Accredited Bit Bank Australia Bitting Specialist. Equine bit fitting for all horses, from pleasure t
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Bitting Consults available on the Mornington Peninsula on Saturday August 31. If Saturday fills I can also be available on Friday 30th.
A fitting will take around an hour and is best performed ridden. Please message the page with all further queries.
This is a great article worth reading. I was discussing with a colleague yesterday how, overall, I felt the weymouth rein in many tests was softer than I've seen in previous Olympic dressage events. I'd love to see these combinations be able to compete at this level in a snaffle.
I can't even begin to imagine the pressures of competing and being scrutinised at this level, whatever sport you're participating in.
We've just witnessed an incredible week of dressage sport at the Olympics.
And like other big shows, I get emails, phone calls and comments afterwards from journalists asking for my opinion.
For example, this time a certain horse showed that its mouth was slightly open.
And then they ask: "What are your thoughts on that? What does that mean for the horse?"
If you want to read my opinion on this matter, go here: https://trtmethod.com/blog/my-take-on-the-olympic-games/
I'm in beautiful Gippsland bit fitting again Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 of August. I'm available within an hour of Trafalgar. Because this will be a tricky logistically if you'd like to make a booking please message me with where you are and if you've any preference for day and time as well as if you're unable to do a day/time. This will help me to organise the run!
All queries welcome. Bear in mind a fitting will take around an hour and is best performed ridden.
Saturday 24 August I'll be at Elite Equestrian Academy in Great Western. Message the page for bookings.
***AUGUST 2024 bit fitting dates now available***
I've quite a few available dates in August, particularly on weekends. This doesn't happen very often! If you'd like me to come to your area, I can cover most of Victoria, please contact me. Minimum numbers do apply with areas outside of those regularly visited.
All areas listed cover surrounding areas or places on the way to/from near Ballarat also. If an area's not listed contact me to see if I'm able to travel to you.
A fitting takes around an hour and is conducted one on one. For best result the horse is ridden but I'm also able to do standing fits and fittings for horses heading off to be started or currently not under saddle. A full written report is forwarded after your booking for your records.
Any questions, please just ask! I'm based in Gordon so am easily able to do areas nearby when dates may not be specifically listed for them. For bookings please message the page.
***JULY 2024 bit fitting dates now available***
All areas listed cover surrounding areas or places on the way to/from near Ballarat also. If an area's not listed contact me to see if I'm able to travel to you.
A fitting takes around an hour and is conducted one on one. For best result the horse is ridden but I'm also able to do standing fits and fittings for horses heading off to be started or currently not under saddle. A full written report is forwarded after your booking for your records.
Any questions, please just ask! I'm based in Gordon so am easily able to do areas nearby when dates may not be specifically listed for them.
For bookings please message the page.
Accredited Bit Bank Australia Bitting Specialist.
Equine bit fitting for all horses, from pleasure t
I'm seriously excited to be involved with the newly launched School of Equine Bitting to be able to assist others to work in the area I'm so passionate about. Head over and check it out!
Are you a passionate equestrian looking for a change of career? Are you already an equine professional looking to expand what you’re able to offer your clients?
The fascinating world of bitting offers great opportunities to improve riders' relationships with their horses by increasing comfort and communication.
Book a call today to find out more about our online and face to face courses. https://www.schoolofequinebitting.com/
GIPPSLAND PEEPS!
Bit fittings available this Sunday 9 June and potentially Monday 10 June if sufficient bookings.
A bit fitting is hugely beneficial if you think your horse doesn’t seem happy in his current bit. If he’s chomping, head tossing, too heavy, too light, or not maintaining a consistent connection, assessing the style and size of your current bit may help to achieve a better ‘conversation’. My focus is 100% on horses comfort and setting up a better line of communication for horse and rider appropriate for their discipline and level.
A fitting will take around an hour and is best performed ridden, a full written report is provided afterwards.
Venue - Silver Gum Estate Equestrian Facility - Hazelwood North
For further information and bookings please message the page.
