19/07/2026
Consultation Part 1: The Stable Consultation 🐴
So what actually happens when I arrive?
The first thing I do is nothing. 😊
I take my time and let your horse come to me before I start any assessment. It matters. They need to feel comfortable before I start handling their face and mouth, and rushing that bit sets the whole session off on the wrong foot.
✨ A proper chat with you
While your horse settles, we'll talk. I want to build a full picture, so I'll ask about things like:
🔹 When they last saw the dentist
🔹 Whether you've had a saddle fitter out
🔹 Any physio or bodywork they've had
🔹 Any changes you've noticed in them recently
I really believe I should be the last piece of the puzzle. If there's pain in the back, an ill-fitting saddle, or dental issues going on, no bit in the world is going to fix that. So the more of the picture we can piece together, the better I can help.
✨ The mouth assessment
This is the part most owners have never done themselves, and it's often eye-opening.
I'll have a proper feel inside your horse's mouth. I'm checking:
🔹 How sharp the bars are
🔹 Any sores, rubs or sensitive areas
🔹 Tongue size and how sensitive it is
🔹 How fleshy the lips are
Most people don't think to actually feel their horse's tongue and see how sensitive it is, and it's often one of the biggest clues to what will (and won't) work.
✨ Why this bit matters so much
Horses have very little space in their mouths for a bit. Add in their individual sensitivities and conformation, and you can see why a bit that suits one horse can be really uncomfortable for another.
By the time we've done all of this, I've already got an idea of the bit (or bits) that might suit your horse, before we've even tacked up.
Then, and only then, we move on to the ridden part. 💛
Any questions, or want to arrange a consultation? Pop me a message, I'd love to help. 🐴
