine and she remained light and tr to run through, i used it for jumping.
But the leaning maybe more due to lacking of schooling and engagment and using a waterford wont necissarily (sp i know) help.

 

[kerilli]

umm, you can't school in a waterford, because of the wigglyness of the bit, you can't get a true contact.
if he leans, you need an instructor who can show you how to stop him leaning and train him to be a nice ride for you, carrying himself, not trying to trick you into carrying him.
your contact, and the way you use your hands/weight/seat/legs, will determine how the horse carries himself and whether he can lean, not just the type of bit.
i use a waterford for jumping occasionally, and then go back to a single-joint snaffle after a couple of times, hopefully. it's worked so far.

 

[fairhill]

I do all my heavy horse's schooling in the waterford, and only ever use the snaffle for competing.

It works for her as she's so big that it helps bring her off the forehand when schooling, and it saves me spending most of my lessons getting her off the forehand (and stops my shoulders from hurting!).

I have to do a bit more working in when using the snaffle, but the show atmosphere helps with lifting her as well. She does work correctly when I put the snaffle in, but would start to lean on it if it's used all the time. She won her prelim class last time out, so we must be doing something right

 

[Gentle_Warrior]

if i ever school i use a waterford, it helps with my very on the forehand cob cross. when you change back to a snaffle you will feel a difference, as in feels still in the waterford but it will not last for long, they will soon learn that theyc an lean again !

 

[Michelle73]

I haven't tried in a snaffle yet, but use Waterford Gag for jumping and hacking and Waterford Fulmer for flatwork. I've been recommended this bit for dressage should I ever get to compete: http://www.shop4bits.com/item--The-Verbindend-Connection-Bit-DL-12mm-55mm-Rings--9010-55.html

My whole ethos in my training is to end up back in a Dressage Legal Snaffle.

However, further to Kerilli's comments - it would not be a single jointed snaffle for my horse as he hates them. He loves the Waterford and prefers that - accepting it much more freely than a French Link. All horses are different and you must use whatever suits your horse.

 

[Loubiepoo]

Thanks Kerilli, we have lessons every fortnight with a registered BD instructor and we are really working on the leaning issue but its a long process for a horse of 13 thats probably never had any correct schooling and is naturally built on the forehand. I'm not looking for a quick fix, just something to make it a bit easier. At the moment I use a bit similar to the one on the link Michelle73 has posted, he seems confortable in it but finds it easy to fix his jaw.

 

[Shilasdair]

There was a bit of a Waterford fashion about 15years ago for eventing....and I found that they worked initially to get strong/heavy horses off the bit. Then, though, I found that they could encourage the horse to collect against you...which is far more difficult to cure than being strong!
So if you are going to use one, use it for the special occasions, and not for everyday use....
Good luck
S