20/09/2025
I often say to customers that if we are no further forward after trying 4 different bits, then it is probably not a bitting issue. Bit and bridle issues are often subtle and a change can help improve a horse's way of going and the communication between horse and rider/handler. It is good practice to rule out any bit or bridle issues but it is also good practice to check for pain or discomfort elsewhere as well, be that a physical problem with the horse, discomfort from the saddle, a training issue or, dare I say, the rider.
One of the hardest things I ever have to say to a client is: “the bit isn’t the problem.”
When I say this, it often goes one of two ways. Sometimes I get a list of 50 reasons why it absolutely must be the bit. Other times, I’m met with silence 👻 and I never hear back because that answer isn't what they wanted to hear.
I want to be really clear about something: when I tell someone the bit isn’t the problem, I don’t say it lightly. I don’t say it because I’m dismissing your concerns, or because I lack knowledge, or because I don’t want to help. I say it because I truly know that, in that moment, changing the bit won’t fix the issue your horse is having, you will continue to have the problem in every bit.
I’ve spent years working with horses, studying bit mechanics, and fitting them carefully. I’ve seen the difference the right bit can make and I’ve also seen how often the problem lies somewhere else. Sometimes it’s pain. Sometimes it’s teeth. Sometimes it’s body soreness, saddle fit, rider balance, training gaps, or even just a horse learning to understand what’s being asked.
The bit can refine communication. It can make your job a little clearer, and your horse a little more comfortable. But it can’t “fix” discomfort, tension, or misunderstanding. No piece of equipment can do that.
When I say “it’s not the bit,” I’m not trying to close a door on you. I’m trying to open the right one - The one that leads to real answers, and real progress, for you and your horse. Because the last thing I want is for you to spend money and hope chasing a quick fix that simply won’t work.
I promise, if I tell you it isn’t the bit, it’s because I genuinely care about helping you and your horse get to the root of the problem. My role isn’t to sell you a product for the sake of it. It’s to guide you towards what will truly make a difference.
