Horse Bit Bank Blog
A spring catchup with our sponsored riders.
It seems like only yesterday that we were catching up with our sponsored riders to find out their goals and dreams for the season, and now they’re out and about every week racking up results left, right and centre! In this month’s blog we’ll get you up to date on their latest results and see what’s coming up next for our riders. Plus, there’s a little reminder that it doesn’t matter where in the world you’re located, you can still shop our huge range of bits and accessories.
Posted 24th April 2025 Read MoreGetting the perfect bit for your sensitive horse.
If you’ve ever had to find the right bit for a sensitive horse, you’ll know it can feel a bit like solving a puzzle. Some horses are sensitive but strong, others lean on your hand or find ways to avoid the action of the bit. With so many designs of mouthpiece, material and cheekpieces and each horse having its own unique mouth confirmation, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. In this month’s blog we’ll explore key factors to consider when selecting a bit for a sensitive horse, the different materials you can try and techniques for ensuring a comfortable and effective fit. But let’s kick off with the signs you’ve got a sensitive horse!
Posted 19th March 2025 Read MoreOur sponsored riders’ 2025 goals.
With the new eventing season about to begin and a packed competition calendar ahead across all the equestrian disciplines, it’s time to see if a winter of hard work will pay off. In this month’s blog we’re catching up with our sponsored riders as they gear up for the season and checking in on their goals for 2025. Plus, we’re introducing you to a new addition to the team, eventer Jemima Stratton. Let’s dive in!
Posted 27th February 2025 Read MoreWelcoming Lucinda Atkinson to our sponsored rider team
With the 2025 eventing season just around the corner, we’re thrilled to welcome Lucinda Atkinson as the latest sponsored rider to join the Horse Bit Bank team. An international event rider based in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, Lucinda has an exciting string of horses ready for the season ahead and is looking forward to building on the success of the past few years. We caught up with Lucinda to chat about her aims for 2025, pick her brain for some top tips for aspiring eventers and uncover a few fun insights into life behind the scenes. Let’s dive in…
Posted 3rd February 2025 Read MoreMerry Christmas from the Horse Bit Bank!
As the year comes to an end and Jodie gets ready to head off on a well-earned break to spend time with her family, we wanted to take a moment to say ‘thank you’ to all our customers for your continued support throughout 2024. It’s been a fantastic 12 months at the Horse Bit Bank, and that’s all thanks to you! Whether you’ve come to us for expert bitting advice, tried a new bit or trusted us to help you troubleshoot until you found the perfect solution for your horse, we couldn’t do this without you.
Posted 23rd December 2024 Read MoreHow to set and achieve goals in 2025!
December is just around the corner, and we know lots of our customers and followers will be caught up in the magic of Christmas - the season of fun, food and festivities! And that means that before we know it, the new year will be here, bringing with it the promise of fresh starts and endless possibilities. Traditionally, it’s the perfect time to start jotting down a few New Year’s resolutions, but with 80% of people abandoning them after just a month or so, why not take those ideas a step further?
Posted 25th November 2024 Read MoreHow to care for the different bit materials.
A quick browse through our website will reveal a myriad of different bit materials, each with their own benefits for different horses. For example, sensitive mares who struggle with cold metals have been shown to accept a soft leather bit, whereas other horses really love the sweet taste produced by the blue metal of a sweet iron bit as it oxidises. Whichever material you choose, one thing is true for them all: they will need taking care of and cleaning from time to time! That’s why this months’ blog is all about how to care for different bit materials.
Posted 22nd October 2024 Read MoreReflecting on a successful summer season with our sponsored riders!
As the summer season draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to look back on the incredible achievements of the Horse Bit Bank’s team of sponsored riders. From taking part in top-flight competitions to achieving personal milestones, our sponsored riders have certainly made the most of the summer months, and there’s no better way to celebrate them than by sharing their latest highlights with you. Not only have the riders been busy in the dressage arena, cross-country course and showjumping ring, but our very own Jodie has also been celebrating fantastic results with her horse Papavier Dior at CHAPS last month!
Posted 23rd September 2024 Read MoreWhy the correct bit fit is so important
Many older riders will probably remember the days when all the ponies in their riding school went in a single-jointed Eggbutt snaffle, bar maybe the one ‘whizzy’ pony in a pelham or gag. But we’re now living in a very different era with (thankfully) a much greater understanding of how our horses think and behave, and the impact of bits on their mouths. That means there are hundreds of combinations of mouthpiece, cheekpiece and materials to choose from when you’re searching for a new bit. It also means we can figure out which of those bits should suit a horse or pony based on its stage of training, mouth and tongue confirmation and sensitivity, and keep them comfortable when we’re riding. A huge part of making sure a horse is happy in their bit is ensuring that it fits them perfectly. In this blog we’re taking a closer look at why correct bit fit is so important and how to fit bits properly.
Posted 27th August 2024 Read MoreAll about the different mouthpieces and what they do
If you keep an eye on our social media, then you’ll notice that we’re usually sharing new bit designs and what we love about our favourite brands - and that there are loads of bits to choose from. Innovation in both the materials used to manufacture bits and the designs themselves means there are a lot of styles out there and it can be tough to know what they all do. In this blog we’re taking you through the different mouthpieces out there and why they suit different horses. We’ll focus on the most common mouthpieces out there rather than designs that are unique to certain brands, and hopefully help you select the right choice for your horse. Let’s get started…
Posted 23rd July 2024 Read MoreA summer catch-up with our sponsored riders
With the 2024 competition season racing by, our sponsored riders have been in action eventing, show jumping and in the dressage arena. As is so often the case with any sport involving horses, there have been injuries and challenges and triumphs, so it’s high time we caught up with them and shared their news! Let’s get started…
Posted 24th June 2024 Read MoreWelcome back Nathe!
