Bit Right - Equine Bit Fitting

16/04/2026

Bitting Consults - Yarra Valley - Sunday April 26

🦄 A fitting takes around an hour and is conducted one on one. For best result the horse is ridden but I'm also able to do standing fits and fittings for horses heading off to be started or currently not under saddle. A full written report is forwarded after your booking for your records.

🦄 Any questions, please just ask! For queries and bookings please message the page.

🦄 You are now able to purchase selected brands of bits through me. If your horses choose a bit outside of that range I still do the hard work and find your chosen bit in stock from a reliable retailer!

🦄 I come to you!! I've not increased my prices due to the fuel crisis. However, given the kms involved I do need to make sure I've minimum numbers for this day of bookings.

15/04/2026

Beautiful Noah was working in a fairly generic loose ring double jointed snaffle and was heavy and active in the feel. A quick change into a sweet iron Caelo Balanced Contact bit with some stability and tongue relief shows a much quieter mouth, lighter feel and more stable connection.
As always thank you to my client for allowing me to use this footage. Negative remarks about horse or rider will be removed - it takes a lot to put yourself out there for me to use in a before/after and I'm always appreciative.

13/04/2026

I see lots of lovely OTT horses. Here's a recent article :)

Off-the-track Thoroughbreds are incredibly capable athletes, but transitioning into a new career comes with its own set of challenges, particularly when it comes to bitting.

While many OTTBs arrive with a solid foundation, the way they’ve been trained to understand the bit and rein contact is often very different to what’s expected in sport horse disciplines. That transition can take time, and without a clear understanding of what the horse already knows, it’s easy to create confusion or discomfort.

In this guest article, accredited bit fitter Fiona Dearing from Bit Right - Equine Bit Fitting explores the key considerations when bitting an OTTB, from their previous racing experience and mouth conformation, through to common misconceptions about “strong” bits. She also highlights the importance of looking at the whole picture, including training, dental care and overall comfort.

It’s a practical, welfare-focused read for anyone working with an OTTB, and a timely reminder that the goal isn’t to start from scratch, but to build on what’s already there.

🔗 Link in the comments

Photo: Oz Shotz

12/04/2026

Hi all. Please bear with me over the next few days. My internet has had a malfunction at home and isn't working at all. I live in an area with pretty much zero phone reception so am unable to, well, interact!
Replacement items are on their way but please understand messages may take a little longer to respond to than normal.
I'll be online most daytime business hours but not at all after hours.
Thanks, Fiona.

09/04/2026

This deserves a 6 monthly re-share!

Cleaning your bit after each ride is so important for your horses hygiene and comfort. This can be as simple as rinsing it under running water at the end of a ride or taking it off the bridle and giving it a good scrub. The most important thing is we remove any residue from a ride so we're putting a clean bit in the mouth for next time.

Hygiene - this is particularly important from a biosecurity measure if you're using the bit on more than one horse. If not, it's still a priority to have clean bits in mouths so nothing nasty has brewed in leftover sludge, slobber and feed. I often say to Pony Club children that we clean our cutlery after each meal.

Comfort - Leftover grot on the bit becomes hard and can irritate sensitive lips. On top of feeling uncomfortable for the horse it can also increase the chance of lip wounds and rubs. Lip tissue is filled with nerve endings and incredibly sensitive.

So, in the words of Fashion Critical who's often noted for telling celebs to on the red carpet...

NB No clients have been shamed in this post. I promised to keep their identity a secret 🙂

07/04/2026

Please give the new Horse Shepherd Equine Sanctuary page a follow. Many of you would know I'm a proud board member and we've recently had our FB page (Meta Verified) disappear. Despite a huge amount of work it's so far been unable to be recovered. Basically any FB business page owners worst nightmare!

This is also why I transfer your bookings to email once it's confirmed on messenger. If that disappeared I'd literally have no idea who, where or what!

Horse Shepherd do amazing work for horses and the photography is always beautiful. We'd be very grateful for your support.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558555045014

Charity Organization

06/04/2026

Bitting Orientation

A universal bit (often called a two-and-a-half ring) should always be fitted with the smaller ring at the top, attached to the cheekpieces of the bridle.

When correctly oriented, the cheekpiece of the bit will sweep slightly away from the horse’s face, helping to prevent rubbing and unnecessary pressure. You can see this in the correctly oriented image. Some generic designs will tend to have flatter cheekpieces which can increase the risk of rubbing or push soft tissue onto the teeth. Even with these bits the orientation remains the same. Small ring at the top, larger ring below.

