Soooo confused...should I use a Waterford?

Question

Okay, like I ahve beed looking around and I now know that a Waterford is for a horse that leans into/grabs hold of the bit.

My Arabian has been in a Waterford bit for quite some time (his old owner had him in it and he did well), and my QH is in a copper Loose Ring Snaffle (but he doesn't "slobber" and he can get very heavey/on is forhand/grab the bit)

The thing is my Arab doesn't lean on the bit...if anything his head is to high resisting the bit. My QH, on the other hand, is opposite. Do you think I should switch their bits or what? I mean from the way my horses are acting it seems like they need like need to switch bits...what do you think?

thanks...

Answer 1

Sounds like a plan to me!  As long as the bits fit, I'd give it a try.  The waterford seems to have corrected whatever problem the Arab had and should help the QH.   Trying the snaffle on the Arab sounds good.

The best part is, you get to try a new bit for each horse without spending any money, they're the right bits to try, and you can always switch back.

GREAT idea!

Answer 2

What your describing isint a bit issue, it is a breed/training issue. Arabs have a natural higher head carraige the a quater horse. Your QH isn't getting heavy in your hand and trying to run away he is just built on the forehand. Your job is to loosen him and switch his power source to his backend and ask him to power off more. Try lots of tranistions and spairling out where you are asking him to loosen his lumbar area and step up underneath himself.

Arabs are naturally tenser horses with a higher head carraige. Im not sure exactly if he needs a waterford since i have never seen him go but i would stick with it. With your arab get him to work in a longer frame where he is stretching his topline. Once he has worked several weeks at stretching his topline out picking him up and putting back together in a lower frame will be much easier.

If you feel like you want to change bit then go ahead.

I would like to piont out that the waterford is a milder bit them the french link becaus eof the pressure pts. they create. A waterford has hardly any where the french link does put pressure on the tounge in the jts.

hope this helps

Answer 3

Welllll, if your Arabian is coming above the bit, he's doing it to avoid the pain of contact, so, yes, definitely switch to a more mild bit.  If I were you I'd first try a french link.  However, if the previous owner was riding him in a waterford (personally I wouldn't use a waterford) and he was doing well,  then you need to ask yourself if your hands are causing him to try to avoid contact by raising above the bit, since you're the only variation in the equation.

And the QH leaning on the bit and grabbing it is another form of evasion which a horse will do if the bit's bothering him, via the rider's hands. . . .If you have an experienced person watch you ride, and ride your horses,as well, they might be able to tell you if it's your hands causing the problem, or if the horses just need retraining.  Generally speaking, though, start with the  mildest bit possible, and experiment from there.  The shape of your horse's mouth and tongue will determine which bit will be most comfortable for them, so you may just need to experiment.