The Bit Box: Bit and Bridle Consultant

02/09/2024

Despite the rather soggy weather, September's Bitting Appointments are filling up fast. Happy to work outside regardless of weather! If you are safe and happy to ride I am happy to come to you, no indoor required :D

02/09/2024

A brilliant set of pictures from the British Association of Equine Dental Technicians !
I have had a few clients recently where wolf teeth have been troublesome, for small teeth they can cause quite a lot of discomfort.
Always have regular dental checks with an experienced EDT or vet especially if you are experiencing contact or bitting issues

Wolf Teeth

🦷 Wolf teeth are usually found on the upper jaw positioned in front of the first molars (06s), and less commonly on the lower jaw.
🦷 Wolf teeth typically erupt after 6 months of age.
🦷Wolf teeth are vestigial remnants, meaning they no longer serve a functional purpose. Their shape, size, and root length can vary widely.
🦷 Wolf teeth are found in both males and females, research suggests they are found in 13-40% of horses.
🦷 Wolf tooth removal is often considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on whether they interfere with the bit or cause any discomfort.

Canine Teeth

🦷 Equines can have four canines in total, two on the upper jaw and two on the lower jaw.
🦷 Canines are situated in the interdental space, just behind the incisors.
🦷 Canines typically erupt between 4.5 to 6 years of age.
🦷 Canines are a fighting tooth, while predominantly found in males, some females may have rudimentary canines which are generally smaller.
🦷 Canine teeth are prone to calculus buildup, which can lead to gingivitis. Regular dental check ups are necessary to remove the calculus and maintain oral health.

17/07/2024

Delighted to announce I am able to add Horsemanship Saddlery UK Ltd. Designs to my fitting tool kit !

Available from next month will have a full range of headpieces and bits to trial.

Bridle ONLY fittings from £35
Weekend appointments available

24/05/2024

Signs you may need to consider reassessing the fit of you bit and bridle, or even consider a different designed bit:
- Head shaking, tilting or snatching at the reins
- Chomping or Gnashing at the bit
- Moving the tongue around constantly or hanging it to one side
- Reluctance to go forward or rushing avoidance behaviour
- Bucking, rearing and other evasive manaeovers
- A lack of brakes or bolting away from the contact
- Raising head away from the bridle when tacking up or moving towards the back of the stable

Now the above signs are clear signals of problems but horses are generally stoic animals who try to please and its easy to miss the more subtle signs of bitting issues
- Backward Ear postion when ridden
- A hard stare or worried eye when tacking up
- Working into the contact but unable to maintain a steady head positions, it doesnt have to be an extreme display!
- Leaning on the bit
- Falling on the forehand
- Struggling to maintain tempo

And many more ! Many of these issues overlap with signs of saddle, musculoskeletal and training issues as well as bit and bridle fit. It is important to maintain a regular plan of dental, saddle and physio/chiro checks along side a bit and bridle assessment to ensure your horse stays in tip-top condition.

14/05/2024

The sun is out (mostly !) And we are a getting back going after a long winter. Ensure your horse is comfortable for the upcoming season.

An extensive consultation to find the best bit and bridle set up for your horse including the opportunity to test ride various bits.

Please allow sufficient time (up to 1.5 hours) for a thorough anatomical assessment and then subsequent trials to find the right set up for your horse or pony.

As an independent lantra qualifed consultant I carry a range of bit brands to try and I am not tied to promoting a set brand, what works for one horse may not for another. The horse’s head structure, oral anatomy and maximum comfort lead the way for selecting the correct bit and bridle set up.

£70 including mileage for all G,KA,ML postcodes, for further afield additional mileage will be charged.

Discount for multiples on the same yard !

31/03/2024

Coming Soon !!
The Bit Box will very shortly have a selection of the Fager Basic Line Available to trial.
Find your perfect Bit today and book in for a consultation

Fagers basic line is here for you 👆

Now we can offer the same amazing quality and elaborated designs to a lower price thanks to the affordable stainless steel material. Stainless steel do not have the same benefits of titanium or sweet iron, but it is a great standard material which gives us the opportunity to offer our best selling models to a lower price 🤩

Which model would you like to see in our basic line? 👇💬

23/10/2023

Superb CPD day with lots of other likeminded equestrians!

