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 20th April Bitting Talk British Dressage Byrds Camp Wellington Riding 22nd April Ipley Manor Southampton 26th April Bitting Day Abergavenny S Wales 28th April Bitting Day Warwickshire 29th April Bitting Talk BD Senior Camp Wellington Riding 1st May Bitting Day BCA Maidenhead Berkshire 2nd May Bitting Pirbright Surrey 3rd May Bitting and Saddle Check Day Great Missenden Bucks Akerley Bucks 6th May Bitting Day Dutch Dressage Ipswich
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 20th March Bitting Day Ascot Paddocks Ascot 22nd March Bitting Day Maidenhead Berkshire 25th March West Wiltshire Spring Show Melksham Wiltshire 28th March Bitting Day Wellington Livery 1st April Bitting Day Radwinter Essex 3rd April Saddle Fitting Compton Greenfields Bristol 4th April Bitting Day Camelford Cornwall 4th April Saddle Fitting Newquay Cornwall 8th April Bitting Day BD Swallowfield Equestrian Lapworth Warwickshire 11th April Bitting Talk Windsor 12th April Bitting Day Lynhurst Lodge New Forest 15th April Bitting Day BD Sparsholt College 19th April Bitting Day Leics 22nd April Ipley Manor Southampton 26th April Bitting Day Abergavenny S Wales  28th January Bitting Day Bamford Sheffield 31st January Dressage Bitting Moor Farm Minety Wilts 2nd Feb Bittng Day Hemps Green Barn Colchester 3rd Feb Bitting Day Binfield Berkshire 6th Feb Lecture Berkshire College Agriculture Maidenhead 10th Feb Bitting Day Sherbourne Equestrian Dorset 15th Feb Bitting Wokingham and Binfield Berkshire 16th Feb Bitting and Saddle Fitting Day Akely Buckinhamshire 18th Feb Bitting Day Speen Hertfordshire 21st Feb Bitting Lower Basildon / Dorking Surrey 25th 26th Feb Weekend Showing Clinic Moor Farm Minety Wilts 1st March Bitting Day Marchwood Southampton 3rd - 6th March Bitting and Saddle Fitting Cornwall  Diary Dates: Talks, Clinics Saddle Fitting 2017 3rd January Bitting Day Hickstead Sussex 12th January Saddle Check and Bitting Day Twyford and Stoke Chantry Hampshire 16th January Saddle Checking Day Winterbourne Bristol 18th January Bitting Training Day Stebbing Essex 21st January Bitting Day Ashbourne Derbyshire 28th January Bitting Day Bamford Sheffield 2nd February Bitting Day Hemps Green Colchester Places available Contact Jenni 01206 247165 4th February Bitting Day Kineton Warwickshire Calendar so far December  Clarity Edgeware Diary Dates: Talks, Clinics Saddle Fitting 26th November Bitting Day Ashbourne Derbyshire 28th November Saddle Fitting Twyford Hampshire 30th November Bitting Day Sibford Ferris Oxfordshire 6th December Bitting Day Copythorne Southampton 10th December Bitting Day Bingham Nottingham 12th December Bitting Day Granborough Bucks 14th December Bitting Day Addington Bucks 17th December Bitting Day Winterbourne Stoke Bristol 20th December Bitting Day Copythorne Southampton Diary Dates: Talks, Clinics Saddle Fitting 15th October Bitting Day Fordingbridge Hants 18th October Bitting Day Breachwood Green Herts 19th October Bitting Day Buckinghamshire 22nd October Bitting Day Murcott Oxfordshire 24th October Bitting Day Witheridge Devon 26th October Bitting and Saddle Fitting Lakefield Equestrian Camelford Cornwall 29th October Bitting Day Berkshire College Berkshire 31st October Bitting Dressage Horses Wargrave Berkshire 2nd November Bitting Day Oakfield Hampshire 3rd November Bitting Day Oakley Green Berkshire 9th November Bitting Day Breachwood Green Herts 12th November Bitting Day #Longnor Derbyshire 13th November Saddle Fitting Hurstbourne Priors Hants 14th November Bitting Day Marlow Bucks 15th November Bitting Day Chobham Surrey 21st November Bitting Day Reigate Surrey 23rd November Bitting Day Gt Dunmow Essex 25th November Bitting Day Weatherhead Surrey 26th November Bitting Day Ashbourne Derbyshire  Informed Designs Roller Ball Spurs A humane way of applying spur pressure 26th July Bitting Day
Reigate Surrey 30th July Bitting Day Ascot Berkshire 2Nd August Bitting Day Bolney Sussex 6th August Bitting Day Lower Gravenhurst Bedfordshire 8th August Bitting and Saddle Check Day ~Twyford Hants 11th August Dressage Bitting Hurstbourne Priors Hants 13th August Bitting Day Bradfield Berkshire 15th August Bitting Day Wokingham Berkshire 16th August Bitting Day Flaunden Herts 20th August Bitting Day Ascot Berkshire 22nd August Bitting Morning Salisbury Wilts 25th August Bitting Afternoon Chobham surrey 27th August Bitting Day Finchampstead Berkshire 3rd September Bitting Day Winterbourne Bristol  Symmetry Eggbutt Snaffle Diary Dates: Talks, Clinics Saddle Fitting
