“If you have a horse where you feel like you have tried everything, a sensitive or nervous horse, or purely want to provide your horse with optimum comfort, then the Equitis bridle is for you!”
Kirsty Ure. R&R Country Selby Saddlery manager
Are you experiencing issues with your horse being sensitive or overly fussy when ridden? Feel like you’re running out of options? A change of bridle may be the answer you’re looking for! Keep reading to hear how a Schockemohle bridle changed our Selby saddlery manager’s life with her mare Lola.
Kirsty and Lola’s Story
My horse Lola is a 11 year old, 15hh, Appaloosa X TB mare who I have owned for 5 ½ years. She is often referred to as Princess Lola, and people often say that it is just as well I love her as she has her quirks, evading rein contact being one on the list.
Since owning Lola I have gone through countless bits, bridles and nosebands praying to find the winning combination. Lola will tell me instantly if she is not happy (with anything!), when riding she will simply stop and refuse to move, or only do rein back – our speciality! If only I could do all my dressage tests backwards, we would be world champions!
Around 6 months ago I found a bit she seemed happy in. I was feeling a much more consistent connection down the rein, but there was still a piece of the puzzle missing with her head swinging side to side even when I had no rein contact. A mystery respiratory illness meant 4 months off work. When bringing her back into work she was still swinging her head side to side, this is when I knew I had to keep looking to hopefully find the next piece to fit the puzzle. After much research, this is when I came across the Schockemöhle Equitus Alpha Bridle. On paper it sounded fantastic, ticked all the boxes, but would it pass the real test from the one and only Lola…
At first, Lola was unsure of the change of bridle (not surprising), but on the second schooling session, halfway through something just clicked! She took my contact forward rather than pulling her nose to her chest and the swinging of the head became less and less. It was as though she just understood what was being asked (eventually!) and trusted the bridle and my contact thanks to the stability and comfort of the bridle. Now that she is working into a stable and consistent contact, I have started to feel her engage her core allowing her to use her hind quarters more and release her shoulders in the medium paces. It honestly felt like I was riding a different horse however cliché that may sound!
Lola does like a jump every now and again and enjoys her jumping much more than her owner does shall we say. She often throws her head up once she has locked onto the jump. However, since jumping in the Equitus bridle she is much more balanced and together. This has meant I have been able to ditch the stronger bit and the martingale, and most importantly she is much happier and easier to ride to a fence.
I cannot praise the Equitus bridle enough and what it has done for my horse, and to top it off it is very flattering due to the anatomical shape. The bridle has been worth every penny, and more importantly, my horse is much happier. If you have a horse where you feel like you have tried everything, a sensitive or nervous horse, or purely want to provide your horse with optimum comfort, then the Equitus bridle is for you! It comes with or without a flash, and in a double bridle. You can also choose to have the bridle fitted with buckles or billets and in black and brown, therefore there is one to suit everyone. Why not have a look at the full range for yourself, maybe it could be the missing piece to your puzzle too!
Why not hire the Equitus Alpha bridle and try it yourself?
We offer a handy hire service on the Equitus Alpha Bridle. Just pay for the ‘hire’ bridle in full, online or in-store. Take it home and try it for a week. If you love it you can come back and swap it for a new one to keep. If you decide it’s not for you, return it for a refund, minus a £15 trial fee.
Click here for the hire bridle.
