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Find a Bit Bank Accredited Bit Fitter in your state!
Cant see one in your area? Why not become one!
Claire Figueiredo - Calliope, QLD - Creekside Equestrian
Clare Figueiredo was born in Yorkshire in the UK and fell in love with horses and riding at the tender age of six, spending many years helping out at the local riding school and begging for rides on friends’ horses.Her parents were not remotely involved with horses and expected her to lose interest but every year Clare’s passion grew stronger. Eventually she saved up enough money (pocket money and lunch money!!) to be able to buy her first horse in her early teens, and despite having numerous setbacks and occasionally career changes, she has dedicated her life to these beautiful creatures.
Clare, who now owns and runs Creekside Equestrian in Calliope, Queensland, is a British Horse Society and Equestrian Australia Accredited Coach and has been coaching riders and training horses for over 30 years. She specialises in Dressage and has previously competed up to FEI level in the UK but her main passion has always been about creating the correct foundations of rhythm and suppleness, and teaching riders about the importance of developing genuine ‘throughness’ of the horse’s body and acceptance of the contact. Clare prides herself on being an excellent communicator and feels that just telling a rider what to do isn’t enough. She must explain the why and the how as well. She is, also, continually learning about horse biomechanics and is developing an in depth knowledge of subtle gait abnormalities and the consequent resistances that most horses will demonstrate when they are asymmetrically balanced.
Needless to say, when the opportunity arose to become a Bit Bank Australia Accredited Bit Fitter, Clare was immediately intrigued. She currently owns a very talented but tricky warmblood mare that has always had severe contact issues. However, the mare is the sort of horse that once the right bit choice is made, she is heavenly to ride. This led Clare to realise that if the right bit could make such a huge difference to her horse, then it could make a phenomenal difference to so many horse and rider combinations. She also realised how few people were qualified in this field of expertise especially in Queensland and with all these factors in mind, she signed up to become accredited with Bit Bank Australia. In addition, she intends to complete further studies with The Neue Schule Academy to further her understanding of the science of bit fitting and bit design.
Clare’s long term goal is to assist and advise as many equestrians as possible in choosing the right bit for their horse and chosen discipline and making sure that it is fitted correctly. The end result being that bit fitting is considered as important and influential on performance as saddle fitting. Ultimately, she is an advocate for the horse’s wellbeing and wants to impart an understanding on other riders of just how unique each horse’s mouth is. For this reason, her bit fitting service is known as A Bit Unique.
Clare is available for local, individual consultations and is prepared to travel throughout the majority of Queensland for clinics should the need arise (Extra travel costs beyond 20 km will apply). She is also keen to hold educational seminars for Pony Clubs and Equestrian Groups that can be tailored to be age appropriate for the attendees.
Contact Clare
Phone 0413 298 655
Email - clare.figueiredo@bitbankaustralia.com.au
Trudi Hanslo - Sunshine Coast QLD
I come from a horse riding family, my parents rode and my grandparents rode. It’s a genetic defect! My favourite discipline is dressage and I love going for trail rides.
I am a Advanced Care Paramedic and I have a degree in Psychology. However horses have always been in my life in one way or another throughout my studies. I have been a pony club instructor and and EFA instructor.
I used to be a “one bit for every horse” kind of rider until I discovered Bit Bank. Through study and trial and error I have discovered a passion that I thoroughly enjoy.
My goal is to help riders find the best bit combination for their horse. To make the horse comfortable, happy and to get the best result for both you and your horse.
Contact Trudi
Phone - 0408360957
Email - trudi.hanslo@bitbankaustralia.com.au
Sandi-Leigh Norris - Norris Equestrian Services - Waterford West QLD
Jane Russell - Springsure Qld
I have built a career in helping others with their horses, and operate as Jane Russell Equine Health Consultant. My major passions lie in nutrition and performance, I have a bachelor's degree in Equine Science from CSU, and currently working towards a MA in animal science.
Emma Grabowski - Kuranda FNQ
My passion for horses is one that has followed me from my childhood through to now. I rode sporadically as a child when my parents could afford to send me on horse camp to 'keep me quiet' about horses for just a bit.
Since having my own children and seeing them thrive with horses as well as coming back to riding myself I have found a deeper love for horses and I now own a beautiful Anglo-Arab Mare and DRUM x QH colt.
My passion has extended in the last few years to the welfare of our horses and how we can better improve our methods and thinking around their day to day lives.
While bit fitting is only one part of a larger puzzle it is nonetheless an important part. If we don't look and listen we can't see and hear. Horses are incredible communicators and can show us so much if we just pay attention.
Adrienne Kelley - Ingham North Qld
I am a Pony Club Queensland Level B Instructor, and also hold my Pony Club Australia NCAS Level 1 Coach accreditation. I am a 3rd generation “pony clubber”, and enjoy giving back to my sport. I am currently the Regional Director of Coaching for the Northern Region of Pony Club Qld, which is a big but very rewarding role.
I am grateful to have been able to improve my own education regarding my horses and their welfare, and am excited to be able to offer my services as a Bit Fitter, to my wider horse community. My great passion in life is helping riders be better for their horses - better educated, better riders, better owners, better carers.
In my riding, I am always happy to have a go at anything and everything. My horses are all expected to be “all-rounders” – to date, I have tried; dressage, show jumping, eventing, Campdrafting, sporting, endurance, archery, clerk of the course (flat racing), polocrosse (at a very low-paced training only level), a bit of working equitation, and a whole lot of trail riding (on the beach, in the bush, around the cane paddocks – anywhere I can get a horse, to be honest). I have some experience starting horses under saddle, including their first bitting experience. I have worked with all sorts of horses and ponies (mostly from a “starting under saddle” perspective) – welsh, arabian X, stockhorse, quarter horse, thoroughbred, warmblood, and gypsy cob X.
I am available for local individual or group consultations for bit fitting (I can travel – places I can drive to are much easier to get my full bit kit to, rather than places I have to fly to). I am also (very) happy to run educational seminars for any equestrian groups – tailored to be age/experience appropriate for the attendees.
Phone 0437 110 296
Email Adrienne.kelley@bitbankaustralia.com.au
Bianca Shaw - Cairns Tropical North Qld
I love helping people and their horses. I have had a passion for horses since before I could walk. Horses and working with them have taken me all over the world including managing summer camp programs for children of all ages in the USA. I love helping horses feel more comfortable in there hooves and in their mouths. My journey with working with horses started with equine hoofcare where I studied to become a hoofcare practioner. Then I purchased a very sensitive mouthed Arabian horse and that's where my bitting journey begin, I started studying and researching as much as I could for my horse. I then looking into doing it professionally.
I really look forward to helping you on your bit fitting Journey.
Email biancatshaw@outlook.com