The Shires Hanging Cheek Waterford (also commonly referred to as a Baucher Waterford) is a specialised, multi-jointed bit designed for strong horses that pull or lean, yet remain sensitive to harsh mechanical leverage. It marries a stable, stationary hanging cheek configuration with a highly flexible, chain-style Waterford mouthpiece. This allows riders to maintain clear, upright boundaries and encourage flexion without resorting to long curb shanks or severe gag setups. It is considered a severe bit as the pressure is distributed over the tongue and bars of the mouth.
Key Specifications:
- Mouthpiece Thickness: 18mm.
- Cheek Height/ Shank Length: 110mm from the top bridle ring to the base of the main ring.
- Mouthpiece Design and Material: Multi-jointed Waterford chain featuring an interconnected series of smooth metal balls in high-polish, heavy-duty stainless steel that is durable, tasteless, and rust-resistant.
How it Works:
- Elimination of Bracing & Leaning: The signature feature of the Waterford chain is its fluid, multi-directional flexibility. Because it bends freely, it completely deprives a powerful horse of any solid, rigid surface to clamp its teeth around or freeze its tongue against. If the horse attempts to lean its weight onto the reins, the bit collapses softly, forcing them to carry their own front end.
- Quiet Mouthpiece Positioning: The bridle’s cheekpieces hook into the isolated small upper loops. This arrangement suspends the bit cleanly inside the mouth and holds it stationary, stopping lateral sliding and entirely preventing the outer edges from pinching the sensitive corners of the horse's lips.
- Mild Poll Assistance: When rein contact is taken on the large main rings, the upper arms rotate forward slightly. This action creates a very mild, non-leverage containment pressure across the poll. This subtle cue helps encourage a high-headed or resistant horse to flex, soften at the poll, and relax down into the contact.
- Multi-Point Pressure: When active tension is engaged, the individual ball links concentrate pressure across the natural curves of the tongue, lower lips, and bars. This offers a sharp, unmistakable signal to horses that take hold at speed, but returns to a soft, custom-moulded chain the instant the rider softens their hands.
This bit is not legal for British Dressage (BD) or FEI Competitions but widely permissible in Showjumping and Cross Country phases.