Belle Palmer - Equine Dentist & Bit Fitter

02/08/2024

We take bookings from our yard in Lingfield RH7 for ridden bit fitting and dental assessments.

We also offer schooling/starting livery and “contact schooling” where your horse is taught work into the contact in a calm and positive way and the perfect bit and bridle combination is selected to match your horse or pony’s conformation and requirements.

Send me a message to find out more 🦄

13/03/2024

Hi all I’ve been off due to health issues so apologies for those who have been trying to contact me, I’m currently back taking bit fitting appointments only so please WhatsApp me 07311070375

07/11/2023

Thank you The Bit Fitter

Probably putting people off side and doing myself out of business, but 🤷‍♀️

🤯 edit to add- I’m not saying people should ride without a bridle!!!! This is to highlight the discrepancy in the sport, what has become acceptable and how often we turn a blind eye to it.

12/10/2023

Hi all, I’m currently booking in a few limited spaces for teeth & bits after being on maternity leave. Please send me a nudge if you’ve been waiting and I’ll see what I can do 💛

29/09/2023

26/02/2023

Considering renting out half of my yard - up to 6 large brick stables courtyard style, 40x20 school, floodlights, undercover walker, hay barn, feed room, alarmed tack room, full CCTV, plenty of turnout all year. Massive network of Bridleways straight on the doorstep. Large canter field. Not for a livery yard- would suit someone with their own horses/youngstock/ dealing etc.

Also have a 2 bed annexe available for a multitude of uses.

2 mins from Lingfield racecourse, 15 mins from Felbridge & Lockskinners, other XC courses within 10 mins.

Located in Lingfield RH7 😊

Please tag anyone appropriate x

10/10/2022

I have rare space in Chichester area this Thursday 13th if anyone needs me x

16/08/2022

Long awaited dressage legal Baucher bits in from Fager 😍

They will be loaded up onto the website soon but give me a message if you want one asap xx

09/08/2022

bridles + + a handsome Spanish gentleman = a thing of beauty 😍

09/08/2022

Some of my fab clients out doing their thing this month- well done 😀

29/07/2022

Thanks Anna for another great video

29/07/2022

If anyone fancies working my stand at Hickstead for a few hours or full day can you msg me

28/07/2022

Sharing again because of the importance of this advice! Thank you the bit fitter xx

Following on from yesterdays post.
My 14.1hh welsh cob can lean a little on the contact when the work gets a bit challenging.
Here’s what I did.
I switched him from a bomber cable snaffle to a WH ultra sprenger.
Did it work?
No.
Did I think it would?
No.

It did help him stay soft through the jaw, but no more than his usual bit.

In times like this, it’s important to understand when a bit will help and when it won’t.
In the case of Alfie, he leans a little in the hand at times because he’s still developing strength to do the work.
And, he’s a cob. If I don’t ride him correctly he would pull himself along with his chest all day long!

I could put him in a bit to make him ‘lighter in the hand’ but what are the consequences of that?
If his body isn’t strong enough, he will compensate.
He won’t lean on the bit because it will be too uncomfortable, so to compensate, he will likely drop his back, use the incorrect neck muscles, have a tense sucked back tongue, brace through the poll and jaw, drop behind the wither and trail the quarters. I’ll loose all the connection I’ve worked so hard on.

In 6 months time, I will most likely have an unsound horse. Or at best, a horse who never learned to be through or biomechanically correct.

So BEWARE! When a bit advertises that it gets a horse ‘light’, ask yourself, how is this achieved?
If it’s crushing the tongue and lower jaw, I’d be avoiding it.

Loads of riders want me to help get the horse ‘lighter’ and ‘off the forehand’. To achieve long term and correct results, there are a few steps to look at before changing the bit. Many horses can be improved with a bit, but the riding also needs to come into play, or the horse will begin to lean on the new bit too. I always give tips and pointers to make sure the new bit is used correctly.

Lightness doesn’t come from a bit, it comes from years of training, rider ability, response to aids, balance, throughness and an awful lot of work!