16/10/2023

The big jackets are out as the cold sets in, preparing for silly season to start 😂 Anyone elses horse’s become more expressive with the cold weather ❄️ ❄️

15/08/2023

Always remember to celebrate the little wins 🏆 Wise words by my lovely friend, reach out to her for help with behaviour, mindset and more!

🌟 Embrace the Journey: One Step at a Time 🐾

In a world of social media telling us that we should all be achieving amazing things, it's easy to get caught up in the allure of the finish line. But it's the path we take, one step at a time, that truly shapes our success. 🌄

Focusing solely on the end goal can be overwhelming, even discouraging. Instead, let's celebrate the process—the small victories, the lessons learned, and the growth achieved in each stride. 🏆

Horses teach us this invaluable lesson every day. They remind us that partnership and trust are built on understanding, consistency, and patience and a growth mindset. 🐴✨

So, as we train and grow, try to enjoy the journey itself. Find the fun in every effort, every challenge faced, and every accomplishment, no matter how small.

Remember, it's in these moments that we become better riders, better people, and ultimately, better care givers to our equines ❤️

11/08/2023

Be it plain or sparkly, Browband sizing is one of the most common issues I come across, specifically TOO SMALL.

A browband that is too small will:
- pull the headpiece into the back of the ears
- put pressure on the front of the face and the TMJ joint
- effect the seating of the noseband and cheek pieces pulling them towards the eye

Many Standard “full/cob/pony” browband sizes are too small and often require the next size up to ensure a comfortable fit

11/08/2023

August and September Dates Available!
My fitting days are Monday,Tuesday, Saturday and the occasional Sunday 🙂
Happy to come to you to make the most of the consultation in a familiar environment !
Glasgow and the surrounding areas covered routinely, for further afield multiple bookings required (no individuals apologies !)

31/07/2023

The very handsome Drew modelling his new Evo Equine Super Soft Bridle.
Measurements taken prior to ordering for a bespoke fit 💎🔥💕

26/06/2023

Struggling with contact issues or adversion to the bit ??
Make sure you have your horse’s teeth checked thoroughly and regularly.
Please ensure your horse has been seen by a qualified professional (vet or EDT) before your appointment to rule out dental pain.

24/06/2023

Thank you to my lovely clients ♥🥰
Very honoured to have been nominated for this award. It's a pleasure working with each one of you 🐴🐴

16/06/2023

Don't be caught out ! Check the orientation of your bit !

**THURSDAY RESEARCH MEME**

Todays research meme relates to bit fit. A certain brand of bit features an arrow on one side of the bit. It is important for correct bit fit, that the arrow is on the left and pointing forwards. Arrow on the left ensures that the smooth rounded surfaces of the bit are comfortable, and smooth on the bars and palate. If using a bit, important to check it is fitted correctly to ensure optimal intra-oral comfort. 🤓

For more information www.centaurbiomechanics.co.uk/blog/

10/06/2023

Change of scenery this weekend down to Birmingham. I have had a brilliant time away learning for my main job. CPD is so important for both my dental work and my bit fitting and I have a number of courses planned for both through the rest of the year !
Anyone who has messaged over the last few days I will be in touch shortly 🦷🐴💕

29/05/2023

Bank Holiday Monday woudnt be the same without some admin before a chance to enjoy the sunshine ☀️

09/05/2023

A little bit about Me as a Bit and Bridle Consultant!

I have been horse crazy for as long as I can remember taking up riding at 4 years old with my dad hoping it would be just a phase :P
Many of you know me through British Dressage and The Mojo Leauge but little known fact I am actually a dentist (human not horse! Now dont all run in fear :P).
I know all too well the effects of tooth ache or a filling that is too high and having this understanding got me thinking about bits and bitting.
The human mouth/ tongue can detect if less than a hair’s width is out of place and in comparison horse’s are even more sensitive ! Horses can also suffer from similar issues to humans such as TMJ pain due to incorrect bit’s or bridle fit or stress.
I was lucky to have the opportunity to study alongside working to become LANTRA qualified. Being an independant bit fitter I am not tied to a specific brand and can focus on finding solutions to make happy horses and riders.