21st May Bitting Day Radwinter Essex 27th May Bitting and Saddle Fit Day Twyford Hants 31st May Bitting Day Totnes Devon 2nd June Bitting Day Camelford Cornwall 4th June Bitting Day Bere Regis Dorset 6th June Bitting Day Avington Hants 11th June Bitting Day Stock Essex 17th June Bitting Day Leyton London 18th June Bitting Day Richmond Surrey 21st June Bitting Day Cowfold Sussex 23rd June Bitting Day Banbury Oxfordshire 25th June Bitting Day Ringwood Hants  Harmony D Cheek 30th April Bitting Day South Carr Farm Mansfield Nottinghamshire 4th May Bitting Day East Meon Hampshire 5th May Bitting Day Steventon Hampshire 7th May Bitting Day Winterbourne S Gloucestershire 9th May Bitting Afternoon Wokingham Berkshire 11th May Training Day Solihull W Midlands 12th May Bitting Afternoon Steventon Hampshire 14th May Bitting Day Roswell Essex 17th May Bitting Day Bolney W Sussex 18th May Bitting Afternoon Ascot Paddocks Ascot Berkshire 19th May Bitting Day Roswell Essex 20th May Bitting Day Sway Hampshire 21st May Bitting Day Radwinter Essex  Japan Finesse Weymouth
Diary Dates: Talks, Clinics Saddle Fitting 19th March Bitting Day Deeham Norfolk 22nd March Bitting Day Stratford upon Avon 24th March Bitting Day Hedgerley Berkshire 26th March Bitting Day Munsley Herefordshire 29th March Bitting Day Hungerford Berkshire 31st March Bitting Day Chepstow 2nd April Bitting Day Canewdon Essex 4th April Bitting Day New Forest Hampshire 9th April Bitting Day New Forest Hampshire 11th/15th April Bitting and Saddle Fitting Cornwall 16th April Bitting Day Hedgerley Berkshire 18th April Bitting Day Brockenhurst New Forest  Informed Designs Confidence Ashleigh Military Reversible Diary Dates: Talks, Clinics Saddle Fitting 27th February Bitting Day Sway Hants 1st March Bitting Day Ascot Berkshire 3rd March Saddle Fit and Check Day Frensham Surrey 5th March Bitting Day Sway Hampshire 7th March Saddle Fitting and Bitting New Quay Cornwall 8th March Saddle Fitting and Bitting Camelford Cornwall 11th March Saddle Checking and Bitting Hazeley Twford Hants 12th March Bitting Day Longnor Derbyshire 13th March Bitting and Saddle Check Day Winterbourne Bristol 15th March Bitting Day Hurstbourne Priors Hants 17th March Lecture Lea Valley Riding Club London 18th March Bitting Day Hurstbourne Priors Hants 19th March Bitting Day Deeham Norfolk  Edgeware Connect 23rd January Bitting Day
Nazeling Herts 30th January 2016 Bitting Day Sway Hampshire 1st February Bitting and Saddle Check Day Hurstbourne Priors Hampshire 6th February Bitting Day Ascot Berkshire 12th February Bitting and Saddle Fitting Markyate Herts 15th February Bitting Day Camelford Cornwall 16th February Bitting and Saddle Fitting Newquay Cornwall 20th 22nd February Horses Inside Out Conference Cirencester Collage 26th February Bitting Day Flaunden Herts 27th February Bitting Day Sway Hants  We all more or less know what Saddle Fitting entails and what to expect when we ask a Saddle Fitter to come and give professional help to get the correct Saddle. But what about the Bit? This crucial form of communication that we have with our Horses. What about getting some help with your choice of bit based on your Horses conformation, his temperament, his level of training and your riding ability? Good Bitting is about comfort, communication and contact. Getting the right bit or bits for your Horse is an important part of the whole process of patient training and good Horsemanship. Firstly it is most important that your Horse is fit to bit. That he has had his teeth checked, that his Saddle fits well and that he is physically and mentally sound. Then good Bitting should: Create comfort Be tailored to the individual Equine Improve communication Encourage acceptance of contact Develop sympathetic Riding techniques When thinking of changing your bit and introducing a new bit to your Horse. You need help to: Understand resistance Know what Bit designs are suitable for each Horse and discipline How they work in the Horse's mouth How to fit Bits and Combination Bits How to assess the structure of your Horse's mouth How to select the right bit for your Horse And lastly how to transition your Horse into a new bit successfully And then to ride away in your new bit allowing your horse to benefit from the change Given this sort of help and information you can be more successful with your Bitting choices. Set yourself up for success with understandable, well-balanced, informative help Diary Dates: Talks, Clinics Saddle Fitting 9th January Bitting Day Longnor Buxton Derbyshire 11th January Bitting and Saddle Fitting Day Markyate Herts 14th January Bitting Day Munsley Herfordshire 16th January Bitting Day Hurst Berkshire 20th January Bitting Day Hurstbourne Priors Hants 23rd January Bitting Day Enfield Hertfordshire 24th 26th January BETA Trade Fair NEC Birmingham 30th January Bitting Day East Sussex Finally I am going to finish my new Bitting Book I have allocated the Christmas Holidays to finish it I have written 55,000 words just got to write some more and then decide how I am going to publish it !!
