waterford snaffle

[chescar]

Can you give me as much info as possible please.

What are the benifits? why use one? why not to use one? You get the gist.

Thanks

[Sasca]

Its known as a fluid action in that it is completly flexible in the mouth. It doesn't put pressure on the tongue and is just very moveable.

As there is nothing solid in the mouth, the horse cant press down on it or grab hold of it, preventing any leaning but this also means that correct schooling for an outline is out of the picture. I use one for hacking but not for schooling and is the general use.

[Savvy]

I have one for Sovereign for XC and HT when I need better brakes. Horses can't lean on or grab the mouthpiece as it is all movable links so is very useful for horses with a tendency to do this. However if the horse is one who tends to get behind the contact these sometimes exaggerate the problem and then you have a horse charging along and nothing in your hand! You can get these with all sorts of bit rings, mine has a hanging cheek so I also have some poll pressure.

It's considered a fairly strong bit but I think its more down to how your hands are. I'd rather ride her softly in a strong bit than fight and pull with heavy hands with a mild bit.

[chescar]

Why can't you get an outline? I thought that came from behind, regardless of which bit the horse is in?

Am I being thick again?

[CityLights]

Why can't you get an outline? I thought that came from behind, regardless of which bit the horse is in?

Am I being thick again?

i think sometimes waterfords the horse can back off a bit too much and may give you little to no feeling in your hand whcih is why getting some horses into an outline can be tirckier

i had one in a waterford for ages though and he went fab in it and another horse i ride goes in one briliantly and lovely and round

very good for anything heavy in your hand or that gets hold, the horse i ride in one has a very small mouth and resents anything jointed but you dont have enough feel in a straightbar but he does go quite nicely in a waterford

[Sasca]

Why can't you get an outline? I thought that came from behind, regardless of which bit the horse is in?

Am I being thick again?

Yes the outline and power comes from behind but they use the bit for the contact from rider as guidance and stability. If that contacts not there, they struggle to maintain the shape. Maybe better to have said cant train a correct outline in them but if the horse allready knows what he's doing then they can continue without the stability of a bit.

[chance encounter]

When we first bought Darli he hadnt been schooled in two years. He was really hard work and was leaning heavily on the bit and pulling BCE's shoulders out of her sockets. We bought a waterford snaffle and used it for a few weeks until he learned not to lean. Personally and for what we wanted the bit to do a waterford to us was a correctional bit and once it stopped the problem we had with Darli we sold it.

Like every bit they are only severe if used in the wrong hands. There is an article written by the Horse & Hound of showjumper & hunter judge Mike Florence. He uses this bit and states that is actually a mild bit as it has no flexibility. Google Horse & Hound Mike Florence and the article about the waterford snaffle should be the second one on the list.

[Burnie]

I hack Tilly out in one if I know we're going to have a canter while we're out. She used to put her head down, grab the bit and charge and I felt helpless to stop her. With the waterford I just have to give a couple of half halts and she comes back to me.

I don't school her in it as I do find she backs off it, she's schooled in a french link which she seems to really like.

[bimba]

I use one on Mac for fast workif I know we're going to be in large spaces or in a group and used to use it for hunting or cross country as he can really put his head down and set against you. Because they're made of lots of individual pieces they don't allow the horse to take hold of the bit in the same way, personally I think they're kinder than taking your horse in a french link or similar and then having to yank it's teeth out or constantly pull.