Waterford Bit ??

[breezey]

Boy am I making use of this forum As I said earlier today, I have been having a good few days now with Rambler and today especially as we even got into the outdoor paddock with jumps Someone has just mentioned to me at the yard that he wasnt locking down on the bit this afternoon and he seemed a lot more content and had his mouth closed. I to be honest, hadnt noticed, but on reflection its true, as normally after a bit off works, he starts to crane his head down and take the bit to the point i cant turn him and this is when he usually starts stressing. I tried a new bit it today, mainly as Im on my trial and error phase and have used 3 different ones already...the cherry roller which I got him in and we both hated, the french link which he locks down on and a rubber mullen which was so so.
Today we borrowed my friends waterford which I took an instant disliked to at the sight it as it looks very harsh and he played about with it for a while.....but in hindsight, he never locked down once or craned his head and to be honest worked very well, so this might be my answer to the bit problem.. but i know nothing of this bit.. does anyone have knowledge or experiences with the waterford?? I know all horses respond to different things, but a bit of insight to this bit would be helpful

[chestnuttymare]

When i first saw the waterford, i thought, 'omg i would never put that in my horses mouth'. It looks more scary tha it is i thing and apparently it does exactly what you say and they can't lean on it. It is really flexible and moves, encouraging them to mouth it. I don't think it is allowed in dressage though.
It is usually strong horses that are ridden in it so i have never used it but i have heard good things about it.

[breezey]

Thanks chestnutty mare. He is extremely strong now. A few people at the yard have commented on it and again its due to how fit he is. If it stops him leaning and craning his neck then I may buy one for him as long as its not harsh. He used to grind his teeth also on the other bits and didnt on this one. I ride light but due my lack of knowledge with this bit I didnt want to do more damage than good xx

[paddysmum]

Lisa will be able to tell you all about this bit,
troy has one, and he goes fantastic in it.

[breezey]

cool thank you xx

[cadmus]

I have used a Waterford in Jack and hes a baby!!

Well, Jack is very very strong and a snaffle wasnt holding him, so I spoke to my eventer friend and have looked on the internet and a few professionals have mentioned that they have used this bit for their youngsters. It helps to make them mouth at the same time giving you the control you need.

I have also been told not to use it permanently, just at the start.

Jack seemed to respond very well to this bit and now I can ride him in a snaffle, but if I was going out for a gallop Id stick the waterford back in.

Good luck

[breezey]

Thanks cadmus, i think i have decided to go ahead and order one as all the feedback and things I am reading seem to be positive. God having an ex racehorse is an experience thats for sure my last horse an id/tb accepted almost anything and now ive gone from one extreme to the other

[cadmus]

Yep they are definately a different sort of horse...but well worth the bother.

Good luck with it and let us know how you get on......Lisa will be on soon to advise you

[lisah]

Hi honey

Yes - I used a waterford on troy my VERY BIG IDxTB and he loved it.

He had a very sensitive mouth but was also very strong and heavy in my hand. I tried a dutch gag but he hated the poll pressure so a friend recommended a waterford.

Like you I saw the bit and thought ''NO WAY PEDRO'' but I tried him and he loved it. He was so soft in my hands and played with the bit and got a lovely wet mouth.

One thing I would say is that you have to ride gently with the waterford, build up the contact and never ever snatch it up.

Waterfords are allowed in the ScotNorth classes but they are not legal for dressage so you will not be able to do any dressage in it.

You have already tried Rambler and he likes it so I say stick with it - it's a great bit in the right hands. Logically, it is so bendy and flxible in their mouth (unlike the 2 bar or straight bar snaffles) they must feel really nice.

Anyway - if he has gone well in it I say go with it honey - whatever makes him happy

LisaH xxxxxxxx

[bingbong]

waterford is not strong at all it just works in a different way to a snaffle and all horses have differnt shaped mouths so to some horses a snaffle would be too sore on them.

and to be honest the bit is only as strong as the hands that are attached to it:)

[breezey]

BIG THANKS TO ALL FOR ADVICE

[Alliecat]

Yep, Waterfords have their place, so don't let anyone put you off if it's working.

My big lad Flynn (17.2 of TBxID), will occassionally lean, just to see if he can get away with it. I stick him in a hanging cheek Waterford every couple of months, just to remind him to lighten up & rest of time he is perfectly happy & manageable in a French link Fulmer.

[hannahpig]

Bond loved the waterford! He was very bad at grabbing hold of the bit and jsut couldnt do anything, he went good in a french link but needed more for jumping, the gag made him over bend, which had beeen a big problem from when we first got him. The water ford was brilliant in him!!

[bingbong]

i actually really love mylers i start all my youngsters off in them either the snaffle or the combination one
and i rode my old ex racer in one too

[chestnuttymare]

I started Brooke in a myler 03 and she went brilliantly in it. She never leaned on it either.