Wilkie snaffles ....tell me about them

debsflo

debsflo

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Im still on a horse hunt for a safe easy allrounder.
I was contacted today about a mare that sounds nice on paper but they said she is ridden in a Wilkie snaffle.
I have never used one but need a horse that is in a dressage legal bit as want to do that and the very little i know makes me think they are for horses that dont go well in a milder snaffle.
Am i right or wrong.. thanks .
 
They have a mild poll action, so tend to be used for a force the head in look, especially prevalent in showing circles (I have even seen them used as the bradoon in a double out showing...), so I would guess that it is being used for better brakes or to create a 'better' (not generally correct) outline.

I did ride my show horse in one for a brief time as the pelham/double look was too much for her petite head and she was easier to manage with that poll action, ( I am older and wiser now lol, but it did serve a purpose).

I wouldn't discount a horse ridden in one, as with schooling you would most likely be able to get it into a dressage legal snaffle, but I would make sure of the mouthpiece used first! I dressage legal mouthpiece with wilkie bit rings is a different kettle of fish to one with a none dressage legal mouthpiece too.
 
It's essentially a snaffle but with a little bit of leverage. I used one for a time on my warmblood that would bow behind the bit with too much leverage (the first ring on a gag was too much for him), but a snaffle was much too little.

I didn't use it to get a 'pretty head' I used it for extra breaks out hacking, he is in a snaffle when schooling. I would say that it's much more mild than a three ring gag for example, and wouldn't be too difficult to school out of if that makes sense?

He didn't respond much to a snaffle, he could lean on it and plow into the bridle on the forehand, whereas the small bit of poll pressure served gave him that little bit extra notice that I was asking for something. But then again he is a big, strong boy. So I would say that a straightforward 6 year old is in it as they are either strong, the rider wanted them to be as light as poss in the hand so over bitted, or that's just what they had to hand even?
 
I'm another that schools in a snaffle and uses a Wilkie for hacking/ cross country. She can get a bit strong and her head comes up when she gets strong. The Wilkie is perfect for her in this sense.

I can see exactly how it could be used to create a pretty (not necessarily correct) outline in the school, but having never used it for schoing, I can't comment beyond that.
 
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