Please be ready to ride. If you are not presently riding the horse please inform me of this when we speak on the phone prior to the appointment. In terms of your horse, they should be comfortable in the cross ties or with being held in a headcollar by you, just like when the farrier visits!
The 'two wrinkle rule' is an inaccurate way of assessing a good fit. The number of wrinkles is related to the anatomy of the horses' lips. Just like us, some horses have fuller lips and larger smiles, and some have thinner lips with a more shallow 'smile'. There are also many other areas of the mouth that are measured during a fitting. On the Bit Lorinery solutions collected data from fittings in Canada and found that only 17% of horses had a correctly fitting bit.
It is not compulsory to buy a bit, however it is far more convenient to have your bit ordered to be delivered to you, if I don't have the one you need in stock on the day. If your current bit fits well, I will tell you so. The report on your horses' oral assessment will be emailed to you and is for your future reference.
No, I welcome all disciplines. I stock bits that are designed for the English riding disciplines, however the oral assessment report is very valuable for any horse owner. As for the ridden assessment, horses are honest enough to tell us when they are feeling more comfortable than previously. Traditionally, a western pleasure rider uses less contact in the rein, but don't let that deter you; we still have a responsibility to ensure the horse is comfortable with the tool we are putting in their mouth.
On average, an hour and a half for a snaffle bit and bridle fitting. Double bridle and bit fittings can take longer, usually around two to two and a half hours.
*Please note, a non-refundable deposit of $50 is taken at the time of booking with The Equine Bit Fitter. This is redeemable against your total invoice on the day of the fitting.
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