EquiBit Ireland - Bit and Bridle Fitting Solutions

21/11/2025

18/11/2025

Give your horse the gift of comfort this festive season. These are the remaining dates for a bit/bridle fitting for 2025. The diary is now open for 2026.

Would you let your farrier just put any shoes on your horse or your saddler put any saddle on your horse? They fit according to your horse's unique needs and conformation.

A bit and bridle fitter considers your horse's oral anatomy - the size and shape of the bars, upper palatte, palatine grooves, tongue, lips and head conformation - size and position of bony projections, muscle development, shape and depth of ears etc. I consider your horse's age, muscle development, way of going, stage of training, level of fitness, level of rider and other contributing factors. Each horse also has an individual preference to the amount of movement they like in their mouths - some like movement and some like stability. The horse choses the mouthpiece and the cheek or ring is then chosen the partnership needs to improve the communication and connection i.e. some horses may prefer a loose ring so they can place the mouthpiece where they like or they may prefer the stability of the fixed cheek. The rider may chose a D ring if they need some lateral support to to help steering.

Booking is now opened for Northern Ireland and surrounding border counties. Feel free to send me a message [email protected] and I will try and fit you in wherever I can.

16/11/2025

16/11/2025

🐴 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿?

Remember — “fitter” isn’t a protected term, so anyone can call themselves one. Choosing a qualified professional helps ensure your horse’s comfort, performance, and welfare.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗙𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿

1. Qualifications and Accreditation
• Look for fitters listed with the Equine Fitters Council or a recognised professional body.
• Ask about their formal training (e.g. saddle, bridle, or bit fitting qualifications).
• Check if they complete continuing professional development (CPD).

2. Experience and Specialism
• How long have they been fitting?
• Do they specialise in a certain discipline (e.g. dressage, eventing, rehabilitation)?
• Have they worked with horses similar to yours (breed, shape, or training level)?

3. Insurance and Professional Standards
• Ensure they hold public liability and professional indemnity insurance.
• If they are a Listed Equine Fitter, they will follow the EFC code of conduct and professional ethics.

4. Approach and Welfare
• They should always put horse welfare first.
• A good fitter will take time to assess the horse, rider, and equipment together.
• They should explain what they’re doing and why, encouraging owner involvement.

5. Collaboration
• The best fitters work alongside vets, physios, and other equine professionals.
• They should be willing to refer to other specialists if needed.

6. References and Reviews
• Ask for client feedback or testimonials.
• Look for recommendations from trusted equine professionals.

7. Transparency and Reporting
• Expect clear communication about costs, services, and aftercare.
• They should provide a written report or fitting record after visits.

You can check the Equine Fitters Directory to find accredited fitters near you 👉 Equine Fitters Directory - https://www.equinefittersdirectory.org/

14/11/2025

Another reason to use a back strap with a gag type. Back straps are allowed in British Showjumping but under Showjumping Ireland pony rules. How crazy is that! Welfare should always come first.

14/11/2025

13/11/2025

Using a back strap with a gag bit like a 2.5 ring or Universal is crucial because it prevents the bit from rotating too far, which can cause pain, discomfort and serious injury to the horse's mouth.

Why a back strap is essential:

Prevents rotation: The strap stabilizes the bit, preventing it from rotating and causing the horse's lips to be pulled into the premolar teeth and/or causing split lips.

Distributes pressure: It ensures that the pressure from the lower ring rein is distributed across the mouth, rather than all being put on the horse's sensitive lips.

Increases control: It provides a more direct and quicker action.

How to adjust the strap: The strap should be tight enough to be effective when the bit needs it i.e. when the lever comes to a 45 degree angle. If the strap is too tight, it can cause constant pressure and cause pain to the horse.

Also consider the mouthpiece that you use. Is it anatomically friendly and does it suit your horses mouth conformation. If you use a Dutch gag/bubble bit/ pessoa bit/continental bit, do your horse a favour and switch to a universal.

Here are some back straps you can buy or alternatively use a flash strap:

https://www.evoequine.co.uk/store/p303/Leather_Stabilising_Bit_Back_Strap.html

https://www.horsebitbank.com/products/fager-curb-strap

Equine Fitters Directory
Showjumping Ireland

11/11/2025

11/11/2025

Why so much walk?

…says another insecure voice in my head second guessing what others are thinking of my horse training 🤪.