In this month’s blog we’re delighted to be sharing the relaunched Nathe collection and taking a closer look at some of the key designs. Nathe has been a much loved brand in the bitting world for many years , with horses and their riders appreciating the soft and gentle contact offered by the flexible thermoplastic mouthpiece. Sadly, in the summer of 2022, the brand had some issues with some of the plastic connectors used in the bits becoming brittle over time, with some breaking. The brand quite rightly took them off the market while they investigated the issue and have since been developing and testing the designs. With the relaunched collection, riders can once again choose Nathe’s innovative and horse friendly designs which are so well-suited to young and sensitive horses. Let’s take a closer look at Nathe bits and what’s changed with the relaunched collection!
Posted 24th April 2024 Read MoreHow to prepare for your show ring debut
Are you targeting a show ring debut this season? If you’ve never been showing before, you might find it a little bit nerve wracking and not be sure what to expect. Our founder Jodie has produced horses for the show ring, so she really knows her stuff. Now that Jodie has a thriving business and a young family, she’s handed over the reins (literally) of her home-bred mare Papaver Dior - known at home as Poppy - to professional show producer James Knight. The duo qualified for Horse of the Year Show last year, so we can’t wait to see how this season goes for them! But that doesn’t mean Jodie has forgotten anything she knows about showing horses. Here are her top tips so that you feel organised and confident for your show ring debut and can enjoy the day as much as possible.
Posted 23rd February 2024 Read MoreBusting the most common bitting myths
There are now so many different mouthpiece and cheek piece designs from brands founded all over the world and, thankfully, we understand better than ever before the action they can have on a horse’s wellbeing. Most horse owners know that simply forcing the horse’s mouth shut or using a more severe design isn’t the answer to bitting issues. We’re proud to help people navigate the options and try different designs until they find the perfect bit. We’re also keen to challenge some commonly held beliefs around bit design and fitting. The equestrian industry can be guilty of ‘doing what we’ve always done’ and not challenging tradition. That’s why we’re on a mission at The Horse Bit Bank, busting the most common bitting myths so that our followers and customers can make informed choices..
Posted 22nd January 2024 Read MoreSponsored rider review of the year
It’s been a whirlwind of a year here at the Horse Bit Bank, not least because our founder Jodie has had her first baby! Her little boy Max arrived back in early November and since then life’s been a bit of a whirlwind. We’re pleased to say that both mum and baby are thriving, and we’re so excited to share more baby pictures with you next year. Our sponsored riders have had some amazing results in 2023, so we thought what better way to end the year than with a review from them? We’re proud to support these amazing women as they work toward their riding goals and ensure they can always find the perfect bit for every horse they ride. So, without further ado, let’s dive into how their year went.
Posted 13th December 2023 Read MoreA new (tiny and adorable) member of the team has arrived…
This month has been a very special one for The Horse Bit Bank. We’re absolutely thrilled to announce that our founder Jodie and her partner Mark have welcomed their first baby! Little Max arrived at the start of November, and we hope that Jodie and Mark are enjoying every moment of their new roles as parents - even if they would probably love to be getting a little more sleep…! We’re sure that Jodie will use her maternity leave well, no doubt starting her search for the perfect starter pony asap!
Posted 21st November 2023 Read MoreWhat to do when you think you need a stronger bit.
Here at the Horse Bit Bank, we always advocate using bits that are designed to promote horse comfort, and it’s our view that bits are about communication with your horse, not control. We love learning about the new designs that the bit brands come up with that help riders make the most subtle rein cues and ensure horses and riders can work together in harmony. There’s nothing quite like seeing a partnership that almost looks as though they have a telepathic connection because the aids are so subtle…
Posted 18th October 2023 Read MoreAn end-of-summer sponsored rider round-up!
As the summer draws to a close, we’re sharing the latest results from three members our talented stable of sponsored riders, Holly Richardson, Melissa Chapman and Sara Bowe. It has been a busy but successful summer for all our riders, and we’re so proud to play a small part in their success. Let’s catch up on their remarkable achievements:
Posted 22nd September 2023 Read MoreWhere to start when you’re bitting a new horse
If you’ve been through the exciting process of buying a new horse, then you’ll no doubt be very excited for the big day when they finally arrive at your yard. For some people, they might have visited several times to try the horse or even had them on a loan with a view to buy arrangement and be very familiar with the tack and bits they are used to. However, for some buyers, they have sourced their horse from a stud or dealer - which could be here in the UK, in mainland Europe or even further afield! That means they have a more limited understanding of what the horse is used to being ridden in, perhaps zooming in on videos to see what bit is being used. The same could be true if you purchase a horse that’s been turned away for some time and either the owner has sold on their tack, or they need restarting from scratch to see what they remember. Starting with a relatively blank slate might including guessing which bit to use, so here’s our handy guide to help you work out what they go best in.
Posted 23rd August 2023 Read MoreIt’s all in the mouth – why dental problems and mouth confirmation are so influential!
Hands up if you’ve ever had a bad toothache or dental infection. It’s utterly miserable experiencing pain in an area of your body that you can’t massage, stretch, ice or just rub to ease the discomfort! Now imagine being a horse and not being able to speak to tell anyone you have a sore mouth and being unable to ease the pain in any way!
Posted 20th July 2023 Read More