Equine Partnership

31/10/2026

🐴ROUTE PLANNED - CO.CORK Sunday 8/11/2026

BIT FIT
Find a bit that suits your horse’s mouth anatomy, enhances your performance, and ensures every ride is comfortable and safe.

BRIDLE FIT
Bitted or bitless, a bridle is only as effective as its placement and design. Because every strap interacts with sensitive nerves, delicate bone structures, and soft tissue, the choice of bridle must be rooted in a deep understanding of your horse’s unique response to pressure.

I am a listed fitter with the Equine Fitters Directory. I carry insurance for both coaching and fitting.

Request an appointment via EquiPractice
https://equipractice.com/bookings/equine-partnership
WhatsApp +353858772543
Email [email protected]

Please see the map for a planned and alternate route. If you are not on the immediate route, it's worth getting in touch as I'm happy to tailor the route where possible.

30/10/2026

Tomorrow is the last day to save!

Early bird pricing for the Horses Inside Out Conference 2027 ends tomorrow, Saturday 31 October.

Book now and take advantage of our discounted ticket prices.

Two jam-packed days of science, research, and discovery!

On 20 & 21 February 2027, immerse yourself in the latest research on Wellness and Welfare at the Horses Inside Out Conference at Loughborough University.
✔️ Inspiring lectures + Q&A sessions
✔️ Exhibitions
✔️ Networking with leading equestrian professionals
✔️ Trade stands
A not to be missed weekend for equine professionals.

Comment WAW and we'll send you the link to book your place.

29/10/2026

Thanks Shelby Dennis - Milestone Equestrian for posting this.

Sadly because so many bridles now come with a flash as standard, horse owners naturally believe this is normal.

What further compounds the issue is riders in competition, even top riders don't necessarily know about the damage a flash can do, especially a tight flash.

Then we see big brands sharing images like this on social media, adding more authority to this example.

This sets a poor example that influences other equestrianas.

The horses mouth being open is not a normal response to the bit, it simply means they find something uncomfortable and closing the mouth by force is not the ethical or high welfare answer.

SO WHAT IS THE ANSWER?

✅ We need bridle manufacturers to ditch adding the flash as standard or at the very least not sharing photos overnightened flashes.

✅ We need equestrians, especially those in the public eye, to be aware of the damage the flash can do and the reasons why they don't need them

✅ Equine athletes need to engage with professional bit and bridle fitters

✅ Brands please engage with education surrounding bit and bridle fit for your marketing depts.

As an EFD listed bit and bridle fitter I get asked all of the time by my clients why I don't fit a flash. My answer is always, if I do my job correctly, you don't need one.

Equine Fitters Directory

27/10/2026

Some very exciting news to share! I hope you can make it to this event.

Join us online for our upcoming Professional Pathway Open Night and discover where a career with the International College of Bit and Bridle Fitting (ICBBF) can take you!

Whether you are an established equine professional looking to add a relevant service to your business or taking the first step toward a brand-new career, this evening is designed for you.

During the session, you can...
✅Meet the course instructors
✅Explore our new courses
✅Discover an accredited career pathway to success.
✅Learn more about the ICBBF

📅 Date: Wednesday, November 11, 2026
⏰ Time: 7:30 PM (Dublin / GMT)
📍 Location: Live on Zoom

Spots are limited— please register your interest today to receive access details:

🔗 https://bridlefit.com/pro-pathway

Questions before the night? Drop them in the comments below or visit www.bridlefit.com. We look forward to meeting you!

26/10/2026

This is a fantastic resource.

26/10/2026

Suggestions please 💕 Teddy and I want to get back to some online competitions. He enjoys agility (because the treat pouch emerges!) and having his photograph taken 😂 What non-ridden competitions you can recommend?

24/10/2026

I'm super excited to be attending the Horses Inside Out conference next Feb. It's on welfare - probably my greatest passion with bitless and bit/bridle fit a close second.

I'll be on stand duty with the fabulous and talented Aimee from Bit and Bridle Fitting - Aimee Shiel for the Equine Academy and International College of Bit & Bridle Fitters sharing information about new courses and also about the NEW equine education and welfare accreditation framework launching soon for independent course providers.

So please do come and say hi, ask us about bitless, bits and bridle fit. We have an interactive stand planned, it's going to be great fun and of educational too ofcourse 🐴

23/10/2026

For many months I have been working with Bit and Bridle Fitting - Aimee Shiel to finalise the new Professional Bit and Bitless Bridle Fitting courses.

Both courses are accredited with UK Rural Skills.. But that's not all! We have just launched a brand new course that is both an access course for the pro courses and an ideal starter course for anyone interested in bit and bridle fitting.

This is very exciting and we look forward to learners taking the course and sharing their feedback 🌟🐴💖

💫 NEW COURSE LAUNCHED
We're very pleased to be launching our brand new course: Introduction to Bit & Bridle Fitting!

Designed as a stand alone course and also as an access course to the Professional Awards, this is a fully evidence based programme which will give you a solid grounding in welfare, cranial anatomy, equipment design and biomechanics.

✅ Delivered online and 100% self paced.
✅ 10 hours study time
✅ Accredited by the Equine Academy.
✅ Each of the 6 modules will be automatically assessed and there will be one final written assignment, which will be marked manually.

Whether you're looking to take your first step towards professional certification or want to get a basic understanding of how bit and bitless bridle fit impacts on horse comfort and performance, this course gives you the essential knowledge to get started.

For more info and to enrol today, please visit our website https://bridlefit.com/intotobitandbridlefit

23/10/2026

🎃🐴 HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS FOR HORSES! 🐴🎃

Halloween can be a challenging time for our equine friends!

Help keep horses calm, comfortable and safe with these simple tips:

💡 Horses should be kept in stables with soft lighting to help them feel secure.

🔊 Train horses to become accustomed to sudden noises.

🪵 Wood should never be removed from private boundary fences for bonfires, as this could put horses at risk of escaping or injury.

🔥 Never light bonfires on or near farmland.

🔦 Never shine a torchlight directly into a horse’s eyes.

📢 Please share these tips to help keep horses safe this Halloween.

Fireworks Cause Real Harm
https://gov.pulse.ly/ov5kucebbd

22/10/2026

🐴 ARE BITS ALWAYS GENTLER?
When a bit manufacturer shares a prominent headline asking “Is bitless always gentler?”, the framing immediately shapes how we view the conversation. It prompts skepticism around bitless bridles, whilst neatly side-stepping the obvious reciprocal question: “Are bits always gentler?”

Neither bits or bitless is universally "gentle" or "harsh" in isolation. What is concerning, however, is using this particular study (which according to its own research team is incomplete) to cast doubt on bitless riding without looking at the mechanics of what was actually tested

The posts states that the study reported higher nasal pressures under bitless bridles than under a snaffle bridle.

Naturally it did! A sidepull or crossunder acts directly across the bridge of the nose, whereas a snaffle directs rein tension into the mouth, leaving the cavesson noseband largely passive unless it has been overtightened.

The sensors did not measure pressure exerted on the tongue, bars of the mouth, or the palate. Recording a lower reading on the nasal bone under a snaffle does not mean the horse was subject to less force; it simply means that force was borne entirely inside the mouth.

The small print on the post rightly stated, changing tack alters where force is applied, rather than removing it altogether.

Comparing noseband pressures between a bitless bridle and a bitted bridle is an apples-to-oranges comparison. It is rather like measuring pressure on the shoulder to judge whether walking on your feet or walking on your hands is more comfortable.

Instead of asking “Is bitless always gentler?”, the more constructive question for riders and fitters is: “Which bridle or bit is best suited to this individual horse?”