Recently, I’ve seen a universal bit fitted upside down, with the larger ring attached to the cheekpieces. In this case, the bit was also incorrectly marked, which led to confusion when trying to follow the usual advice of aligning logos or sizing stamps.

This confusion occurs on multiple levels, for the riders and owners, for gear checkers at Pony Club or competition and of course, discomfort for the horse. This becomes more evident when using a directional mouthpiece. Have the bit placed incorrectly can significantly alter how pressure is distributed, and it’s generally not in a way the horse can be comfortable with.

I've written a free guide on which way around, which way up bits should sit. Please follow the link to access it completely free of charge. subscribepage.io/od1feB

You're also always welcome to send me a photo if you're unsure about your own bit.

01/04/2026

Our April newsletter is just about to hit your inboxes! Signing up is easy and I PROMISE not to spam you with endless emails. I send one newsletter a month. If there's something exciting to share there's sometimes a second sent, that's it! Endless emails drive me crazy, or to the unsubscribe button, all I want to do is send you good information.

Are you looking to learn more about bits and bitting? About your horse’s comfort, increased communication and performance through correct bitting? So much has changed in bitting in recent years and we now have a wide range of bits for all kinds of mouths, disciplines, and levels. It doesn’t matter if you’re a professional equestrian or just starting your journey, understanding equine bitting will enhance your connection with your horse.

Sign up to the Bit Right Equine mailing list, you’ll receive:
- Guides to bitting materials and styles of mouthpieces and cheekpieces
- Discussion around how and why bitting has changed
- Historical information including some weird and wonderful finds
- Ideas for common bitting issues and troubleshooting
- Details on new products
- Updates and explanations on the hows and whys for rules in different disciplines

Head here to sign up

subscribepage.io/JkGmX0

25/03/2026

⭐️April Fittings Now Available⭐️

Bitting consult appointments are now available for April with some weekend availability listed if you’d like me to come to your area.

Why is professional bit fitting so important? The bit is one of your primary communication tools. If you have issues with leaning, behind the contact, tongue activity, head tossing, or you’re just feeling like the connection isn’t as good as you’d like this is your horse communicating they’re not as comfortable as they should be and they can’t ‘hear’ your aids clearly.

Bit selection isn’t about stronger or milder. It’s about matching design to anatomy, training level, rider influence and discipline demands to have the combination communicate as effectively and comfortably as possible.

*****Due to the current fuel crisis I require multiple bookings to travel to an area and reserve the right to reschedule to a mutually agreed time. I have not increased my prices as I'm aware we're all in the same boat but appreciate your understanding. *****

🐴 Service Areas
Listed locations include surrounding areas and towns en route to and from the Ballarat region. If your area isn’t mentioned, please get in touch — I regularly travel across Victoria, with minimum numbers required for extended trips.

🐴 What to Expect
Each consultation runs for approximately one hour and is conducted one-on-one.
For the most accurate assessment, horses are ideally ridden. However, I also offer: standing assessments and pre-starting fittings.
Following your consult, you’ll receive a comprehensive written report for your records.

🐴 Support Beyond the Fit
I take the guesswork out of sourcing, once we determine the most suitable option, I assist in locating your selected bit through a reputable retailer.

If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. Please message the page for all bookings.

24/03/2026

I had a great time presenting this webinar for Pony Club Australia last night. The replay is now up for all to be able to view.

24/03/2026

I'll be in the Yarra Valley this Sunday 29th and have availability in the afternoon for bitting consults. Please send me a message if you'd like to book :)

20/03/2026

🐴 Bitting Fact 🐴

As part of your horse’s fitting, I measure their mouth. Most horses I see come in around the 12.5–13cm (5”) mark. Obviously ponies and large/heavy horses will measure differently.

Q. Does that mean they need a 5” bit?
A. Not always. I’ll regularly fit what may appear a 5” mouth in smaller, or larger sized bits.

Every horse’s mouth is different. Lip shape, tongue size, bar angles, palate space…all of these influence how a bit actually sits and feels. Then we add in different bit designs, how they take up room in the mouth, their action, and most importantly… how your horse responds to the action of the bit and the pressures/relief it applies.

That’s why premium bit manufacturers offer sizes in ¼”, centimetre, or half-centimetre increments, so we can fit accurately, not guess.

It turns out size really does matter :) When it comes to communication with your horse's mouth, close enough isn’t good enough. The fit of a bit directly affects our horses comfort and that must take priority.