My other driving force is this lovely lady below ! She’s had a tough time with injuries and multiple periods of rehabilitation. Not many can wear the badge of honour that comes with surviving 6 weeks crosstied alongside standard box rest, enough vet visits for a lifetime and still remain the happy and genuine horse she is. She’s taught me many lessons, some dificult ones, and been my main reason for continually learning about the equine body and biomechanics.

Bit and Bridle consulting allows me to meet other passionate equestrians, share my journey in the hope of helping others. I am very passionate about learning and sharing knowledge to improve equine wellbeing. My ethos is Happy Horse, Happy Owner and bit and bridle fit affects much more than just the head.

08/05/2023

EDIT Tuesday 23rd Now Full Too !

08/05/2023

A super diagram and explanation of how Bit and Bridle fitting can affect your horse’s way of going and the importance of ensuring a comfortable fit.
I have the pleasure of seeing positive changes for the horses and riders I work with.

HOW DOES BRIDLE FIT AFFECT HIND LIMB ENGAGEMENT?

At The Horse Hub we are all about bringing you answers to the questions you may not know you even need to ask! Here is an excerpt from an excellent article answering the above question - and more, live on The Horse Hub now.

THE HYOID APPARATUS
The tongue is attached to a little group of bones at the back of the skull called the hyoid bones. These are an incredibly important and unique group of bones. Firstly, they are not attached to any other bones using joints; they are attached with ligaments.

The front bone embeds into the tongue with ligaments, it then attaches to two long thin bones, which are situated inside the jaw that attach to the TMJ. Behind these are two small bones that attach to muscles, which run down the lower neck into the scapula, along the abdominal wall and into the pelvis.

Problems with bridle fitting here, which restrict the ability of the tongue and lower jaw to move, will actually shut down the ability of the horse to recruit the lower ventral chain of muscles. If he cannot mobilise his jaw and tongue, he will send tension through the hyoid bones, up into the TMJ, down the muscles of the neck, through the thoracic sling and along the abdominal wall.

This impacts his ability to lift his back and engage his hindquarters. The horse is then put in a U shape; putting pressure along the dorsal spinal processes, disconnecting his shoulder sling and raising his head by recruiting the muscles underneath.

This is when we as riders, get locked into a spiral of asking our horses to lengthen their frame, drop their head, lift their back and engage their hindquarters but, not allowing them to naturally use themselves biomechanically correctly.

https://www.thehorsehub.co.uk/how-to-fit-a-bridle-understanding-the-anatomy-of-the-horse-s-head

05/05/2023

Alongside Bit and Bridle fitting I also make custom browbands !
Various styles available from subtle bling to all out sparkle in a range of colours 💎 💎
Made to measure sizing available just remind me at your fitting appontment to whip out my tapemeasure 📏

27/04/2023

** THURSDAY RESEARCH MEME**

Todays research meme relates to the importance of considering the anatomy of the head when fitting bridles, particularly the headpiece and noseband. From a previous study we have shown that bridle pressures around the TMJ and lateral aspect of the nasal bone can have a significant effect on equine locomotion. As can been seen, the bridle and its features are positioned close too, and around certain anatomical structures, and it is important that these are considered, in order to optimise comfort. 🤓

For more information www.centaurbiomechanics.co.uk/blog/

10/04/2023

How time flies when you get to meet such wonderful clients ! My diary is jam packed and I am having a great time helping horses and owners find the right combination for them. There have been a couple that have had me thinking on my feet but thats what I love. Each horse is an individual and they ultimately have the final say 🥰🐴 Pictured is the lovely Harvey modelling his new EvoEquine Grackle Bridle.

10/03/2023

10/03/2023

The lovely daphne in her new made to measure Evoequine Bridle !
Please message to discuss your requirements as part of a bit fitting consultation 🐴🐴