Horse Bit Bank Blog
Welcome 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 MoreLoose versus fixed-ring bits - which is right for your horse?
When it comes to choosing the right bit for your horse, it can feel like a minefield out there! There are so many different styles of cheek piece and mouthpieces out there and of course a wide range of materials to choose from - so where do you start? Luckily, you’ll find a goldmine of helpful information on our website and in our blogs, and in this month’s update we’re taking a closer look at loose ring versus fixed ring bits.
Posted 23rd June 2023 Read MoreOur spring sponsored rider update!
It’s that time of year again, where we scour social media and the governing bodies websites for updates on how our sponsored riders are getting on as they head out and compete. Here’s the latest round up, and don’t forget to follow our riders on social media and show them some love – we all know how much a friendly message can pick us up on a bad day or make a good day even better!
Posted 30th May 2023 Read MoreA closer look at different cheek pieces and their actions...
If your horse isn’t going as well as you would like in your current bit or you’re planning on trying a new discipline that they might find exciting, you might be on the lookout for a new bit to try them in. Once you start searching, you’ll see that there are so many out there to choose from, all claiming to work miracles for your horse, and you might not know where to begin! In this blog we’re looking at the most common cheekpieces you see on bits and getting you up to speed on what they do.
Posted 20th April 2023 Read MoreHow to clean and check your horse’s bit
Spring is in the air - well, the clocks have changed and it’s technically spring, even if we’re still waiting for the first warm sunny days to arrive. Spring is traditionally the season when we all start decluttering and cleaning our homes, and some of our more organised and tidy followers and customers do the same in their yards too! But for this blog we’re looking at why it’s important to keep your bit a clean and check it for wear and tear, both in springtime and all the year round. Let’s take a closer look at why…
Posted 3rd April 2023 Read MoreA winter catch up with our sponsored riders!
We love catching up with our stable of sponsored riders in the middle of a busy competition season, when they’re out and about multiple times a week, but this time of year is interesting too. It’s fascinating to see how each rider approaches training and fitness for their horses as the season approaches, so we thought we would share some of it with you too.
Posted 17th February 2023 Read MoreThe latest bit rules for the 2023 competition season
At the very end of last year, when lots of us were coping with the start of another winter as a horse owner or racing around getting Christmas presents sorted, the latest British Dressage bit rules dropped. Of course, not all the people reading this are dressage fans or compete in affiliated or riding club activities, in which case this won’t be very relevant. But if you do intend to compete in British Dressage, British Eventing or riding club competitions this year, it’s worth taking a look at the changes to the bit rules just in case they impact you. Eventing tends to follow dressage in terms of what’s allowed for the dressage phase of competition, and riding clubs after that! So, without further ado, here are the main bit styles impacted by the British Dressage rule book changes for 2023...
Posted 27th January 2023 Read MoreA very Merry Christmas from the Horse Bit Bank!
As we near the end of the year we would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to all our customers, followers and sponsored riders for your support this year. It’s been an amazing year and we’re proud to have helped hundreds of owners find the perfect bit for their horse.
Posted 20th December 2022 Read MoreHow to choose the right bit material for your horse.
Here at the Horse Bit Bank, we pride ourselves on offering a huge range of different bits, with classic bit styles and innovative mouthpieces and materials. That means there’s something perfect on our website for every horse or pony, even those who have been tricky to bit in the past. However, we are aware that when you first start looking for a new bit, so much choice can make the process seem overwhelming.
Posted 22nd November 2022 Read MoreGetting your bit fit right and how to measure a bit
Finding the right bit for your horse after a long and possibly stressful search is such a great feeling.
Posted 1st November 2022 Read More