Diary Dates: Talks, Clinics Saddle Fitting 20th August Bitting Day Goldalming Surry 22nd August Bitting Day Stapleton Leic 26th August Bitting Day Hurstbourne Priors Hants 4th September Bitting Day Castle Dyke Equestrian Centre Boston Lincs 5th September Bitting Day Wooton Grange Farm Warwickshire 12th September Bitting Day Arley Moss Equestrian Centre Northwich Cheshire 19th September Bitting Day Atlow Ashbourne Derbyshire 26th September Bitting Day Walgrave Northants  DOUBLE BRIDLE BITS
Part Three: Ports Cheeks Shanks Let’s just clarify a few terms and uses when discussing Weymouths Cheeks Purchases and Shanks: The over-all length of the cheek of a Weymouth is called the Cheek and to be clear when discussing how to bring different and more refined pressures into action the part of the cheek from the mouthpiece to the top of the cheek where you attach your bridle is called the Top Purchase and the part of the Cheek below the mouthpiece is called the Shank. The Top Purchase creates upper head pressure and lets you carry the chain in the right place for the Horse you are Bitting. The Shank creates lower mouth and jaw pressure It is very important that these two lengths work well together this is what creates a good balance to the Weymouth If you build the overall Cheek ridiculously short or one part clearly out of proportion to the other you are unbalancing the pressures and not allowing for a good release and reward for the Horse. Chains/Curb straps: Should be as substantial as possible and Double Link [if chain], and ideally used with a lip strap to encourage the chain to stay in place and not twist on the horses jaw. The chain or curb strap should be fitted so it comes into play when the cheek is at about a 45% angle. If your chain is too loose then there is too much downward pressure inside the horse’s mouth and too much poll pressure on the top of the head. If the chain is too tight then the Horse gets no reward or relief from the relentless pressure. You want to set your chain so that you get a balance of inner mouth, poll and jaw pressure The chain should be set so that as its pressure comes to bear on the under-side of the jaw it stops the first two pressures of inner mouth and Poll overriding each other. PORTS: Perceptions: People get very worried about the size of a Port thinking that they are severe. Remember the bottom of the port does not sit up on the top of the tongue making the Port stick into the roof of the mouth. As the cheek of the Weymouth turns the Port rolls over in the mouth placing the port in front of the tongue creating a space for the middle of the tongue to move forward into. The space you are working with is not from the top of the tongue to the roof but the bottom bar of the mouth on the lower jaw to the roof and most Horses have at least an 1 ¼” to an 1 ½” of space here. The other thing to remember is that what-ever bit you have in the horse’s mouth is sandwiched between the top of the tongue and the roof of the mouth so all horses are accustomed to feeling some bit pressure on the roof of the mouth we just have to make sure that pressure is comfortable fair and smooth. Shapes: Each different shape of port gives the Horse a different release or “feel” The larger and wider the port the less tongue pressure the Horse feels and the more bar pressure. The shallower the port the more tongue pressure and the less bar pressure. You have to work out what each individual Horse is asking for and what gives him the most comfort and confidence and for you as the rider the best signalling ability and degree of control. Remembering that the feel we want to achieve is clear signals and reward not unrelenting constant pressure with no escape for the Horse. Build: It is important that the Port is built well and not built by someone who has not thought about the anatomy of the horse’s mouth the Horse is very sensitive about where the bit sits and were pressures are placed, If a Port is so wide that the action falls outside the jaw line then this just causes an uneven feel for the Horse inside its mouth so it cannot possibly move evenly forward in to the contact and will probably cause the Horse to block badly on the side that the bottom of the port grabs the outside of the jaw and will most certainly cause bruising on the bar of the