28/07/2022

24/07/2022

This was the challenge for my student today. Not only did it put her hands in the right place, and organized her arms in a way that I could have never explained it better, it gave her a real feeling of feeling the bit connected to her ring fingers.

15/07/2022

14/07/2022

Rare day off with equine management thank you 🙌🙌

08/07/2022

WORK EXPERIENCE

I have a few days coming up over the next few months where I can take somebody on work experience to assist with holding horses etc. A great opportunity for anyone interested in Equine Dentistry and to learn more about the career. The location would be local to Sussex - please send me a WhatsApp if you’re
Interested 07311070375 xx

08/07/2022

06/07/2022

HIRING

To start with I am looking for a freelancer who is capable of the following:

-Social media inc Instagram, Facebook, tik tok
-Website maintenance, Shopify, Google merchant
-Google ads, SEO
-Responding to booking enquiries

To assist with three expanding equestrian businesses.

If anyone knows of anyone please let me know 😊

23/06/2022

Back at for the international show- come and see me for bitting advice 😍

07/06/2022

An interesting read!

06/06/2022

Thank you 🙏 The Bit Fitter

The horses lips should cushion the bit away from the palate on the top jaw and the bars on the lower jaw.
However because the lips are so prominent in most horses, they are at high risk of injury, particularly from ill fitting jointed bits.

30/05/2022

To everyone waiting for message responses I’ll get back to you on Wednesday as I’ve got the day in the office ###

13/05/2022

It was a pleasure to fit this beautiful mare today at Hickstead] with her new titanium Fager bits. I’m on site until Sunday so come down and see me if you need bitting help 😊

Hickstead]

13/05/2022

Thank you Anna Minogue

Following on from yesterdays post.
My 14.1hh welsh cob can lean a little on the contact when the work gets a bit challenging.
Here’s what I did.
I switched him from a bomber cable snaffle to a WH ultra sprenger.
Did it work?
No.
Did I think it would?
No.

It did help him stay soft through the jaw, but no more than his usual bit.

In times like this, it’s important to understand when a bit will help and when it won’t.
In the case of Alfie, he leans a little in the hand at times because he’s still developing strength to do the work.
And, he’s a cob. If I don’t ride him correctly he would pull himself along with his chest all day long!

I could put him in a bit to make him ‘lighter in the hand’ but what are the consequences of that?
If his body isn’t strong enough, he will compensate.
He won’t lean on the bit because it will be too uncomfortable, so to compensate, he will likely drop his back, use the incorrect neck muscles, have a tense sucked back tongue, brace through the poll and jaw, drop behind the wither and trail the quarters. I’ll loose all the connection I’ve worked so hard on.

In 6 months time, I will most likely have an unsound horse. Or at best, a horse who never learned to be through or biomechanically correct.

So BEWARE! When a bit advertises that it gets a horse ‘light’, ask yourself, how is this achieved?
If it’s crushing the tongue and lower jaw, I’d be avoiding it.

Loads of riders want me to help get the horse ‘lighter’ and ‘off the forehand’. To achieve long term and correct results, there are a few steps to look at before changing the bit. Many horses can be improved with a bit, but the riding also needs to come into play, or the horse will begin to lean on the new bit too. I always give tips and pointers to make sure the new bit is used correctly.

Lightness doesn’t come from a bit, it comes from years of training, rider ability, response to aids, balance, throughness and an awful lot of work!

12/05/2022

We are back at for the dressage this week, please come down and see me to talk bits or just to have a browse through the different mouthpieces!

All of my current clients will receive 10% off storewide for the show 😍

Belle xx

@thebitboutiqueuk

05/05/2022

I have space for BIT FITTING / DENTALS Monday 9th around Arundel area or en route through Worthing area please contact me if you’d like an appointment x

12/04/2022

We love the Sabina bits 🤤🤌

Perfect for both Icelandic horses, and show jumping! Gives a flexible, light feeling in the hand. Available with a straight, double jointed, single jointed and single jointed FSS mouthpiece ✔️

11/04/2022

I still have some space for Surrey this Wednesday 13th for dentals or bit fitting, please pm me if you’d like the appointment x