"You took care of your horse, and your horse took care of you."
- Elton Gallegly
Bit & Bridle Fit Consultations
Having trouble with the bit or bridle you are using on your horse? Have a hard to fit horse? Questions? Want to be sure you are using equipment that is most effective and humane for your equine partner?
I offer private bit & bridle fit consultation services in the greater Charlotte, NC area (and beyond). Any/all disciplines welcome!
ASK ABOUT THE MULTIPLE HORSE PER LOCATION DISCOUNT!
Why have your bit and bridle fit evaluated?
No rider or trainer is expected (or should be expected) to know everything. Bitting and bridle fit is a much more complex science than one would expect, and the majority of riders and trainers do not posses the knowledge to make recommendations on tack to be used on our equine partners. Just as you would have a professional saddle fitter evaluate, adjust, and make recommendations regarding your saddle, having a professional bit and bridle fitter do the same for your bit and bridle is equally important to meet performance, communication, and welfare goals you have with your horse.
Some symptoms of improper bit and bridle fit are as follows:
- Tongue over bit
- Head tossing / shaking
- Leaning / pulling / snatching
- Open mouth
- Tongue lolling
- Constant chomping/chewing or "busy mouthed"
- Need for restrictive noseband
- Over-salivation
-Dry mouth
- Head tilting
- Tension in jaw or neck
- Inversion or "above bit"
- Hyperflexion / Rollkur or "behind the bit"
- Straightness issues
- Pain behaviors such as pinned ears / tail swishing / spooking / rearing / bucking / bolting
Because I am an independent consultant, I have a wide variety of bit types, brands, materials, and sizes available to try. From my knowledge and experience I can say with utmost confidence that there is no one brand (or even two brands) that I could exclusively use to properly fit every horse. Every horse is completely unique and must be evaluated with only their best interest in mind. I am not trying to sell you products - just here to share knowledge and provide professional advice. This way you can be assured you are receiving the best un-biased service.
"It is what you learn after you know it all that's important."
- Jimmy Williams
Yes! I also do clinics! I can do modified clinics, information sessions, and "lunch and learns".
I can customize any of these and tack them on to consultation days.
Reach out for more info.
Mission & Qualification
My mission is to share knowledge on bit and bridle fit, application, and adaptation. By treating the horse as my client, I am able to provide riders, owners, and trainers with the best recommendations to improve horse welfare and performance.
Certified Advanced Bit & Bridle Fit Consultant
I am a LANTRA accredited and HBFA certified Advanced Bit & Bridle Fit Consultant. This is one of the few advanced certifications that is not affiliated with a bit or bridle manufacturer. This included a two semester course that took place over the span of 9 months, in addition to several months of dedicated independent study and research.
I specifically did not want to be associated with a manufacturer, as their goal is sales, not un-biased education and application for horse and rider. I can confidently say there is no one brand that supplies products that would suit all horses. Therefore, why become a brand rep?
I have put in countless hours of coursework, research, and case studies before receiving my certification. This is a very complex and developing science, and I strive to learn more every day.