The mouthpiece on the Bombers Waterford Nelson Gag is made up of a series of flexible ball links, which spread the pressure around the horse's mouth.
As there is nothing rigid for the horse to latch on to, the Waterford can be very useful for giving the rider extra control on horses that tend to lean on the bit, set their jaw or take hold of the bit. It is suitable for most types of mouth conformation, including horses with large tongues.
The blue sweet iron mouthpiece oxidises easily, creating a warm, sweet taste in the horse's mouth. This encourages salivation and acceptance of the bit.
The running gag helps to lift the horse's head, and is often used on horses that tend to lean, go on the forehand or pull. The cheekpieces slide through the holes in the bit rings, moving the mouthpiece upwards against the corners of the mouth and lips, which gives a clear indication to the horse to lift his head. It also exerts pressure against the mouth to bring the horse's nose inwards.
The full cheeks offer more precise steering, as pressure is applied to the cheek when a turning aid is given. They also ensure that the mouthpiece remains in a central position and cannot slide through the horse's mouth. This bit can be used with two reins - one attached to the bit ring and one attached to the rope - so the gag action only comes into play when it is required.
We offer both rope and leather gag cheeks for your Nelson gag. The rope slides through the rings more quickly than the leather, giving a more immediate command, whereas many people prefer the aesthetic appearance of the leather.
Bombers have recently altered their design of this bit so it has elongated ends on the mouthpiece to reduce the risk of the bit pinching the horse's lips. This means that the bit does not have to be fitted bigger than the horse's usual size to avoid pinching.
As the design change is phased in, we may still have the older style in stock. If you would like to specify which version you require, please contact us when placing your order.
Please note that the blue will fade with use.
