Bitting Consultant - Worth It & Recommendations?

[sheltoneb]

Has anyone had a someone come to your barn and do a consultation about bitting? If so, was it worth it and who would you recommend for the Houston area?

My horse seams to be fine with his bit, but I wonder if it could be better. He does chomp the bit when on the ground but rarely does he do it under saddle. He also carries his mouth slightly open with his tongue resting to the right. It is visible but not sticking out. Doesn’t change during the ride or between rides.

We are training level and he goes in an eggbutt French link snaffle.

[Guyot]

Yes bit fitting is amazing. I’ve only used Stephanie Brown-Beamer of Horse by Horse; she’s active on Facebook and there are tons of reviews there. I think she is fantastic. She does clinics everywhere I think but lives in the northeast and winters in Florida.

[lorilu]

Yes indeed. I recently had Florence Wetzel of Try My Bits out. Really has made a difference in how Bravo carries himself. TryMyBits.com Of course the other option is to just buy or borrow and try bunches of bits… Florence first asked what issues we had, then changed the snaffle, then a different combination, and then a third. She watched me ride, and asked questions… We finally hit on a winning combination.

[jonem004]

I’ve wondered about this. I’ve also wondered why we don’t do a “mouth tracing” like a wither tracing for a saddle. I know it wouldn’t be everything, but mouth shape would be a start. Seems like it wouldn’t be that hard. Maybe I’ll stick a flexible ruler in my horses mouth and lead the charge! I know there’s more than that to it though.- 🙄

[Badger]

Absolutely worth it. Kim Gentry brought over $20k of bits with her for my horse’s fitting, plus a ton of knowledge. I never could have recreated that trial experience without someone like her and I ended up with improved bits tailored to my horse. Worth. Every. Penny.

[MysticOakRanch]

I’m curious, of those who have done it, how many of the bitting experts came with multiple brands of bits? How many represent a single brand? I’d like to have my GMO chapter do a bitting clinic, but I want to make sure several brands are represented!

[BigMama1]

The only bit fitters I know work for a specific brand.

[piedmontfields]

Kim Gentry brings at least several brands of bits. I think you could ask about this when arranging a clinic. I found it to be a very affordable and effective way to try out a bunch of bits and make a substantial improvement in our choice.

[MOB]

Kim Gentry is fantastic. We had her last year. It is life changing for some horses. We are having her back again to do rechecks on some horses, as well as first-time fittings on others. Well worth the investment.

[Libby2563]

Well, I can tell you who I don’t recommend! I had a poor experience with Hastilow USA when they came to a barn in Maryland in late 2017. The fitter did not bring any curb bits at all even though I told the organizer in advance that was what I was interested in. The organizer specifically requested that info from participants, presumably so the fitter could bring the correct assortment of bits. The fitter was running very late (IIRC, 30-45 min) so I had to wait around for quite a while. She then spent all of 5-10 min looking at the horse’s mouth and filling out some paperwork.

Afterwards when I asked for a refund because I hadn’t gotten the advertised 30-min time slot or the ability to try any bits (which was the whole point of the clinic, I thought), I was told they didn’t write the ad and never promised a specific amount of time or that you could even try bits. In the end they charged me both for the clinic as well as the trials of the bits they mailed me (which, by the way, were the exact ones I wanted to try just from reading the Neue Schule website so I don’t think I even got the benefit of an expert opinion). I might as well have skipped the clinic, which was 1.5 hours away and required me to take an afternoon off work, and just ordered the bits to try myself. I went back and forth with Hastilow for a while and got nowhere, so I had to do a credit card dispute to get my money back. I absolutely would not recommend them. Too bad because I thought it was an interesting concept and it sounds like other people have had great experiences!

[mydogs]

@jonem004

I’ve wondered about this. I’ve also wondered why we don’t do a “mouth tracing” like a wither tracing for a saddle. I know it wouldn’t be everything, but mouth shape would be a start. Seems like it wouldn’t be that hard. Maybe I’ll stick a flexible ruler in my horses mouth and lead the charge! I know there’s more than that to it though.- 🙄

I saw a post on FB where someone actually managed to do this with a leather bit. They made the bit a little wet, put it on the horse, and was able to see how the bit reshaped itself to the horse’s mouth. The horse in the example made a straight bit turn into a small port mouth bit. I loved the idea and will be doing that for all future horses now.

Here is the post: https://www.facebook.com/lindatreurhorseriding/posts/2209952422550880

[lorilu]

@jonem004

I’ve wondered about this. I’ve also wondered why we don’t do a “mouth tracing” like a wither tracing for a saddle. I know it wouldn’t be everything, but mouth shape would be a start. Seems like it wouldn’t be that hard. Maybe I’ll stick a flexible ruler in my horses mouth and lead the charge! I know there’s more than that to it though.- 🙄

I saw a post on FB. A trainer uses a leather snaffle bit, soaked in water until soft. She allows the horse to wear it for a while and it takes the shape of the mouth and however the horse moves it around - how he “wants” it. She then used it as a guide for first bits… I thought quite brilliant!

[no.stirrups]

I’ve audited bit clinics with Kim Gentry and was definitely impressed. Another clinician I audited repped a single brand and the whole thing was shockingly bad. She pronounced bits an excellent fit when the horse was obviously gaping his mouth in discomfort (and similar behaviors) and I saw some terribly unsafe practices repeatedly throughout the day.

[Hayburner]

I have been interested in this too! I have not been able to gather a group of riders that are interested in doing it.

The Neue Schule website does have a measurement guide that you can print out and use to find the correct bit size.

[Dance_To_Oblivion]

Kim Gentry is fantastic and made a huge difference for my horse.

[c0608524]

@BigMama1

The only bit fitters I know work for a specific brand.

You’re on Ontario right? Do you know someone in southern Ontario that does bit fitting?

[SolarFlare]

@c0608524

You’re on Ontario right? Do you know someone in southern Ontario that does bit fitting?

Not quite southern Ontario but she travels: https://onthebittack.com/pages/equine-bit-fitting-services-in-canada

I haven’t used her myself as I think this service is fairly new, but have heard good things!

[OnTheBitTack]

Might I chime in…

Hi All, I am a Certified Bit Fitter. I’m located in Ontario and as mentioned above my business is On The Bit Tack and Apparel.

A true bit fitter should be able to recommend any brand. The measurements and science behind bit fitting can be applied regardless. With that said, many bit fitters (very few in Canada that I’m aware of) will bring with them a brand that they feel comfortable recommending based on their knowledge of the angles within the bit.

I’d be happy to answer questions and book appointments.

cheers

[fanfayre]

Hi, OnTheBitTack!
You’re in my old home area (Callander/Nipissing)! Glad to see a quality tack store finally exists there!

if you ever want to take a trip to BC for some fitting let me know and I’ll round up some mouths!

[OnTheBitTack]

Hi Fanfayre
Yes, definitely your neck of the woods. We probably know a lot of people in common.

i would certainly take a trip out. Obviously I’ll need to have a schedule of fittings/clinics but I’m truly interested in teaching people so they have the knowledge they need to select bits. Knowledge is key!!!

Let me know if your interested and we will arrange it.

chat soon

Tammy