mouth. Port Shapes: Mors Lotte: gives overall even tongue pressure all across the tongue. Shallow Ports just allow a little tongue room which should be in the centre. Most of the action is initially on the tongue, pressing it down into the bottom jaw and then when the tongue is completely depressed the action then finally touches the bars. Medium Ports allow more tongue room in the centre of the mouth, the centre of the tongue is allowed room to fill the space created by the port but as the medium port is normally only 1/2” to ¾” high and the tongue is 1” to 1 1/2” thick this still only gives a little more room Medium Wide Ports also allow tongue room for the horse but as they have a wider base more of the width of the tongue is allowed into the space just make sure the base of the Port does not fall outside the jawline. Higher Ports can allow the tongue plenty of room providing they are the right width and height not as you sometimes see very high and narrow which would force the tongue un naturally up into a very pinched narrow space and push the top of the port too strongly into the roof of the mouth. If the base is inside the jaw width and fits neatly into the space between the bottom bar and the roof of the mouth then this will give a horse that is very worried about its tongue lots of relief from tongue pressure Part Four: How to fit and when to fit © Hilary Vernon 2015  DOUBLE BRIDLE BITS
Part Two: How they work The whole point of having your horse in a Double Bridle is to have two completely different bits that give you the rider really good signals for your horse to understand giving definition, refinement to your rein handling techniques and more release and reward for your horse. As a rider you must develop the ability to use both reins together and independently and be able to pick up a little more and/or relax each rein to help your horse with its frame and balance. The Bradoon is just a Snaffle and it is the most restrictive of the two bits as it wraps around the tongue and lower jaw in its action. Single Joint: If it has a Single Joint it has a very strong close to it and the horse is unable to escape the triangulated pressure unless the rider lightens the rein pressure on the reins considerably. French Link If it has a French Link the plate and joints keep hold of the horses tongue [especially if the plate is long and the joints fall outside or on the edge of the span of the horses tongue and jaw] unless the rider lightens the rein pressure again considerably. Lozenge: If the Bradoon has a Lozenge assuming the Lozenge is small and neat and the joints do not fall outside the span of the jaw and tongue edges and the joints do not stick into the roof of the horse’s mouth this is probably, for most horses the most comfortable mouthpiece for a Bradoon and if it has the right forward curve to it then has the most release and reward not relying as much on the riders hands to lighten as some of the other choices do. Because the Bradoon is the jointed bit of the two it has the most efficient turning signal and because it sits into the corners of the lips and has a closing action it encourages the Horse to lift the base of the neck. The Weymouth should always be worn with a curb chain or strap and ideally with a Lipstrap as the Lipstrap keeps the chain stabilised and neatly on the jaw and keeps the chain on the bridle at all times. The action of the Weymouth is as follows, as you use the rein the top of the cheek rotates forward and the bottom of the cheek rotates backwards this action presses the mouthpiece down onto the tongue and the lower jaw if the bit has a port the port is rolled forward in front of the tongue which gives the Horse room for the middle of the tongue to move into the space of the port. As the cheek carries on rotating the Horse feels some downward pressure on the poll and before the jaw and poll pressures become too strong the chain moves onto the under-side of the lower jaw stopping the inner mouth and the poll pressure from creating any more pressure. You are trying to set your chain so these three pressures are balanced and do not over ride each other. If you choose the right Weymouth mouthpiece and the cheek is of a balanced length both above and below the mouthpiece this gives the horse a clear signal to Go to the end of the rein Tip the face into a frame Balance in the pace Is the Brakes of the combination of Bits Part Three: Ports Cheeks Shanks and Chains  Double Bridle Bits
