What is a Waterford bit used for?

Horse & Hound describes it as looking like a line of ball-and-chain links, usually fitted with plain loose snaffle rings, though it also comes with full cheeks or gag-type rings. Horse Illustrated's bit guide puts it as oversized, bubble-shaped chain links with many joints instead of one or two.

Short answer, since it is early and the barn is waiting: it is a flexible mouthpiece made for horses that lean or take hold. Long answer: also that, with some caveats, and the caveats are the rest of this page.

We report what makers, bitting experts and independent guides say. We do not rank any bit as gentle or harsh in our own voice, because the sources do not agree and the horse and the rider decide.

Horse & Hound says it moulds around the mouth for an even pressure and is movable in all directions, so horses find it difficult to lean or take hold. Martyn Welsh, a bitting expert at Equiport, tells the magazine strong horses seem to accept a Waterford more readily than a pelham or curb-type bit, because its action is broken when the horse tries to set the jaw.

Horse Illustrated adds a detail about the rider's side. With even pressure from both reins, it says, the links act as a unit and form a bridge across the tongue, and the many bumps create several contact points. It says the bit shifts from fairly mild to more severe as that rein pressure changes. For a strong horse that pulls, it recommends using one rein at a time, which starts a rolling action from the shape of the mouthpiece.

In plain language: the links move, so the horse cannot brace, and how much the bit asks depends partly on how the rider takes up the reins. That is the design as these sources describe it. It is not a promise about any one horse.

Tricia Nassau-Williams, a bitting expert, BETA field officer and lorinery consultant, tells Horse & Hound it can help strong, bold horses in fast work that snatch or take hold and pull, which makes it a popular choice for cross-country and show jumping. She also says it is useful when a rider feels a horse needs to be lighter on the forehand, and that skilled riders can use it for training purposes to promote self-carriage and response.

Our listings echo the use. Toklat's loose ring Waterford says it is most commonly used in show jumping or field hunting. Korsteel's Waterford hunter dee says it encourages soft contact and discourages fixing and leaning on the forehand. Horze says that because the bit has no fixed mouthpiece it discourages a horse from grasping it and leaning on the rider's hands.

Nassau-Williams also says that because the Waterford flexes so much it generally suits all types of mouth, from full mouths to long, slim ones. Bits are best chosen, she adds, by starting with the mouthpiece for the individual horse's mouth and conformation, then the discipline, then the horse's level of training and the rider's.

The table puts the makers' own wording side by side. These are seller descriptions, so they are the maker's account of the design rather than independent testing.

That spread is the honest picture. One source calls the bit's pressure even, another says it can be harsh. They are describing the same linked mouthpiece, and the difference is mostly in the rider and in the horse.

She says it is available on snaffles, pelhams, running gags and lever bits. A Waterford on loose rings is a snaffle action. On pelham shanks it is a different bit, which is why the Shires pelham listing talks about leverage and poll pressure.

Cheek names show up on the store too: loose ring, dee, full cheek and Baucher (hanging cheeks). Our cheek style page explains what the cheek does in general, and our snaffle, pelham, gag or hackamore page explains the leverage split.

Skip: judging a bit by the mouthpiece name alone. The cheek, the rein position and the rest of the bridle are all part of the picture.

Nassau-Williams says success or failure with a Waterford relies totally on the skill and empathy of the rider, who needs an independent seat and rewarding hands. University of Georgia Extension's Bits 101 bulletin, reviewed in 2024, concludes that hands matter most and many perceived bit problems are training problems.

That fits what Horse Illustrated says about rein pressure: strong, even pressure on both reins changes what the bit does. Hands are doing the work. A horse that leans often needs a conversation about balance and the contact, and a bit can support that conversation. It cannot be the whole of it.

If your horse is leaning, tossing his head or fussing, check the basics first. A vet or equine dentist can look at the mouth and teeth, and a trainer can watch you ride. Our gentlest bit page explains why what suits one horse can be wrong for another.

One maker's listing, Toklat's loose ring Waterford, says the bit is not legal for dressage. That is a seller's line, so treat it as a prompt to check the rules. Our dressage bit legality page explains where USEF lists the bits it permits and why you should check your exact bit by name.

For hunter and equitation classes, our hunter and equitation bit rules page reports what the USEF chapters say. The rules there are written around kinds of bit, so a Waterford's legality turns on the cheek and the whole bit as well as the mouthpiece. Ask your steward if the book does not name it.

Rules change year to year, and other organizations and schooling shows have their own.

Horse & Hound reports that makers have reworked the design in recent years, smoothing the links or elongating the ends, to reduce rubbing or pinching at the lips. If you are sizing one of those, ask the maker how its design is meant to be measured. Our bit size page covers measuring in general.

Nassau-Williams advises seeking help from a professional bit and bridle fitter if you are unsure. If the horse seems uncomfortable in any bit, a vet or equine dentist is the person to ask.

For care, Horze's listing says to wash the bit after each ride: remove it from the bridle, soak it in hot water, use a small brush to remove residue and dry it with a clean towel. A bit with many links has many places for residue to hide.

Before you try one, ask:

• What is the horse doing that I want to change: leaning, snatching, setting the jaw? And has a vet or equine dentist looked at the mouth and teeth?
• Which cheek does this bit have, and is that the action I want from the rest of the bit?
• Does the rule book or prize list for my class allow this exact bit?
• Who will watch me ride in it the first time?
• What will I change only one of at a time, so I know what made the difference?