To ensure the comfort of ridden horses, equipment including bridles and bits should be suitable and fit correctly. Horse owners employ a variety of equestrian professionals with varying degrees of responsibility regarding bridle and bit fit. This study aimed to compare the frequency and manner in which equestrian professionals within a multidisciplinary team (MDT) engage with clients on matters of bridle and bit fit, and to capture their perceptions of the key issues in bridle and bit fit. The participants completed an online questionnaire to obtain information regarding participant demographics, bridle fit and bit fit for the horse. Descriptive statistics and Kruskal-Wallis analyses were performed (p ≤ 0.05). Inductive content analysis identified themes from open-question responses. The results from 377 respondents were analyzed: 184 saddle fitters, 116 coaches and 77 therapists. The results showed that 65% of coaches 'nearly always' or 'very often' ask clients when they last had their bridle fitted, which was significantly more than saddle fitters (p = 0.002). More saddle fitters assess bridle fit statically and dynamically compared with coaches (p = 0.02). 'Browband too small' featured in the top three bridle fit issues for all professions. More professionals reported issues of bit suitability than fit. The findings demonstrate that whilst various equestrian professionals assess and act upon issues of bridle and bit fit, the extent to which this occurs is lower than for the saddle. Further work should quantify the prevalence of issues in bridle and bit fit and suitability in ridden horses.
Keywords: bit; bridle; equestrian coach; equine musculoskeletal therapist; equine welfare; fit; fitter; qualification.