I’ve just returned home from an incredible three days, something I’ve wanted to do for many years. I’ve attended a three day whole horse dissection with Dr. Sharon May-Davis. If I can retain 1% of the information shared I’ll have expanded my knowledge base considerably. I feel like I need to sit in a quiet room for about a week to let the learning soak in, along with regularly hugging my beautiful horses. If I thought these animals were dear to me before…multiply that by about a zillion percent.
What I’ve taken away most I think is how the horse connects throughout the body. I thought I had a reasonable understanding of how the equine body operates. To actually see it pared back and in function/dysfunction was astounding. To see how each piece of the puzzle correlates and reacts or influences the next was invaluable. Astounding and invaluable still don’t seem like strong enough words to convey how important these three days have been.
This experience has only enforced my already firm belief that all practitioners need to stay in their ‘lane’ of training and expertise. It was also a unique opportunity to engage with other passionate equine professionals and has given me more of a network to refer onto for my own clients.
The encyclopedic knowledge of Sharon May-Davis was delivered generously, and with the utmost respect to our greatest teacher, the horse so kindly donated for us to learn from on the table. Thanking both Sharon and Kash also doesn’t seem enough.
Thanks also to Leanne of Avoca Park Equestrian & Holidays who organised this event and ran it seamlessly, with excellent food and nothing was too much trouble. It was a pleasure to be at your wonderful venue.
Here's my article for May for Pony Club Australia.
How should your bit fit? Get the skinny on width, cheekpieces and wrinkles in our regular column from Bit Right - Equine Bit Fitting's Fiona Dearing.
👉Head to: https://ponyclubaustralia.com.au/how-should-your-bit-fit/
I've noticed some negative comments, crying emoticons etc being posted on this page recently. I understand not all equestrians are going to be interested in bit fitting. There are elements of the equine industry that hold no interest for me either. However, I scroll on by. I don't feel the need to make a comment or add a sad emoticon if it's not for me.
I am NOT against people riding bitless. In fact, I've a lovely bitless bridle I regularly fit and I've assisted many clients to ride bitted and bitless.
I am ALL about horses being made more comfortable in the mouth and bitted correctly and appropriately for the discipline they're participating in.
I've previously invited people who've commented in a negative manner to come out with me for a day or engage in a mutually respectful conversation about modern bitting. Nothing's ever been taken up.
I continue to invest in my own education to learn more so I'm able to do better for my clients and their horses. I'm a small business who works long hours, generally messaging clients late at night because that's what small businesses just have to do to be able to be client facing during the day. I'm one person and that person tries their best to do a good job, that person also gets tired and has feelings.
Once again, if I'm not for you and you're not interested in a constructive, respectful conversation please, just scroll on by.
***JUNE 2024 bit fitting dates now available***
All areas listed cover surrounding areas or places on the way to/from near Ballarat also. If an area's not listed contact me to see if I'm able to travel to you.
A fitting takes around an hour and is conducted one on one. For best result the horse is ridden but I'm also able to do standing fits and fittings for horses heading off to be started or currently not under saddle. A full written report is forwarded after your booking for your records.
Any questions, please just ask! I'm based in Gordon so am easily able to do areas nearby (Ballarat, Buninyong, Bacchus Marsh etc) when dates may not be specifically listed for them.
For bookings please message the page.
Accredited Bit Bank Australia Bitting Specialist.
Equine bit fitting for all horses, from pleasure t
I've just had some bit fitting appointments become available in the Kilmore area this Sunday afternoon. Please shoot me a message if you'd like an appointment as it's not somewhere I often get to of a weekend :)
I'm enjoying writing a monthly column for the Pony Club Australia newsletter. If you've any topics you'd like me to cover, let me know.
📰🐴 Check out the latest from 's monthly newsletter 📰🐴
In this edition, Bit Right - Equine Bit Fitting's Fiona Dearing explores the history and evolution of flash nosebands, discussing their historical purpose and how they've come to be utilised over time.
"Their use has been altered to include it to be a device to keep the horse's mouth closed, discouraging the tongue from going over the bit and to stop the jaw from being able to cross," Fiona writes.
