Why might you assess your horse's bit or bridle fit?

Bit and bridle fit can have a significant influence on the horse's comfort and way of going. Sometimes  there is an obvious issue and other times the signs can be more subtle.

Common signs of issues can include:

• Resistance/unwillingness to go forward

• Contact evasion, mouth opening, leaning on the bit

• Spookiness, tension through the body

• Excessive salivation, a 'busy' mouth

• Head tilting/shaking/tossing

• Snatching at the reins, inconsistent contact, unwillingness to take contact forward

Sometimes the horse/rider's needs may have changed due to age, experience, injury or competiton requirements, meaning that the current set up needs re-evaluating.

Importantly, we don't need to wait until something is obviously wrong to make sure the tack is appropriate. Comfort is fundamental to the horse's performance and to the partnership between horse and rider.

Bit and bridle comfort can influence the horse's way of going and their whole body movement, so it's important to ensure that the set up is anatomically appropriate and comfortable - whether you're a high level competitor, or simply a happy hacker.

Classical Principles, Horsemanship & Enlightened Equitation

I was drawn to Enlightened Equitation because of its focus on refining communication with the horse and learning to ride in a way that supports rather than impedes the horse's movement.

When we're riding, we're really asking a lot of the horse, and it's surprisingly easy to unintentionally get in their way. Developing a better understanding o our own balance, biomechanics and communication allows us to become more aware of the effect we're having on our horses and to refine that communication with greater finesse.

This is also an important part of how I approach bit and bridle fitting. Understanding how a horse should be moving, how the contact should feel and what we're trying to achieve allows me to consider not only whether a piece of tack fits anatomically, but how the horse responds to it when ridden - the horses don't read our textbooks and have their own preferences which may not align with our initial thoughts!

My interest in horsemanship grew from this same desire to understand the horse rather than simply ask for a particular response. Horse's aren't robots; they have their own feeling, preferences and opinions, and learning to listen to those responses in fundamental to building a good partnership.

Ultimately, I want horses and their people to be able to work together with greater comfort, understanding and finesse. We all want our horses to enjoy the things we do with them and I believe taking the time to listen, refine ourcommunication and consider the horse as an individual is an important part of achieving that.

At the Enlightened Equitation Teacher's Confrerence, 2023, hosted at Heather Moffett's yard.

My Approach

I went on to persue Enlightened Equitation and classical principles because I was drawn to the refinement of communication and to riding in a way that supports rather than impedes the horse.

I'm particularly interested in the subtle details of biomechanics, balance, and comunication - the things that allow a horse and rider to work together with greater finesse.

Alongside this, I've developed a strong interest in attuned horsemanship and have worked with a huge variety of horses, including young and unhandled horses, ex-racehorses and horses with difficult or traumatic histories.

I've seen how much can change when a horse feels genuinely seen, heard and understood. Sometimes the biggest transformation isn't in what we ask the horse to do, but in how we approach the horse in the first place.

I believe horses are individuals with their own feelings, prefernces, and opinions. I think there's something incredibly valuable about slowing down enough to really notice and enjoy the interaction we have with them.

Why Bit & Bridle Fitting?

I've always had a fascination with bits - not simply which bits are popular, but why different designs produce different effects and how they interact with the horse' anatomy.

My interest in biomechanics naturally led me deeper into the relationship between the mouth, tongue, jaw, poll and the rest of the body. Bridle fit is an area that is so often overlooked, despite the bridle sitting over some extremely sensitive structures.

Becoming a Bit & Bridle Fitting Consultant felt like a natural progression of everything I'd already been learning.

It's given me another way to help horses and their riders find greater comfort, communication and connection.