Ask a Bit Fitter with Sharon Furlong

Introduction 

Sharon Furlong is a Bit Fitter living on Mid North Coast of New South Wales (NSW) with her three horses. She started her education as a Bit Fitter with Bit Bank Australia's Course and has completed a second course via Horse Bit Fit Academy which is a LANTRA (UK) certified course. Her high grades have qualified her for a start in the Advance Course later this year. With a wealth of bit fitting knowledge, Sharon has kindly agreed to answer some of the Buzz Balms Community Questions about bits!

Firstly, what is a Bit Fit and why is it important?

A Bit Fit usually takes 1 to 2 hours and involves measuring your horse's mouth, reviewing their ridden history and tendencies and finally trialing a number of potential bits under saddle. A Bit Fit can be valuable in ensuring your horse's comfort and effective communication whilst ridden. Conversely, an improper fitting bit can cause pain and lead to behavioral issues. 

Your Bit Fitting questions:

Why is my horse grinding its jaw when his bit is put in?

Grinding could indicate the need for dental care or the possibility of something in the mouth that needs attention. For horses under 6, grinding could indicate teeth erupting or caps coming out. Stress or anxiety which may be caused by the bit, bridle, or saddle fit, are also common reasons for grinding. Not all horses have a tell as to being nervous or anxious as they may default to learned helplessness so take early warning signs seriously and address issues systematically.

Can your bit be too big?

Most certainly, often riders select bits that are too long for the mouth. Riders tend to think a 17hh horse will need a 6-inch bit. This is not the case. I have fitted a 17hh warmblood with a 4.5-inch eggbutt. Eggbutts and other fixed ring bits need to be “snug” to the corner of the lips. The function of the fixed ring, which is in stirring/guiding the horse in the direction you want, will be lost to a point as the bit will slide back and forth in the mouth when you are turning. This delays the actual rein aid and on horses with fine skin the bit will rub the inside corner of their lips, leaving an abrasion. If your horse is lucky to have lots of padding and tougher skin in the corners, they will not get the rub mark but will still have this sawing action when ridden in a bit that's too big. 

Can your horse be different size bits depending on whether it’s a fix or a multi piece  bit?

Yes. For example, your horse's loose ring size should be about a centimeter bigger than the snug fitted eggbutt (e.g. 115mm eggbutt would mean a 125mm loose ring). In the case of a double, you would stick to the Loose ring size for your bradoon but go down ½ to a 1 cm for your Weymouth. Where your horse is between bit sizes say 130 mm you might only have a Brand size option of 135 mm, you would go up a size never down in that case to a slightly too bigger bit. 

How do I really know my horse likes the bit or is just a nice horse?

Good Question. There are certain bits that are known/classified as Comfort Centric Bits. So, a horse as you described, might be in an old-school Stainless Steel French link that is too long, but he is never a bother to you in general. You may still choose to get a Bit Fit because you want to do the best for your horse. In your Bit Fit you may try a few of these types of bits and you might be surprised at the feedback your horse gives you during the Ridden session. I do greater than 60% Comfort Fits and the ridder can see right away what I mean by 'the horse will let you know'.

Can you have a Bit Fit for a bitless bridle? 

Some Bit Fitters are also qualified to do a Bridle Fit and stock a range of Bridles including some Bitless options. You can ask the Bit Fitter if they have bitless bridles to try instead of a Bit Fit.

Are bit butters worth a try?

A Bit Butter, like Buzz Butter, is a great tool for specific situations. A horse with pink skin can tend to have more delicate skin and their lips are rubbed in most cases. Bit Butter is perfect for these horses or any horse that tends to get rubs or irritation from their bit. The other thing a bit butter can help with is horses learning to take the bit in their mouth or horses that have had bad experiences with bitting. Bit Butter is Positive Reinforcement in this case and helps them to want to open and take the bit into their mouth. 

Finding a Bit Fitter

To find a Bit Fitter that services your area you can check Horse Bit Emporium's website or Bit Bank Australia’s website. You can also google or ask for recommendations from locals who have had Bit Fits done. I am on the Mid North Coast of NSW and do travel to other areas for an added travel cost. Each Ridden Bit Fit can take up to 2 hours and as I carry hundreds of bits, it takes up to ½ an hour to set up and pack up. Out of my area I do a minimum of 2 horses and a maximum of 4 horses in a day, at one venue. 
In my area I will fit one horse. 

If you're on the Mid North Coast of NSW then get in touch via the details listed below:

Sharon Furlong Coast 2 Country Bit Fitter
Email: sharon.furlong@bitbankaustralia.com.au 

Thank you so much Sharon for sharing your wealth of Bit Fitting knowledge!