"We acknowledge a horse’s behaviour is their primary communication tool. If we choose to ignore the mouth activity, and worse, restrict it further, we’re not listening to our horse."
"Since flash nosebands were introduced, we’ve learned SO much about bitting and introduced many new mouthpiece designs to ensure a horse is comfortably and appropriately bitted for the level of education and discipline they’re participating in."
Don't miss out on Fiona's expert insights. Read her full article on page 11 of our April newsletter: https://bit.ly/3UccOWd
📸 stock image
***MAY 2024 bit fitting dates now available***
All areas listed cover surrounding areas or places on the way to/from near Ballarat also. If an area's not listed contact me to see if I'm able to travel to you.
A fitting takes around an hour and is conducted one on one. For best result the horse is ridden but I'm also able to do standing fits and fittings for horses heading off to be started or currently not under saddle. A full written report is forwarded after your booking for your records.
Any questions, please just ask! I'm based in Gordon so am easily able to do areas nearby (Ballarat, Buninyong, Bacchus Marsh etc) when dates may not be specifically listed for them.
For bookings please message the page.
This is such valuable information.
Why are people campaigning for welfare reforms in dressage for nosebands?
I believe that dissection work can bridge the gap between the people who are campaigning and the people who don’t realise they need to know. Dissection is pretty confronting, it forces us to reevaluate what we thought was under the skin. One thing that people are always shocked by is how many of the facial nerves are directly under the skin. The largest bundle of nerves lays under the nose band and goes straight to the brain.
This again is an important message in the face of tight nose bands taking centre stage in international competition.
Learning…Do I know all there is to know about bits and bitting? 100% no! Do I spend every single day learning more? 100% yes! I learn from every horse I fit and from every horse and rider combination I observe. I learn from the questions you ask me, often going down quite the rabbit hole. I continue to do courses, read books, listen and speak to practitioners in other equine fields, watch competitors in disciplines I am not familiar with, the list goes on.
As an equestrian professional I strongly feel this is what I should be doing to provide the best possible service I can to my clients. I think we can look at how much there is to learn out there in two ways. We can feel daunted and depressed by it or we can be excited and embrace it. I know which I prefer.
(Photo of one of my freeloaders who chose not to have a rug on in the rain and cold last night, possibly reconsidering his life choices)
This is well worth the listen. Lots to think on from it.
Becks Nairn is a Breeder, Classical Dressage Rider and Equine Dissectionist in New Zealand. She is not a trained vet or body worker, but a trained taxidermist, and began examining the bones of horses within her racehorse rehab and rehoming program after experiencing a 30-40% failure rate for these ex-racehorses to thrive in rehab.
This is the coal face, the pointy end of the stick, the big question we need to be asking ourselves as horse people. Why are so many horses born into failure?
Why are so many horses experiencing overuse injuries at such young ages.
Becks brings a Kiwi down to earth honesty and sensibility to this work, and I have tremendous respect for her.
Listeners tell me that Beck's testimony is hard to hear. If you are brave, I invite you to hear the truth that feels like honest to the bone.
https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast/the-emotional-horsemanship-podcast-with-lockie-phillips/id1734206321?i=1000651478432
Come along to a bitting webinar. Further details are in the pinned post on the fb page.
***APRIL 2024 bit fitting dates now available***
All areas listed cover surrounding areas or places on the way to/from near Ballarat also. If an area's not listed contact me to see if I'm able to travel to you.
A fitting takes around an hour and is conducted one on one. For best result the horse is ridden but I'm also able to do standing fits and fittings for horses heading off to be started or currently not under saddle. A full written report is forwarded after your booking for your records.
Any questions, please just ask! I'm based in Gordon so am easily able to do areas nearby (Ballarat, Buninyong, Bacchus Marsh etc) when dates may not be specifically listed for them.
For bookings please message the page.
***WEBINARS***
When did bitting become confusing? Remember when you were a kid and the horse went in the bit it came with, or, the one you had in the tack room? When you last looked at what bit to purchase things have changed…a lot! Mouthpieces, cheekpieces, diameters, sizes the list goes on. Join me to find out why these things ARE important and to answer your questions on all things bits.
