Bit & Bridle Fitting
What to Expect During an Appointment with an APBBF Member
When you book an appointment with an APBBF member you can be assured that:
- We are all fully LANTRA qualified in bit and bridle fitting and have undergone extensive practical training.
- We stay up to date with continuous professional development (CPD).
- We provide impartial, expert advice and will always recommend the right bit and bridle for your individual horse.
- We do not sell bits or bridles, so there is no sales push.
- We are independent and do not receive commission from any suppliers.
- We carry a large range of different bits and bridles for you to try during appointments.
- We always have your health and safety and your horse’s welfare in mind.
Each appointment follows the same format although each APBBF member uses their own unique skill set to provide the best experience for you and your horse.
What Happens During an Appointment
A full appointment will include:
- Taking a full history about your horse including any ridden issues.
- An assessment of your horse’s conformation and muscular development, which can tell us a lot about how your horse uses his body.
- A thorough assessment of the conformation of your horse’s head and mouth, which will help decide which bits and bridles may suit your horse.
- A review of your current bit and bridle with an explanation of how these may affect your horse.
- An assessment of your horse ridden in their current bit and bridle.
- Trial of appropriate bits, bridles and set-ups with ongoing assessment of your horse’s biomechanics and behaviour with each change made.
- At the end of the appointment, a written record of the APBBF member’s findings and their recommendations for your individual horse will be provided.
Throughout this process, the APBBF member will explain everything and we encourage you to ask questions.
If you are interested in booking an appointment with an APBBF member fitter, then please find your nearest fitter on the MEMBERS page.
Tips for Your Appointment
- Have your horse in and groomed, ready for the agreed appointment time.
- Have your current riding tack and riding gear ready nearby.
- DO NOT tack your horse up or exercise your horse immediately before your appointment. It is important that we see your horse’s initial reaction to their own tack in the stable and while ridden.
- Ideally, your bridle and reins should be clean, but please do not make them slippery with products, as this can make changing the bit or adjusting the bridle difficult. Reins and cheekpieces should be easy to remove/attach.
- A rider will be required for the ridden portion of the appointment and they are required to wear a securely fastened helmet that meets current safety standards when mounted - no helmet, no appointment.
- A safe and secure area will be required for the ridden part of the consultation.
If you have any concerns about the ridden portion of the appointment or the available riding facilities, please do get in touch with your local APBBF fitter who will be able to best advise on how to proceed. For example, it may be appropriate to conduct the fitting without riding in some cases, or there may be a clinic with appropriate riding facilities taking place nearby soon. It is always worth getting in touch.
Whole Horse, Whole Team
APBBF fitters take a whole horse approach to ensure we provide you and your horse with the best recommendations we can. This may lead us to notice issues that would benefit from or require further investigation by a relevant professional. We recognise that keeping a horse healthy and fit takes a team and may recommend that you consider using the services of other suitably qualified professionals.
It is important to remember to ensure your horse’s equipment and their physical health is checked and maintained regularly. This is particularly important for saddle fit and dental care. Ensuring these two areas are in good order before a bit and bridle fitting is recommended to help rule out issues that may be due to oral health or the saddle.
We are here alongside other equine professionals to help you and your horse get the best out of your relationship.