Bitting Days
Bitting Days are my favourite sort of day it means I can come to your yard and spend the day with you.
I can chat and actually see your horses, get to know you to try to pick out the most suitable bit to help or to improve or to move you on in your training
Bitting Days are suitable for a group of friends or associates on a yard wishing to learn more about Bitting and who would like individual advice for their own Horses.
If several people are there at the begging of the day I am happy to do a general chat and anyone is welcome to listen to this free talk.
information is quite crucial for your understanding of how bits work and what you can expect from the day
Through out the day we will discuss:
- General considerations before we change bits.
- Bridle and Saddle Fit
- Conformation of the inside of the Horses mouth
- Conformation of the Horses Jaw and Head
- Pressure points both inside the mouth and outside on the head
- Conventional Bit designs and how they work in the Horse's mouth
- More comfortable Bit designs and how they work in the Horse's mouth.
- How to understand Resistance
- How to understand horse mind set.
- How to select the right bit for competition
- How to select the right bit for schooling
We will look at each Horse in turn, looking at individual conformation, and any details that are relevant to bitting and if we need to the Saddle and Bridle can be checked and any adjustments or advice offered
Then we will discuss the Horses training and bitting history and then ride it in the bit it is normally in and then change bits maybe once or twice to see if we can achieve enough difference to merit a change of bit.
And although not a quick fix it is not worth buying a bit unless there is a little change for the better and that with patience and work you think it will be much better than the bit you have been riding in.
I do not let you buy a bit on the day unless we have all agreed it looks good and we have had a favourable result in the consultation And then your responsibility is to promise to ride in it for five easy sessions and then at least 25 rides altogether
Without this time a horse cannot possibly be expected to respond well
I charge £75 per Horse and it takes about an hour per Horse to do for a snaffle Horse and longer if we are doing Double Bits
This fee is non refundable as you are paying for my time and I have probably also travelled between an hour and three hours to get to you
Brands Carried
In order to assure that we have enough variety to bit a broad spectrum of Horses and Ponies we have always carried a variety of brands
I only made my own bits because I could not find all the mouthpieces and all the cheeks that I needed to do a good job
But we also carry
Bomber Bits
Happy Mouth Bits
Rotary Bits
Myler Bits
and my own
Informed Designs
Bridle Work and Saddle Checks
We have always for years automatically in the course of a consultation checked Bridle work [bridle fit, head pressure points and noseband tension] and Saddle [discussing saddle fit and balance] Girth fit and suitability and give recommendations for all if needed
I live in Longcot in S Oxfordshire and base my days on how far I have to travel to get to you
So for instance if you are within half an hour I will can come to your yard for a minimum of 2 horses if you are an hour then 4 horses if you are two to two and a half hours then 5 or 6 horses
If you have more than six Horses if I bring some help I can do more as I don't have to do all the administration as well
I keep my Horses in East Hanney in Oxfordshire so if you are on the way home from me riding four days a week I can call in on the way home for one or two Horses or there is a possibility that you can come over and use the school on the yard
Why not try to organise your own Bitting Day ?
Or if you can find a few people, we might then if you are willing, put the word out on social media and we should be able to find enough for a day either at your yard in close by
Or I have to be in your area already and can come to you at the end of Bitting on another yard
Or I will try to offer when ever I can a yard that you can join in with an existing day
But at the end of the day if you are on your own and a long way from me and I have offered you several alternatives and you have not for what ever reason been able to join in then I cannot do your Horse at that point in time
Charges
I charge £75 per Horse [if I have worked with you and your horse on the day this is a non refundable fee] and it takes approx an hour per horse and then the bit we agree upon stays on your bridle just as we fitted it together
The bits range from £85 to £95 for Snaffles and £100 to £140 for Weymouths and Jumping Training bits so the average spend is approx £170 for a consultation and a Snaffle as a guide
I do need to be paid on the day for everything please
I can take Cash, or Cards or Phone payments that should be sufficient for all to have a payment choice
e mail: hilaryinformedbittingvernon@gmail.com