Testimonials

Informed Bitting Case Studies :

Jane and Grace (Feb 09)

Hi Hilary,
After attending one of your clinics and gaining an invaluable insight into bitting I would like to say thank you for the amazing difference it has made to my horse Grace.

Having ridden for years in a grackle and Cheltenham gag in order to be able to stop, my horse and I are delighted to be able to hack out and school in the Myler bit and leather curb strap you supplied with only a Cavesson noseband.

The improvement in her way of going is amazing. Her canter, once lacking impulsion and rhythm, is wonderful and I can now enjoy jumping - something we have not been able to do for about 8 years due to her getting out of control and myself losing confidence as a result - and galloping across open fields (and stopping!) without any issues.

I now realise that the stopping problem was a result of her being unhappy with her bit and can now easily use my body rather than my hands to control her speed. I feel quite a lot of guilt that I hadn't looked into her bitting as the cause of this behaviour earlier but take great comfort in seeing her so happy now. Many thanks again.

Kind Regards Jane and Grace

Lindsey and Legend (21.9.08)

Hi Hilary

You visited me at the beginning of July, to fit a double bridle and something for hacking and schooling in. By the end of the session, my horse was decked out in a lovely high ported double and a Myler 33 snaffle with an elastic curb chain.

Although we did speak on the phone a couple of weeks ago to discuss a dressage legal bit, I have deliberately waited this long to post feedback as I wanted to be sure that the new bits were definitely right for him. After 13 years, six different bits and a Dr Cook's bitless bridle, and the thought that I had finally found the right bit only for the bad habits to resurface after a few weeks, hopefully you can understand why I've waited!

I just wanted to say that it's been a big success. Legend had a lot of issues (not all of which I even realised were bit-related) and these have been either reduced drastically or eliminated altogether. He very rarely trips up now - something he did constantly when hacking and schooling, he doesn't lean or pull, he concentrates a lot more and actually listens to me (quite an achievement, as he's a bit of an airhead!!), he is less spooky and, interestingly, has not head-shaken. The head-shaking was a minor problem which he only did when there was a lot of flies around, but it appears that now he's comfortable in his mouth, they don't seem to bother him. I guess it's the equivalent of wearing uncomfortable shoes - it would definitely make me more distracted and irritated!!

Our schooling is coming on well, although it's not yet completely consistent, but I feel we can actually start to move on now rather than just keep trying to get over the same old problems. Most importantly of all, I have a happy comfortable horse who now keeps his head still to have the bridle put on - what more could I ask?

Many thanks. Regards Lindsey

Sue & Fudge ( Aug 2008)

Dear Hilary, thank you for your visit today and for treating Fudge "your first client" at Grovely as if she was as important to you as she is to me We have a very special relationship and I hope it shows in how trusting she is with people . I will keep you in touch as to how we get on but I am sure she will be an even happier little mare

Sue

Ria Butcher & Golden Wonder ( Nov 2007)

Hello Hilary,

I don't know if you will remember me, but you came to fit a snaffle and a double bridle bit combo on my palomino gelding a few months ago? I'm just writing to say a big thank you as he has been doing so well in his training and was reserve champion in the Holt Farm championship in elementary 41. I am thrilled with him so thought I'd upload some pictures to show you how he has been doing.

Many thanks Ria Butcher & Golden Wonder

Pat and Oliver

Hi Hilary

We spoke about 6 weeks ago - I own Oliver the chestnut that Safaya Salter did the reading for and you recommended a Myler Eggbutt for him. He hasn't done much other than hack out recently as I have been trying to sort his list of physical problems, but I have started to do a little schooling with him and I wouldn't have believed changing his bit would have made such a difference - he is so much lighter in hand. I expected him to be softer through his neck after the work that has been done, but I can really feel a difference in him. We are currently only doing about 10 minutes trot work in the school as I feel he needs to re-build his muscles but he is starting to engage behind and come through much, much better than before, so just thought I would let you know and if you get up this way please come and see him

Many thanks Pat

Re: Brilliant Bit! 30.3.07

I bought my horse in August 2006. He was a 7 year old Eventer with 5 points who had done one double clear Intermediate but with big problems in the dressage - always last! I thought I had made a good job of re-bitting him but there was a niggling doubt that I could do something better as he was still rather too light in the hand even after 4 months and occasionally would throw his head up against the bit. However, I really didn't see how anything else could be better as I had tried so many bits and they were all much much worse! The new bit I was using had helped my horse to get 10 BHS Dressage points over the winter so I was not convinced that I needed to change anything.

I was rather sceptical about paying for a separate bit expert (on top of back people and saddle people etc etc) but it has turned out to be invaluable and has absolutely transformed my horse. In fact it is one of the best decisions I have made and I would do it again with a new horse every time.

The whole process was very easy. Hilary fitted into my rather exacting time pressures (as I have a full time job) and was very friendly and helpful and listened to all my concerns extremely patiently. She immediately identified the issues and clearly explained what she was going to do and how she was approaching the problem which I found extremely interesting and helpful. She discussed the different options with me and we tried two of them on the horse. They both had a positive effect, with the second one being a real eye opener. My horse had always been too quick and tense in the hand but this bit transformed his way of going and made him so much happier and more relaxed. Hilary even advised a narrower bit which I would never have thought of for a 17.1 TB.

The continued effect has been amazing - way beyond my expectations. Every time I ride my horse he visibly improves. He is now stretching down towards the bit, lengthening his neck and developing more rhythm in all his paces. He is much quieter and steadier in the mouth. As a result his balance has improved and his lateral work is coming on in leaps and bounds. My only wish is that I had asked Hilary to come and work her magic when I first bought my horse rather than sitting around thinking about it for 6 months!

All I can say is thank you.
Olivia

Sarah Weston and Petra

It was my own horse, Petra that led me to Informed Bitting. She has never been straightforward about anything and, true to form; she was very difficult to bit. I rode her bit-less for about three years but found that the brachioiphalicus muscle under her neck over-developed and that we could never really communicate through the reins. I then tried a range of bits but Petra hated them all and went into-pressure, plunging her head down in protest. Hilary fitted Petra with a Myler Combination with a low port mouthpiece and this has really transformed our relationship. Petra's head carriage is beautiful, I can ride her on the lightest of contacts and yet we are in constant communication.

This may be her favorite bit, but mine is the hanging cheek low port Myler comfort snaffle which is so readily accepted by many of the young ponies that I start. Delicate enough for little mouths, it has the benefit of sitting the mouthpiece up off the tongue and only coming into action when I am asking for something. This just reinforces the pressure and release system that I use throughout my training.

Sarah Weston, Equine Trainer and Recommended Associate for the Intelligent Horsemanship Association