Ikkos Equestrian

21/10/2026

Bit and bridle fitting is about so much more than choosing a piece of equipment.

It's about understanding the horse's oral anatomy, recognising how equipment interacts with that anatomy, and selecting a bridle and bit that support comfort, clear communication and performance.

Every horse is an individual. There is no one size fits all solution, and what works for one horse may not be suitable for another.

A snippet from my talk exploring the importance of bit and bridle fitting for horse welfare, communication and performance.

Because getting the fit right matters.

15/10/2026

MYTH BUSTING: If your horse accepts the bit, it fits.

Not necessarily.

One of the biggest misconceptions in bitting is that if a horse isn't fighting the bit, opening its mouth or showing obvious signs of resistance, the bit must be comfortable.

But horses don't all respond to discomfort in the same way.

And a horse accepting a bit doesn't tell us everything we need to know about how well it fits.

Every horse has its own oral anatomy. Tongue volume, palate shape, available space within the mouth and the relationship between the bit and the surrounding structures all matter.

A mouthpiece that works well for one horse may be completely unsuitable for another.

Bit fitting isn't about finding a bit your horse will tolerate. It's about finding a bit that is suitable for that individual horse.

That's why I look beyond the mouthpiece itself and assess the horse in front of me.

Because better bitting starts with understanding the horse, not following a trend.

Had you ever considered that a horse can accept a bit without it necessarily being the right fit?

Tell me what you've been taught about bitting in the comments. Let's get people asking better questions.

14/10/2026

So many beautiful horses x

13/10/2026

🐴 𝐖𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐀 𝐁𝐈𝐓 & 𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐋𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓?

I know waiting for an appointment can be frustrating, especially when you're keen to help your horse feel more comfortable. ❤️

If you're looking for an appointment in Aberdeenshire, here are some other fitters to contact about their availability.

🐴 𝐀 𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐂𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐆𝐎𝐄𝐒 𝐀 𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐀𝐘!

Our horses depend on us to make good decisions about their comfort and welfare. Before booking, it's worth checking a fitter's training, qualifications and insurance, and asking what their assessment process involves.

𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐂𝐊?

These UK directories and professional organisations are useful places to start:

🔎 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲
https://www.equinefittersdirectory.org/

🔎 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬
https://www.mastersaddlers.co.uk/

🔎 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐢𝐭 & 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 (𝐀𝐏𝐁𝐁𝐅)
https://apbbf.com/

📍 𝐁𝐈𝐓 & 𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐋𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐀𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐄

Here are some contacts to help you explore your options. This is an information list, not a ranking or endorsement. Please contact each fitter directly to confirm current availability, coverage and credentials.

1️⃣ 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐜𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐝 | 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤

Independent Lantra Qaulified bit and bridle fitting consultant.
• Facebook: Behind the Forelock
• Phone: 07983 886563
• Email: [email protected]

2️⃣ 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐋𝐲𝐨𝐧 | 𝐈𝐤𝐤𝐨𝐬 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧

Independent Lantra Qaulified bit and bridle fitting consultant.
• Website: https://www.ikkos.co.uk/
• Facebook: Ikkos Equestrian
• Phone: 07974 977328
• Email: [email protected]

3️⃣ 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐞 | 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬

• Website: https://www.horsebittingconsultants.com/
• Phone: 07800 558636
• Email: [email protected]

4️⃣ 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭 | 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐋𝐭𝐝

• Facebook: Equiphoria Ltd
• Phone: 07432 143550
• Email: [email protected]

𝐀𝐋𝐒𝐎 𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐀

Jane Cumberlidge and Jen Roy also cover the wider area. Contact them directly to check their current availability and service coverage.

I hope this helps you find the right support for your horse without having to wait longer than necessary. ❤️

13/10/2026

Still smiling after a wonderful trip to Orkney.

I feel incredibly lucky to have been welcomed into the Orkney equestrian community and trusted to work with 16 horses, carrying out individual bit and bridle fittings, alongside giving a talk to more than 30 people.

Every horse is an individual, and every opportunity to help one become more comfortable is something I value. It was a real privilege to meet so many lovely people, share knowledge, learn from the experience and hopefully leave a few horses feeling happier in their work.

Orkney is a very special place, and the warmth, hospitality and enthusiasm I was met with made this trip all the more memorable.

A huge thank you to everyone who welcomed me, booked their horses in, came along to the talk and helped make the trip such a success. I genuinely appreciate the trust you've placed in me, and I'm already looking forward to coming back.

Sixteen horses, so much learning, wonderful people and a very full heart. Thank you, Orkney.

01/10/2026

I have quite a few people spread over a large area on the waiting list, so I’m going to spend the next few days consolidating the list and finding dates that work for as many people as possible.

As we head into shorter daylight hours and increasingly unpredictable weather, my availability is also becoming considerably more limited, so I’m doing my best to organise the travelling as efficiently as I can.

I’ll be adding possible dates to the Ikkos Equestrian Hub | Facebook so if you’re on the waiting list, please keep an eye on the group and respond to the dates you’re able to make.

If you’re not already in the Hub, please request to join.

Please also make sure you’re registered with EquiGate, which will add you to my waiting list. This is the system I use to manage appointments.

I know everyone is keen to get booked in, and I really appreciate your patience while I work through the list and organise the travelling.

I’ll always do my best to accommodate people where I can, but with the number of horses I’m trying to get around, the distance I travel and the time of year, I can’t always offer a particular date or timeframe. I really appreciate everyone understanding this and keeping communication friendly and respectful.

If communication becomes disrespectful, I may need to remove someone from the waiting list. I simply need to be able to work with clients in a respectful and constructive way.

If we can work together on the dates available, it makes the whole process much easier and helps me get around as many horses as possible.

Thank you for your patience and understanding!
ACCESS THE IKKOS EQUESTRIAN HUB HERE:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2066787340909975/

10/09/2026

What a beautiful start to the day, working with this beauty x

05/09/2026

04/09/2026

Every detail counts x