Bits and Behaviour

06/10/2026

Before I became a bit fitter I had worked with horses for over 20 years, in various disciplines from dressage and eventing to polo and racing. I had also read a lot of books and articles about bits, how to fit them and the theory behind how they worked. I thought I had a pretty good grasp on the subject! But I learned more about bits in the first year of doing this as a job than I had in the previous 20.

I learned because I listened to what the horses were telling me. And they told me a different story to what had been written in the books I'd read. Horses can't talk but they do tell us how they feel in numerous subtle ways.

So if what I do doesn't agree with what you've read then it's because the horses told me the books were wrong, and I chose to listen to them instead.

09/09/2026

If kind handling made dangerous horses then I'd be continuously getting injured, surely? Instead I find horses offer kindness in return.

"Violence breeds violence".

09/09/2026

A reminder that the first part of my two part article "Listening to the Nervous System" is in this months issue of Happy Trackin' Magazine!

06/09/2026

Tension in the tongue or jaw can be caused by an unsuitable bit, which in turn creates a chain of tension throughout the body, particularly in the neck and shoulders, mediated via the fascia.

This can lead to compensatory movement patterns putting stress on muscles and ligaments in ways that can lead to serious disfunction over the long term.

The importance of a comfortable bit goes far beyond the mouth.

Did you know.....The Tongue 👅 is the most sensitive part of your horse's mouth and the most prone to injury.

This very large muscle extends from its tip, which you can see, to the hyoid apparatus and its attachment to the ramus of the mandible at the back.

The tongue is vital for swallowing and influencing the hyoid apparatus

Like any other muscle, restriction or tension within it can induce a muscular chain reaction.

The sensitivity of the tongue is a crucial consideration when fitting a bit. An ill-fitting or harsh bit or excessive pressure on the bit from your hands can cause pain and discomfort. In some cases it can result in tension throughout the body and poor performance.

Like and follow our page for lots more tips, exercises and advice on equine anatomy and biomechanics.

01/09/2026

As someone who has fitted bits professionally for around 7 years now, but has also chosen to ride my own horse bitless for the past 6 years, this is a subject that has more nuance than most people realise.

It's more than just "the hands at the end of the reins are more important than the bit", but the brain that is attached to those hands, and how it thinks about whatever tool they choose to use, has a huge influence on the horse's experience of that tool.

Talking to Lockie at his clinic earlier in the summer changed the way I think about riding, whether in a bit or bitless.

20/08/2026

19/08/2026

The first of my two part article, Listening to the Nervous System, will be published in September's issue of Happy Trackin' Magazine! Available now for pre-order 😊

What happens when we stop looking at a horse's behaviour as something we need to fix, and instead start asking what the horse is actually experiencing?

In Part 1, I talk about how understanding the nervous system can change the way we interpret our horses' behaviour; from seemingly simple moments of uncertainty, to the way stress can build through trigger stacking and eventually push a horse over threshold.

Most importantly, we look at why sometimes the most helpful thing we can do isn't to ask the horse to try harder or move on, but simply to wait and give their nervous system time to process what they're experiencing.

This is something that fundamentally changed the way I work with horses, and I hope it gives you a different perspective on some of the behaviours you see in your own horse.

Issue 11 is available for pre-order!

If you have subscribed for prints, you do not need to pre-order ☺️

www.happytrackinmagazine.com

05/08/2026

💥I'm coming to the PE11 area on the 14th of August, if you're looking for a bit fitting or behavioural consultation please do get in touch and get 50% off travel fees! 💥

01/08/2026

A huge thank you to everyone who attended the third session in the Talking Horse series this morning!

Helen and I really enjoyed the more intimate and hands on format of today's event and really hope you did too. There were some really interesting points of discussion as well as some eye opening experiences of what it's like to "Feel Like a Horse"!

For those of you who were unable to attend we are hoping to run a repeat of this session in a few weeks time. If you'd like to register your interest please comment below and myself or Helen will be in touch with more details.