But seriously, why are you still in walk 20 minutes after getting on?

Because in French classical training, the walk isn’t the warm-up before the real work; the walk often is the real work.

One of the biggest mindset shifts for me was realising that rushing into trot and canter was often my way of skipping over the boring but essential stuff: balance, looseness, straightness, genuine connection… all the things I later complained about not having.

The walk is where we develop those ingredients without the added chaos of speed or suspension. I’m not saying you should stay in walk; it’s vital to keep a horse eager to move forward, and some horses absolutely need to go before they can think. But once the desire to go is there, walk is where we can install the alphabet of aids and build balance before expecting the same clarity in trot and canter.

So we spend time in walk because:

✅ It gives you and your horse thinking time.

More time to think means more precision, and more precision means faster learning for both of you.

✅ You can fix crookedness before it becomes a habit.

If the shoulders are falling left at walk, they will launch left in trot.

✅ Walk is the only gait where each limb steps independently.

Because walk is a clear four beat rhythm with each leg landing separately, it is the easiest pace to isolate a single limb, influence it, and coordinate it with the rest of the body.

✅ Relaxation and balance come first.

A horse who isn’t mentally or physically balanced at walk won’t magically be balanced in canter. (Ask me how I know.)

And guess what: when you finally ask for trot or canter after all that patient, technical walk work, the trot and canter are magically improved. That is why we do it.

So if your friend peers over the arena fence wondering why you’re still walking in circles, smile politely. You’re not wasting time; you’re building foundations that will make your tower of training so much stronger.

06/11/2025

Wise words with very relevant points. I very often put on my coaching hat when bit fitting to educate the rider on pressure and release to pressure. Getting the horse relaxed and improving the feel on the rein will make the world of difference to how your horse goes.

Correct bit and bridle fit are crucial for equine comfort and performance by reducing unwanted pressure and pain. Optimal performance relies heavily on effective riding and training, combined with ensuring the horse's physical well-being through regular care from a team of professionals including a:
Veterinarian
Farrier
Saddle fitter
Physiotherapist
Equine Dentist

This holistic approach, which addressing both equipment and physical health, is essential for a happy, healthy horse which will be fit to do the work required.


Equine Fitters Directory

🖐 Let's discuss riders' hands
Ultimately, would I be doing my job if I saw a client with bad or hard hands and didn't try to help them understand?

👍 The riders hands influence so much of what pressure points the horse will tolerate.
For example, if a rider is clinging on for dear life, gripping the reins with the breaks on constantly, then the horse will fight to go forward. It will open its mouth with bar, palate, and tongue pressure. It will get its tongue over anything with tongue pressure. The head will react upwards or downwards just to get away from the constant pressure.
🙌 If you want your horse to be consistent down the rein, then the rider has to be too.

🫶 A riders hands should be relaxed, squeezing the reins, maintaining a consistent, soft, and elastic contact through flexible elbows. Communication should be subtle and kind.

✊️I see so many riders with hands that block through the rein, grip on, and pull harshly back with the rein.
I understand that if the horse is reacting to pressure, then the rider will react back. It's only natural. But we need to stop and think. If you are jabbing them with an uncomfortable bit, then it may not aid you in your relationship with the horse.

👎 I mostly see hard hands from riders who are panicking, out of balance, or lax.
Typically, bad hands are a symptom of other problems, and it's usually core stability.

🐴 But of course, the horse is reacting to pressure. If they dont like those pressure points, then what can you do about it.

💪 This is where we as bit fitters come in. We can help your horse maintain a less resistive contact with you as a rider. This is why we ask for the regular rider to ride and not someone else. We can help reduce that fight and argument by making your horse more comfortable so that they can hear your rein aids and maintain a better contact. But we can only do so much, of course, like anything you have to play your part too.

🐴 Next time you ride, take time to think about your hands. There's so many ways you can improve them. We dont all have perfect hands!

🤲 For the people about to comment, it's not the bit it's always the riders hands. I dont agree. If the horse doesn't like the pressure points, then you can't expect them to go forward correctly with the best of hands.
Would you walk around with uncomfortable shoes all the time and have to change the way you walk? No, we would change the shoes. The same goes with the bit. More comfort = a happy horse and rider.

🤝 In conclusion, both the bit and the riders hands have to work together for a harmonious ride and a happy horse.