KM Equine Services

23/01/2026

“A bit is only as harsh as the hands holding the reins”… but only up to a point.

Yes, unsteady or heavy hands can make even the mildest bit uncomfortable.
However, bits with poor or unfair mechanics can cause discomfort or pain regardless of how sympathetic the rider’s hands are.

True comfort comes from the combination of:
✔ Correct bit design for your horse
✔ Comfortable bridle fit
✔ Educated, sympathetic riding

The horse’s head and mouth contain a dense network of nerves and highly sensitive muscles. The mouth deserves fairness as much as skill.

22/01/2026

✨ Excited to finally share… this is currently in production! ✨

An Equine Anatomy Book, hand-drawn by me, created as a simple, easy learning guide for better understanding.

Equine anatomy broken down into clear, practical concepts, using straightforward language and illustrations you can recognise, explain, and confidently apply in the real world.

Created in collaboration with Olivia, vet physiotherapist and owner/lead tutor at the highly respected Wolds Equine Sports Massage Approved Courses, this book brings together hands-on experience and proven teaching methods. Olivia’s depth of knowledge and easy-learning methodology ensures the language is clear, accessible, and designed to truly support understanding, not overwhelm it.

This isn’t a textbook that gathers dust.

It’s a working companion. A book for your toolkit and your tack room. Something to help you study, revise, demonstrate, and explain anatomy with confidence.

Ideal for:

• Equine students at all levels, including physiotherapy, massage, and other therapy or qualification pathways

• Instructors, coaches, and therapists wanting clear, visual ways to explain anatomy to clients

With an annotated skeleton and muscle flash cards included, this guide is being built to be practical, visual, and genuinely useful.

✨ I’d love your input:

What bonus features or extra content would you love to see included? 🐴

21/01/2026

Remaining appointments:

JANUARY
Wednesday 28th - AM - OX3 area
Thursday 29th

FEBRUARY
Monday 2nd
Wednesday 4th
Thursday 12th
Monday 16th
Thursday 19th
Monday 23rd
Wednesday 25th
Thursday 26th

Bit and Bridle fit consultation £65
New Bridle fit appointment £50
Equine Massage session £50

📲 For enquiries and to book: 07457404980

19/01/2026

What is a snaffle bit? 🐴

An easy way to spot a snaffle is to look at where the rein attaches in relation to the mouthpiece.
With a true snaffle, the rein always attaches in line with the mouthpiece, never below it.

That simple detail is what gives a snaffle its direct, uncomplicated action, making it a favourite for clear, kind communication between horse and rider. ✨

18/01/2026

A super day with the Woodland Hunt Pony Club delivering horse and pony care sessions on bit and bridle knowledge and correct fitting.

Four groups throughout the day, with lots of engagement and enthusiasm from everyone involved. 🐴 🤗

16/01/2026

Are you the next KM Equine Services Sponsored Rider or Driver?

We are looking for a passionate, horse-centred rider or driver to join the KM Equine Services team.

Our sponsored rider or driver will receive:
• A bi-monthly equine massage therapy package
• A professional bit and bridle fit consultation
• 20% off all product purchases
• KM Equine Services branded merchandise

You must be within 20 miles of HP14 4TH so regular support visits can be provided.

This sponsorship is all about supporting your horse’s comfort, performance and wellbeing, while promoting kind, educated and welfare-focused equestrianism.

How to apply

Send us one photo of your horse or turnout and a few lines telling us:
• What you do together (ridden, driven, pleasure, competition, etc)
• Why you would love to be selected

Don’t forget to tag someone you think should enter too.

You can enter by:
• Posting in the comments
• Sending via Facebook Messenger
• Or via WhatsApp on 07457 404980

Every photo is a small chapter in a bigger story, and yours might be the one we turn to next ✨

Closes 31st January 2026


WRIGHT STRIDE EQUESTRIAN

14/01/2026

The new year is a fresh chapter for your horse, a chance to move more freely, feel more comfortable and work with ease.

January appointments are now available for:
• Equine Massage Therapy (packages available)
• Ridden Bitting Consultations
• Bridle Checks & New Bridle Fittings

Whether your horse needs a gentle reset after winter, help with tension or a tack assessment as work increases, now is the perfect time to book.

13/01/2026

Casper and his rider, Emily, had been struggling with consistent contact and relaxation in a French link. A change to a forward-tilt comfort barrel has made a real difference — maintaining his sparkle while allowing him to feel more comfortable and relaxed through the contact.

Alongside the bit change, I recommended moving from a Micklem bridle to a simple cavesson and provided remote guidance on correct bridle fit, helping to further improve comfort and clarity in the contact.

The results spoke for themselves, with Casper and Emily absolutely smashing it at their dressage competition at the weekend. 🤩

📸 Credit: Jasmine Punter Photography and Lucy Scott Team Scott

12/01/2026

Mouthing or breaking key bits - these are not a good first experience for a young horse and can create 'bad habits' - you dont want to be encouraging a horse to mouth and play with a bit. Quiet, relaxed and comfortable mouth is the aim!

How does the double jointed keys mouthing bit sit in the mouth?

Short answer: with the ring creating a pressure point right into the centre of the tongue.

The ‘keys’ element of the bit is made up of 3 metal tassels a few inches long that hang down from the centre of the bit. The idea is that it gives a young horse something to play with in the mouth, a lot of young horses like to explore the world with their mouths, so if they are playing with the bit the idea is that it keeps their jaw relaxed, creating positive associations with the bit, and ultimately acceptance of the bit.

Most people want to start a horse in the gentlest bit possible - and by gentle we mean having nice even pressure distribution and no unnecessary pressure points - hopefully you can see by these photos why this bit isn’t the gentlest bit possible. The rather thin circular ring actually sits vertically in the horses mouth creating a nice sharp pressure point right in the centre of the tongue. The straight bar version isn’t any better as it has a textured edge that can be quite abrasive when lying against the tongue. For a horse that isn’t used to having a bit in the mouth both of these could feel quite excessive and so it is an important consideration with deciding what you want to achieve with your horses initial relationship with a bit.

The keys element can actually also encourage a habit of playing with the bit, creating a noisy mouth or unsteady head carriage which most people would consider not a positive side effect. The keys have the potential to unintentionally hit the teeth, potentially cause teeth damage, and create early negative bitting associations

These bits aren’t as common as they once were, there are now many many bits on the market that are quite quiet and gentle, and through the material they are made from can help encourage relaxation in the jaw and acceptance of the bit

12/01/2026

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www.kmequine.co.uk