Webinars are limited to 10 people so everyone can have their questions answered and will run for 60-90 minutes. The cost is $20 which is redeemable on an in person or online fitting if you choose to have one.
I want these webinars to cover the topics YOU want to hear about so each attendee is invited to forward questions prior to the event and I’ll do my best to answer each one.
Dates are: March - Thursday 28, April Tuesday 2, Wednesday 10, Thursday 18 and Tuesday 23
Time: 8pm AEST
These will not be recorded but if for some reason you’re unable to attend you can move to the next available time and date.
To book either PM or email [email protected]
Accredited Bit Bank Australia Bitting Specialist.
Equine bit fitting for all horses, from pleasure t
**WEBINARS**
I have delivered a number of webinars over the last few years for clubs in remote areas. I’ve decided to open this up to everyone! Webinars will be limited to 10 people so everyone has the chance to ask questions and cost $20pp. They’ll run for 60-90 minutes. I’m happy to do them around bitting generally or to a specific bitting topic if there’s a group of you interested. You’ll be welcome to forward questions prior and your fee is discounted from an in-person or online fitting should you choose. I’ll be promoting these further shortly but feel free to reach out if you or your club are interested.
Why a bit fitting is like purchasing new running shoes. OK, bear with me here because runners feet and horses mouths have so much in common :) Seriously, it's the best analogy I can come up with as a comparison.
Imagine you and your friend have the same sized feet and you both enjoy running. Your friend finds a pair of running shoes they LOVE! You also buy a pair but they gave you blisters, they don't feel 'right' when you run, your performance is lower, and you are really not feeling the love at all. On the face of it, they should have worked. When we get down to the finer details they haven't. Whilst your feet are the same size they have enough differences through width, arch height other things podiatrists understand means your running gait's different to your friends...you're getting it right?
The bit your friend's horse has found to be a game changer may not work for your horse for many reasons. The obvious one is the size and conformation of the mouth itself. Other factors like education level, discipline, rider skill level and where the horse likes or dislikes pressures in the mouth also come into play. A bit fitting helps you take the guesswork out of bitting your horse. It gives you the opportunity to try different styles of bits to find a better connection and more effective communication with your horse.
Yes, it's probably more complicated than it 'used to be'. When I was a kid we didn't even have saddle fitters and if someone had said they were an equine body worker we'd have looked at them like they'd just landed from the moon. We've learned so much about our horses so we can do so much better for them. Take the guesswork out of bitting for you and your horse and send me a message with any queries you have at all. There's a pinned post of where I am in March but let me know if you'd like me to come to year area.
Photo of my Elvis deciding being a pretzel is easier than cantering like a normal horse :)
***MARCH 2024 bit fitting dates now available***
All areas listed cover surrounding areas or places on the way to/from near Ballarat also. If an area's not listed contact me to see if I'm able to travel to you.
A fitting takes around an hour and is conducted one on one. For best result the horse is ridden but I'm also able to do standing fits and fittings for horses heading off to be started or currently not under saddle. A full written report is forwarded after your booking for your records.
Any questions, please just ask! I'm based in Gordon so am easily able to do areas nearby (Ballarat, Buninyong, Bacchus Marsh etc) when dates may not be specifically listed for them.
For bookings please message the page.
***FEBRUARY 2024 bit fitting dates now available***
All areas listed cover surrounding areas or places on the way to/from near Ballarat also. If an area's not listed please just ask!
A fitting takes around an hour and is conducted one on one. For best result the horse is ridden but I'm also able to do standing fits and fittings for horses heading off to be started or currently not under saddle. A full written report is forwarded after your booking for your records.
Any questions, please just ask! I'm based in Gordon so am easily able to do areas nearby (Ballarat, Buninyong, Bacchus Marsh etc) when dates may not be specifically listed for them.
Accredited Bit Bank Australia Bitting Specialist.
