Trust Sweet Iron 2.5 Ring Waterford Bit – Control and Flexibility for Strong Horses
The Trust Sweet Iron 2.5 Ring Waterford Bit is designed to create leverage when needed. By adjusting the rein position, riders can control the strength of the bit's action. The lower the reins, the sharper the leverage becomes, making this bit ideal for strong horses, particularly those that grab the bit or lean through the hand in the jumping arena.
Compared to a standard 2.5 ring snaffle, the Waterford mouthpiece features loose rings, allowing for greater movement within the bit. This creates a more flexible feel, and the indirect pressure from the rider’s hands encourages a relaxed response from the horse. The Waterford mouthpiece consists of rounded links that mold to the horse’s mouth, ensuring even pressure distribution. This design makes it difficult for the horse to grip the bit, helping the rider to maintain better control.
This bit is particularly effective for strong-willed horses, as it discourages bit grabbing. The Waterford design allows the bit to move in multiple directions, providing flexibility, but requires a skilled rider to handle it correctly. While it is gentle in soft hands, it can become quite sharp if used with a heavy hand, which makes it unsuitable for inexperienced riders.
The Sweet Iron bits are crafted from steel and feature a distinct blue color. Over time, the material develops a surface rust from exposure to moisture in the air. This oxidation process results in a sweet taste, which stimulates the horse’s saliva production, encouraging the horse to foam more and improving bit acceptance. The change in color from blue to brown-gray indicates that the horse is becoming more comfortable with the bit.
Key Features:
- Leverage action: The 2.5 rings create a mild leverage effect, ideal for managing strong or mouthy horses.
- Flexible movement: The loose rings allow more movement, making the pressure from the rider’s hand more indirect and helping to encourage relaxation.
- Waterford mouthpiece: Made of rounded links that distribute pressure evenly and prevent the horse from gripping the bit, improving control.
- Sweet Iron material: The sweet-tasting rust stimulates the horse’s saliva production, improving acceptance and reducing resistance.
- Suitable for strong horses: Perfect for horses that are strong in the mouth or tend to grab the bit.
- For experienced riders: Suitable for riders with a soft hand; not recommended for beginners due to its potential sharpness in strong hands.
- Color change: The oxidation process naturally changes the blue color to brown-gray, indicating that the horse is becoming more comfortable.
The Trust Sweet Iron 2.5 Ring Waterford Bit provides precise control and flexibility, especially for horses with strong or sensitive mouths. Its design and material properties ensure that the horse can’t easily grab the bit, improving communication between the rider and horse while offering a gentle yet effective solution for experienced riders.