Part One: why and how I think that people have slightly lost sight of why we put Horses into Double Bridles. The idea is that if you get the right combination of Bits for each individual Horse you are getting the advantage of two completely different bits that can be used separately and in support of each other to give the rider much more refined and defined signals allowing them to use the reins less and more subtly. And for the Horse much clearer signals, better pressures and more release and reward. Dressage legal Snaffles are quite restrictive creating a lot of tongue pressure with very little release or reward because of the way the bits are built even well-constructed curved mouthpieces which have considerably less pinch and more release and reward than ordinary Snaffles still employ a lot of wrap around tongue pressure compared with non-jointed ported mouthpieces. And when a Snaffle mouthpiece is ridden quite a bit of the release and reward is in the rider’s hands if they are good enough and well balanced enough to spot when they have to do this and they are capable of doing it. It is the rider’s responsibility to ride well enough to be able handle every step up and stage in their Horses training. To be able to really bit Horses well. There has to be a large choice of different shaped mouthpieces for both the Bradoon/Snaffle and the Weymouth to be able to give a large selection of choice for: A variety of Horse conformation A variety of Horse ability Different stages of training of the Horse Different stages of training of the Rider Horse Confidence Horse Personality If you build your Weymouths and Bradoons/Snaffles properly. Some mouthpieces will encourage the Horse forward into the frame. Some mouthpieces will encourage the Horse to be lighter. Some mouthpieces will encourage the Horse to lift the frame. Some mouthpieces will encourage the Horse to flex more. Some mouthpieces will encourage the Horse to be stiller in the contact So for example you may have a horse that is a little tentative to take the frame forward but also is worried about Flexing so you should choose a Bradoon that asks the Horse to go forward and take more feel on the Bit and then choose a Weymouth that has the right sort of curve to it so that the Horse does not want to block when it is asked to flex and is encouraged to stay forward Or you may have a Horse that is very solid into your hands and is too far out into the Bridle, for this you would choose a Bradoon that encourages the Horse to lift the base of its neck and a Weymouth that encourages it to round over at the topline and keep the neckline up When you build Bits it is vital that you Know the Horses conformation inside the mouth and where you can and cannot place pressure Know where you are placing the pressures and releases inside the mouth in order to encourage a horse to respond well Know where you are placing pressures on the outside of the mouth and jaw so that the Horse understands the signals and can respond well Know what pressures are fair and humane and which pressures are clearly not Know what each Bit and combination of Bits feels like in your hands when you ride Part Two : How each Bit works  Reins and Bridlework are as a general rule manufactured in three widths ½ “ 5/8” and ¾”.
Bridlework The Bridlework you choose should be to do with the size of your Horse or Ponies head and the competition or sport you are participating in. A substantial Horse is going to look completely wrong and under bridled in ½” Bridlework and at the other end of the scale a tiny Pony is going to look swamped in ¾” width Bridlework. A suggestion would be small ponies and very fine larger ponies should have 1/2" bridlework and larger poinies and small or fine headed horses 5/8" and larger Horses and Cobs 3/4" Bridlework Reins The size of your hands denotes what width of reins you choose, reins must feel comfortable to hold and you must be able to use them sensitively and effectively and be able to close your hand around the reins. As a general guide when using a single rein on a Snaffle or other type of Bridle. A child or a small lady with small hands will probably be more comfortable with reins that are ½” in width. For an older teenager or average lady reins 5/8” in width will feel more substantial. A man with much larger hands is going to be more comfortable with 3/4" Two Reins When riding with two reins on either a Double Bridle or a Pelham Bridle. A neat Show Pony or an Arabian you may consider ½” reins for both your Bradoon Rein and your Weymouth Rein. A Larger Pony or Small Riding Horse, 5/8” for your top rein and ½” for your bottom rein. A Large Hunter ridden by a Man could have ¾” as a top rein and 5/8” as a bottom rein. |
Hilary VernonAuthor Archives
April 2017
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