Equine bit fitting for all horses, from pleasure t
Last call for fittings in Hamilton tomorrow. I have a terrible feeling I’ve forgotten to contact someone and Christmas broke my remembering brain! Shoot me a message if I’ve not contacted you :)
Thank you all for giving me such a busy and fulfilling 2023! I'm about to go on leave until January 2. During this time messages will be monitored but perhaps not every day. I'm the same as most small businesses and there's just me to do ALL the things :) I'm looking forward to a week or so of not having to be that person. I will absolutely respond to your messages but please be patient during the holiday period.
Thank you all again for your business and support over the last twelve months. I look forward to what 2024 brings.
Wishing everyone a safe and happy festive season!
***JANUARY 2024 bit fitting dates now available***
All areas listed cover surrounding areas or places on the way to/from near Ballarat also. If an area's not listed please just ask!
A fitting takes around an hour and is conducted one on one. For best result the horse is ridden but I'm also able to do standing fits and fittings for horses heading off to be started or currently not under saddle. A full written report is forwarded after your booking for your records.
Any questions, please just ask! I'm based in Gordon so am easily able to do areas nearby (Ballarat, Buninyong, Bacchus Marsh etc) when dates may not be specifically listed for them.
Proof that listening in maths and science classes was important! Super hard exams but more learned and onwards to the next course!
DECEMBER bit fitting dates now available (how is it even December!!). All areas listed cover surrounding areas or places on the way to/from near Ballarat also. If an area's not listed please just ask!
A fitting takes around an hour and is conducted one on one. For best result the horse is ridden but I'm also able to do standing fits and fittings for horses heading off to be started or currently not under saddle. A full written report is forwarded after your booking for your records.
Any questions, please just ask! I'm based in Gordon so am easily able to do areas nearby (Ballarat, Buninyong, Bacchus Marsh etc) when dates may not be specifically listed for them.
** I'm super grateful to currently be very busy. Please remember there's only one of me. I respond to messages within 24 hours but this is often done of an evening when I've time to do admin.
Main Street
Gordon, VIC
3345
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Come along to a bitting webinar. Further details are in the pinned post on the fb page.
Look how chuffed Cowboy is with his new bit! I’ve spaces available next week around Ballarat, Geelong, Bendigo and Macedon Ranges. Shoot me a message if you’d like your horse to look as happy as Cowboy :) #bitfitter #bitfitting
Ok, when my friends at Bit Bank Australia- For Horse Bits told me about the Leovet products I was sort of interested but to be honest I have my favourite grooming products already, particularly detanglers. My own horse Legs has been sporting a ‘mono-tail’ for a while and it’s been in the too hard box. Today I decided to tackle it. Holy moly!!!!! Leovet has a tagline of ‘it works’ they’re not joking!! I’ve popped the before pics of my shame in the comments so you can see what we were dealing with! You can use my code of FD10 for a 10% discount or I’ll have some (and other products because I’m all in now) with me to purchase in the new year.
Meet Tigidig Tigidig! Geelong’s most popular racehorse of 2015. Tigi had 52 starts for 6 wins, 15 seconds and 3 thirds and now has a sensational home with Nicki. Many people assume ex racehorses will be strong. Tigi is very sensitive in his mouth and didn’t want any tongue or bar pressure at all. He chose a Neue Schule Turtle Tactio to work happily in. He’s still a little active in his mouth as he adjusts to the new feels but owner Nicki was able to feel him move through the body and have him take a nice connection consistently for the first time. The Turtle Tactio is a very soft bit acting on lip pressure only. Tigi is the neatest little package and enjoys regular check ins from his racing trainer as he learns his new job. #bitfitting #bitfitting #neueschule #bitbankaustralia #racehorse #thoroughbred
A short video on bit sizing. Nearly all horses I see for a fitting are in a bit that’s too large. If you’re unsure about your bit size shoot me through a message with a photo and I can give you some feedback! #bitfitting #bitfitter
Super amounts of fun bit fitting a baby racehorse yesterday! Penny has some fairly serious steering challenges. A change in bitting has made it easier for her driver to help her maintain a good posture which will in turn assist her balance and confidence. Looking forward to seeing this one at the races soon.
A quick chat about what a bit fitting involves.
