A Bit Relaxed - Bit and bridle fitting

26/07/2026

I have a busy few weeks coming up, including time away with my beautiful girl competing at the Trailblazers dressage championships.

If anyone is looking to book in for an appointment in August please get in touch as availability for appointments is limited 😊

Photo of me and my girl last week at Somerford camp.
We are now working on initiating dressage mode after a weekend of fun and bouncing 😀

22/07/2026

I was very honoured to meet Nina (owner), the beautiful Ivy and her herd today.
Ivy is a 5 year old Suffolk Punch, an endangered breed. She is absolutely stunning and very friendly ❤️.

She will be going for training under saddle and to harness later this year and I'm so excited to see how she progresses.

Ivy is a multi champion in-hand mare, so lovely to meet her 8 herd mares too including two gorgeous foals. So lovely to see so many fine Suffolk Punch horses today. I'm very lucky ☺️

14/07/2026

Sparkle has been helping me with my Sprenger bit order this morning.

Order submitted, awaiting delivery now. Exciting 😊

02/07/2026

A lovely visit to Finn today 😊

Fiona came to meet Finn & I today. I was so grateful for her kind & holistic approach (Finn liked her) and she gave him patience & time to try a few bits, as he’s been in the same one since before we backed & started him almost 2 years ago. The difference in the one he liked was very obvious & it was lovely to feel him being comfortable & forward, taking the contact & stretching. He was so chilled he had a little nap afterwards on the yard.🐴🍊🥰

26/06/2026

Today after a 6.45am hack in a thunder storm where I got totally drenched (refreshed!) I headed to Wales to learn about the range of Sprenger bits and improve my knowledge.

Did you know:

Herm Sprenger have been manufacturing bits by hand in Germany since 1872?

Sprenger remains a family business and is now being managed by the fourth / fifth generation?

Sprenger initiated a survey of horses' mouth cavities to understand the space available for and position of bits in a horses mouth which was used in development of their products?

I will be doing some research now to decide which Sprenger bits to stock (I have a few but there is a large selection and I want to have the most useful ones in stock for trial during consultations).

Many thanks to Lindsey and Simon for making me very welcome and taking time to teach me about the bits and bridles!

24/06/2026

It was lovely to meet Leigh and Raven this morning, making sure Raven is comfy for the start of his ridden education. Such a lovely boy and he was perfectly behaved ❤️

Today Raven had his fitting for his first bit, Fiona was incredibly knowledgeable and he seems to really like the bit she selected for him. I am feeling ready now to get him working with a contact and ready to progress to the next stage of backing him. I absolutely think everyone should have a bit/bridle fitting, its something that we all take for granted and yet there is so much we dont know! I learnt alot from Fiona today x highly recommend you give her a call xx

22/06/2026

Today and tomorrow I'm completing the final stages of my first aid at work course so that clients can feel confident that I am able to help should anything untoward happen.

We all know that being with and riding horses comes with risks we cant always control.

My insurance is in place and I'm doing more learning as time goes on.

16/06/2026

Update as promised: I've just shared my introductory pricing and some information about consultations.

Next week I complete my first aid at work training, my liability and care, custody and control insurance is live from 17 June.

Appointments are available from 24th June onwards. Please message me if you would like to book in.

Many thanks
Fiona

16/06/2026

**** Introductory pricing for a bit or bridle consultation is £45 ****

Limited time introductory pricing – from 24 June to 31 August 2026 whilst I am building up my experience and knowledge as well as my stock of bits consultations are £45 per horse / pony.
I do have a good selection of bits but they are expensive to buy, and I am increasing my stock levels in stages. I will soon be offering some bridles to trial – I will update once I have a good selection of bridles to test.

A consultation consists of an assessment of your horse’s head / neck / mouth conformation and the fit of your current bit and bridle, followed by a ridden assessment in your own bit and bridle. You will then have the opportunity to trial other bits so that we can work to improve your horses way of going.
If you want to pop a few jumps (if this is something you do) we can do that too as it is important that your horse is relaxed and controlled in all disciplines.
These consultations will usually take an hour to an hour and a half.
For young horses that are being bitted for the first time there will obviously be no ridden assessment and this will be in-hand / static to see how the horse reacts to the bit. This may also apply to horses who are in recovery and not back in training under saddle.

When making your booking, please let me know if there is something specific you wish to trial as I am still building up my stock. This gives me opportunity to buy in additional bits if needed before I come to you.

**** Mileage ****
Bookings within 10 miles of my base are inclusive of mileage, for bookings further afield mileage will be charged at the HMRC rate of 55p per mile after 10 miles. If there is more than one booking at the same venue the mileage cost can be split between everyone with a booking at that venue.

15/06/2026

Apologies for being a bit quiet, full update to come tomorrow.
I've been away doing extra training, then to France on a holiday followed by weeke d camping at Bramham Horse Trials.