Horse Bit Bank Blog
An 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