About

Whats the story?
Everyone has a story, and in the equestrian world you  can guarantee it’s about a horse the owner has had difficulties with, in one way or another and my story is no exception.
Meet Boris. I’ve owned Boris since a yearling, educated, backed and ridden him. He was a star, in fact the reason we bought him was my then 2 yo daughter poked him up the nostrils he took it in his stride.
So, what’s the problem?
Well, it all started with a saddle, and a saddle fitter. I had backed Boris in a treeless saddle, which was fine, but I knew in the long term not the best for him and his back. A friend was having a fitter out and I had some money in the bank so I took the opportunity to get him fitted out with a shiny new saddle, how exciting!

The fitter was late (actually didn’t have us in for that day so like 3 hours late) had nothing that had been promised for either horse and ended up fitting a friends saddle to him which I then went and purchased a new version of. Not the best start but we had a saddle so I was happy.
6 months on, having lovely ride in the school, and Boz, the sweet boy who  been so easy, decided that rolling was the best option. Now, I put this first one down to a hot itchy cob but the more it went on and linking it with the other things that were happening, not letting me mount, bucking and generally being unhappy under saddle, I had to listen and investigate. Turns out the saddle was too long, not wide enough through the panels, too wide in the gullet etc etc. The crucks? It damaged his back and the only way he could get me to hear him was to lay down, bless him.
Now I need to fix him. I get some recommendations and call out the physio. I’m the kind of gal who likes to ask questions, and why shouldn’t I? She starts by palpating him (poking areas on his body) to see where he’s in pain. Yes, definitely under saddle. So out comes a machine. She starts running it up and down his back and Boz goes all droopy and relaxed. So I asked about the machine and what it’s doing. “ It’s putting bubbles in his muscles” um, sorry? Bubbles? The bends? Boris is still enjoying himself so I’ll let that one slide. After his treatment we go into the school and I’m shown some in hand exercises to do, great. I ask what this will do for him, what muscles is this going to help? How often should I repeat the exercise? How long for? Etc etc. Answer? “Quite a few. As much as you like. You’ll know.” etc etc. The final question? When should I have you back? “Whenever “  Needless to say, I didn’t have her back. Oh, and the machine? Ultrasound.
So now I have a sore cob and I no longer trust the “professionals“ around me. I’ll do it myself.
I trained for 2 1/2 years, using Boris as my ongoing case study, as an EMT. Not only did I fix my cob but I found something that I loved. I found I really had a connection with the horses I worked onand when they said thank you? Priceless.
Now I had a fixed cob in need of exercise so I needed a saddle. Definitely don’t trust saddle fitters now. So I trained for three years under a reputable company and learned saddle fitting. Turned out cobs are not the easiest to fit. Bit of a specialist at it now.
After going through this I wanted to help others in the same situation. I wanted people to feel they had someone to ask the questions, to explain the whys, the how’s and ask the what ifs. So I did. It’s been a hard road, still learning it loving it.
Bits and Bridle came along purely by chance of reading a social media post about how they affect the horse in a very profound way, if not fitting correctly. I found this fascinating, so I contacted the post author and arranged a meet up and watched her work. First thing she did? Take the noseband off. I remember thinking “that’s not going to make any difference“ , how wrong I was. The horse immediately dropped its head, extended its stride and relaxed and excepted the riders contact. Wow! The rest is history.