Equine Bit Box

12/09/2026

🐴 EQUINE BIT BOX IS STILL HERE AND SURVIVING WINTER! 🐴

After a little winter break (and a BIG house move thrown in!), I’m excited to be getting back into bit and bridle fitting.

With spring here and the riding season kicking off, now is a great time to check that everything is still working for your horse.

Are you wondering…

🐴 Is my bit still the right choice?
🐴 Does my bridle actually fit correctly?
🐴 Is my noseband sitting where it should?
🐴 Is my headpiece comfortable?
🐴 Could my horse be telling me something I haven’t noticed?

I’ve had lots of enquiries over winter and am working my way through those, with a few fitting spots available over the coming weeks. Im away to both Young Rider Development camp in christchurch and COPC camp in cromwell with Equine Bit Box to share knowledge and advice over school holidays.

Upcoming days....
Invercargill 15th sep
Gore 18th sep (a.m only spots available)
Winton 23 sep
Queenstown 14th october

I’ll be travelling to different areas for fitting days, so if you’d like a consultation, get in touch and I can add you to the list for your area. Also, if you have questions of any sort, drop me a message.

A little more understanding. A little more comfort. A better connection. 🐴

Equine Bit Box
Bitting. Bridling. Better.

11/06/2026

Last minute appointment today in gore after a cancellation. 3pm at arena if anyone wants to nab it?

25/05/2026

Hello!! 👋
It’s been a minute — sorry!

I took a wee break to get some of the youngsters started under saddle, and since then it’s been a juggle of catching up with clients, organising bridle stock and parts, renovations, plus squeezing in a bit of hunting and kids’ sport too 😅🐴⚽

But… we are officially OPEN again for bookings 🙌

I’ve got a few spots available on upcoming trips:

📍 Dunedin – 28 May last minute
Mosgiel Indoor Arena
• 1:00pm
• 2:30pm

📍 Invercargill – 8 June
• 9:00am

📍 Gore – 12 June
Gore arena
• 2.00pm
• 3.30pm

Now is actually a great time to get your horse seen ahead of spring and the busy competition season. It also helps get ahead of the frustrating supplier wait times that can pop up when everyone starts ordering at once 😅

If you’ve been thinking about booking a bit & bridle consult, flick me a message and we’ll get you sorted over winter 🐴✨

13/04/2026

Having a clear out of some bits!! Grab some bargains. Some great quality bits, mostly new or very little use. Get in touch.

Also if you need a bit and bridle fitting let me know!

All bits price plus postage flat rate $8 (add $5 more if rural) or can deliver southland wide.

1) platinum barrel baucher 145mm $45..
2) (new) TBF barrel baucher 5.5" $100
3) (new) TBF barrel Kimberly dee 6" $100
4) (new) bombers blue baucher lite 125mm $170
5) (new) trust sweet iron lock-up loose ring 115mm $155
6) neue schule demi anky loose ring 5" $135
7) (new) trust sweet iron bevel lock-up 115mm $185
8) kimblewick lozenge w slots 6" $65
9) platinum waterford baucher 5.75" $45
10) happy mouth Mullen full cheek 4.75" $50

10/02/2026

School holidays, xmas madness and family holiday ✔️ done!

First batch of custom bridle orders for clients arrived and I couldn’t be happier with them.
A few more bits have also joined the collection — always learning, always expanding.

I’m back into consultations and working through my client backlog, so if you’ve been waiting to book in, now’s the time 🙋‍♀️

I was planning to get my hunter fit and ready to go for the season ahead… but a kick to the knee has put that on hold for now. Horses keeping us humble, as always.

Anyway.... Back on deck, motivated, and ready to roll 🐴✨

18/01/2026

This is a nice reminder ...

Hands or Bit? 🤷‍♀️
Ohhh the age-old argument. Scroll any horsey forum for 5 minutes and you’ll see it: “It’s not the bit, it’s the hands!” followed immediately by “Nope, wrong bit, poor horse!”

Here’s the reality: it’s not a competition. It’s both. Always both.

🐴 The Bit: A bit is a tool. It has mechanics. Be it tongue pressure, bar pressure, poll pressure, palate pressure. Those things don’t disappear just because someone has soft hands. You can’t magically erase how a joint, port, or lever is designed to function. The bit has to be correctly fitted to the horses anatomy before it can be ruled out entirely.

✋ The Hands: Your hands are the delivery system. They decide if that pressure is a polite whisper or a shouty megaphone. Soft, consistent hands can make a stronger bit ride beautifully. Heavy or inconsistent hands can make even the kindest bit feel like a vice. Your car doesn't slow faster because you hold the steering wheel lighter...

➡️ External Factors: We also need to consider so many other things when working with horses to rule out a problem. These include physical issues, saddle fit, dental issues, hoof issues, training and even the riders timing and experience needs to be considered.

So when someone says “it’s just the hands”, they’re ignoring mechanics. And when someone says “it’s just the bit”, they’re ignoring horsemanship. Truth bomb: you don’t get to pick one.

You can’t fight physics. You can’t fight anatomy. Mechanics are mechanics. What you can do is:
✔️ Choose a bit designed for your horse’s mouth and way of going
✔️ Ride it with educated, empathetic hands
✔️ Accept that comfort comes from the combination of the two

So next time you see the “hands vs. bit” debate? Remember: it’s a partnership. Not a tug-of-war. And your horse deserves both sides of the equation to be fair.

15/12/2025

Had a great time chewing the fat with some showjumpers at the Gore Festival showjumping on Saturday. Thanks for having me Southland Showjumping

15/12/2025

A kind Testimonial from a lovely client!...

“ Hi my name is Susan. I ride dressage at level 6 this season on my 19 year old gelding. I have struggled for forever with his consistency in the contact. He is very forward and sensitive to ride. Jayne has been great help last week! Only took 19 years!🤣🤦‍♀️. Turns out my bit was good… but too big! And the bridle I am using was hurting the back of his ears! Which would make sense when he holds it together for so long… then throws his head up when it hurts obviously!😬🤦‍♀️I tried one of Jayne’s anatomical bridles on and couldn’t believe the difference in his contact acceptance!! Can’t wait to get the new gear and see how we go! Thanks Equine Bit Box! Well worth it!"

05/12/2025

Still some Upcoming dates available 📢

I am trying to get caught up with all those on my lists before Christmas but have a few available spaces to fill. If you miss this round ill see you in 2026!

▶️Queenstown...10th Dec, 1 spot 10am, 1 spot 1.30pm.
▶️Invercargill... 11th Dec - now fully booked.
▶️Mosgiel area... 17th - 1 spot 4.30pm. ▶️Mosgiel area... 18th - some various spots between 9am-2.30pm.

Also, I will be at Southland Showjumping Xmas🎄 Show on 13th Saturday, if anybody wants to come for a chat or to see the new bridles!🐴

Get in touch!!

01/12/2025

📢Upcoming dates 📢
I am trying to get caught up with all those on my lists before Christmas but have a few available spaces to fill. If you miss this round ill see you in 2026!

▶️Queenstown...10th Dec, 1 spot 10am, 1 spot 1.30pm.
▶️Invercargill... 11th Dec - 1 spot 2.30pm.
▶️Mosgiel area... 17th - between 1pm-4.30pm. 18th - some various spots between 9am-2.30pm. 19th am possibly.

Also, I will be at Southland Showjumping Xmas🎄 Show on 13th Saturday, if anybody wants to come for a chat or to see the new bridles!🐴

Get in touch!!