I’ve been working with horses for over 35 years, and one thing I see almost every single time is this: bit fitting for horses doesn’t get treated as routine care. It’s not on the checklist alongside the vet check, the saddle fit, or the dentist. It sits somewhere in the background, and most people only […]
Bit Fitting for Horses: Why It Should Be Routine, Not a Last Resort Read More »
British Showjumping Banned Bits – What Does This Mean For Horse Sport British show jumping has banned some bits from immediate affect, and updated their rules this week and it got me thinking. Amendments can be found here: https://www.britishshowjumping.co.uk/membership/Member-Handbooks-And-Rule-Amendments The new tack rule amendments dropped a few days ago and the forums have been buzzing
British Showjumping Rule Changes and Banned Bits Read More »
Bit Evasions, What Do They Mean Did you know any of the following issues with your horse can be bit related: Chomping, open mouth, feeling heavy, avoiding the contact, not responding to rein aids, head tilting, feeling stiff and unyielding, not accepting the contact …the list goes on. Some horses will show quite extravagant
Did You Know these signs can all be bit related? Read More »
Why Does My Horse Lean on The BIt? Why It Happens and How to Fix It Properly Leaning on the bit is one of the most common problems riders contact me about. Leaning has multiple causes including bit discomfort and incorrect mechanics, rider hands, lack of balance, poor training and even conformation. For the rider
Why Does My Horse Lean on The Bit? Read More »
Is It the Bit… When something feels wrong in the contact, most riders look straight at the bit and think is it the bit. Then they searching things like help with bit fitting, best bit for my horse or bit fitter near me because we assume the metal must be the issue. But is it
Is it The Bit or The Rider? How Riders Hands Affect Contact Read More »
Fitting a Bit Correctly I’m often asked how to correctly position the bit in the horses mouth, and granted, it’s a relevant question as all mouths and bits are different. I often hear from riders they have been told that two wrinkles at the corners of the lips shows a good fit, but is it
How to Correctly Fit a Bit to Your Horse Read More »
When Should You See a Professional Bit Fitter? You should see a professional bit fitter when your horse is showing signs of discomfort, evasion or resistance that you cannot resolve by yourself, when you have already tried several bits without success, or when you are starting a young horse and want to get the foundations
When Should You See a Professional Bit Fitter? Read More »
We talk a lot about horse bits in terms of brand and design, but far less about whether the bit is actually working for the horse in front of us. Many contact issues I see during a horse bit fitting appointment are not about strength, but about comfort and clarity. Here are five common signs
5 Signs Your Horses’ Bit Might Not Be Working Read More »
Bits For Young Horses Starting young horses is something I see rushed far too often, particularly as spring arrives and people are keen to get going. Choosing the right bit for a young horse from the very beginning can have a significant impact on their understanding, confidence, and long term way of going. It can
Bits to Start a Young Horse Read More »
Do Bits Train Horses Riders often ask “Do bits train horses?” It’s a natural question, but the answer isn’t as simple as yes or no. A bit on its own does not train – what it does is allow communication between rider and horse. Training happens through the horse’s understanding of aids, balance, rhythm, and
Do Bits Train Horses? Understanding What a Bit Actually Does Read More »
