Bitting clinic - experiences ?

[Zoeypxo]

Hi, im wondering if anyone has had a bitting consultation/visit, what your problems were with your bit/bridle set up and how did you find the experience?

I am looking into booking one for my yard and I'm wondering if its worth doing!

 

[windand rain]

A brilliant clinic that made me realise that a properly fitted bridle and bit are equally as important as saddle fit

 

[dixie]

Definitely worth doing and interesting too.

 

[MuddyMonster]

I'd definitely recommend

Although my pony did choose an eye wateringly expensive option, two years on he's riding so well in it.

 

[OldNag]

I went to one done by Hilary Vernon (Informed Designs). Very interesting and well worth it.

 

[BeansNsausages]

Went to a Hilary Vernon one. Thought it was awful. She wouldnt listen and got quite rude and pushy. Never again.

 

[iknowmyvalue]

Brilliant and 100% worth the money, especially as mine isn’t easy to bit due to old injuries. Came to my yard and spent nearly about 1.5hrs trying all sorts of different things, both cheap and expensive options. He didn’t sell any bits which I think helped as not particularly pushing a specific brand.

 

[tatty_v]

I had a great session with Olivia Turner. She spent time getting to know my horse, his history, asked all the right questions about tack checks, teeth etc, examined his mouth conformation and talked about what I wanted to improve. She then watched me ride in my (then) current bit, before trying two alternatives. She was with me for a good hour and a half and spent time improving how I rode in the new bit.

What I thought was great was at the end, she gave me all the details of her recommendation but there was no pressure to buy the bit from her. Instead I was able to trial it from the bit bank first to make sure I really was happy. I subsequently bought the bit as I think it does help my horse (who came with a horrible habit of sucking his tongue up and down and clacking his teeth together through anxiety).

So yes, in summary I definitely recommend!

 

[JGC]

Yes, I had it and it was really worth the money - just waiting until the school is useable again to book one with my new horse! We had a two-hour slot so tried lots of bits. I was already riding in a Micklem, which the fitter confirmed was a good option, so she didn't suggest trying any bridles and I didn't have to order through her as she gave a written summary at the end.

 

[jnb]

I had a session with Hilary Vernon and found her to be incredibly helpful, very thorough and didn't push me to buy anything.
My little cob had been unsettled in his mouth ever since he was broken in, we had tried various bits and settled with a D ring turtle top but I still wasn't 100% convinced. I had thought a loose ring would suit.
However Hilary suggested a little eggbutt curved mouthpiece snaffle which transformed him....he did his first dressage test the following weekend and won !

 

[Midlifecrisis]

Someone came to our yard…charged £80 each and every single person whether happy hacker or competition horse was put in the same bit…I’m having a memory failure again..the chain type (Waterford?)and she convinced a number of folk to buy an ergonomic/pressure free bridle from her too. I wish I’d been more impressed but I just ring up the Bit Bank for advice.

 

[lme]

I had Hilary Vernon come and fit bits for my children’s sensitive speed demon of a pony and my home bred. She was excellent. and the bits she came up with worked well.

 

[Muddywellies]

I had one once. Truly awful service from an amazingly rude woman. Three of us had the same appalling service so will never use again. An experienced/qualified harnessmaker can advise and make a bespoke bridle, and various specialist bit shops give superb advice and offer a hire service.

 

[little_critter]

I had one from Charlotte Warman (highly recommend her if you are in the Somerset area). She was very thorough, T seemed to go well in the first bit we tried, but she wanted to go through all the ‘possibles’ then re-try the one he liked first to be certain.
I also used Hilary Vernon in the past, she was ok but I found Charlotte better.

 

[magicmoments]

I had Ruth Fisher around a year ago. Can heartily recommend. She's so knowledgeable in all aspects, not just bits/bridle fit. She didn't supply bits herself so no hard sell. I trialled bit she recommended through bit bank, subsequently bought. Well worth it.

 

[Ouch05]

I had Ruth Fisher around a year ago. Can heartily recommend. She's so knowledgeable in all aspects, not just bits/bridle fit. She didn't supply bits herself so no hard sell. I trialled bit she recommended through bit bank, subsequently bought. Well worth it.

I had Ruth out to my TB she was excellent. She actually picked up on some things about him that I've been troubled over and the resulting out come was physio then vets intervention.
No hard sell the bit that was right was only £20. Did need to change my bridle but I kind of already new that as I had a different bit man a few months before for my other horse and after listening to what he said I went home and checked his.
Now he is back in work I will order the new bridle.

Other man I have was just as good and my youngster goes beautifully in his bit. I did change his bridle as well but it was worth the money seeing the way he now moves.

 

[Slightlyconfused]

I had Celina Harrison from Horse Bit Fit. She was brilliant and isn't beholden to one but make. She has a.magic box of lots of brands.
She does bridles but they are Horsemanship Saddlery ones.

I just wanted to see if we could find something he would take forward more. And also check the bridle.

We changed his bridle first and that was the bigger benefit to me. Then the bit just polished it off, we ended up with a NS Team Up.

 

[Zoeypxo]

Thanks everyone i have booked a bitting clinic for late March

 

[Uliy]

I had Olivia Turner and she was super! She tends to sell NS bits but we tried another brand too. She taught me that French linked aren’t as kind as hoped, and that actually my horse would do better with a thinner bit, due to her mouth conformation.