Find a Certified Bit Fitter Near You
Looking for a certified bit fitter near you? You're in the right place. We've put together a directory of verified professional fitters across Canada, the United States and Europe so you can find someone qualified to actually look in your horse's mouth and make a call. Each fitter below lists their certifications, the area they cover and whether they carry our bits, so you can match the right person to your horse's situation.
Are you an independent fitter and want to be added? Fill out the registration form here and we'll review your details.
What does a bit fitter do?
A bit fitter assesses your horse's mouth conformation, evaluates the way they accept and respond to contact, and recommends a mouthpiece and cheekpiece that fits the anatomy and the work. A fitter who is genuinely qualified will measure your horse's mouth, look at the bars, the tongue, the palate height and the lip corners, and discuss your discipline before they suggest anything. Most professional bit fitters carry a kit of trial bits across multiple brands, so you can feel the difference under saddle before you commit to buying.
If you've been guessing at thicknesses, swapping bits every few months, or trying to fix a contact problem that isn't really a contact problem, an in-person fitting session is usually the fastest way through. Many fitters also offer virtual consultations if no one local services your area.
What "certified" actually means
There's no single global certification for bit fitting, so it's worth knowing what each credential covers. The most common ones you'll see in this directory:
- LANTRA Certified (Horse Bit Fit Academy / Neue Schule Academy): UK-accredited training in bit and bridle fitting. The most widely recognised standard for English-discipline fitters.
- Horse Bit Fit Academy: a structured certification covering anatomy, bit action, and case studies. Often paired with LANTRA.
- The Society of Master Saddlers: traditionally a saddle-fitting credential, but many SMS fitters also fit bits.
- The Academy at Neue Schule Ltd. / Lorinery Science certificates: deeper specialisation in bit design and the engineering of how bits act in the mouth.
- Equine veterinary physiotherapy or biomechanics training: especially relevant if your horse has back, jaw or TMJ issues that show up as bitting problems.
If a fitter you're considering isn't on this list, it doesn't mean they aren't good. It just means they haven't registered with us. Ask them about their training, their trial-bit kit, and how many horses they've fit in the past year.
What to expect from a professional bit fitting session
A typical session runs 60 to 90 minutes and covers:
- Measuring your horse's mouth (interdental space, palate height, tongue thickness, lip corners)
- Checking the current bit's fit and the wear pattern on it
- Discussing your horse's history, behaviour under saddle, and any specific issues like head tossing, jaw locking or tongue evasions
- Trying multiple bits on the ground and under saddle
- A written recommendation with sizing and rationale
Travel fees and session pricing vary, but most fitters in the directory below offer either in-person sessions within their stated service area or virtual consults if you're outside it. Several travel further for group bookings, so getting a few barn-mates together can be more affordable than booking solo.
Verified bit fitter directory
Listings marked Carries & Sells Agador's Bits stock our products as part of their trial kit. Each fitter is listed alphabetically by region.
Canada
Alberta: Donna-Maria Bassett, Precision Saddle Fitting
Foothills, Alberta. Services Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan in person; other Canadian provinces virtually.
The Society of Master Saddlers Certified. Also offers saddle fitting services.
(403) 400-3528 · Website
British Columbia: Carissa Nikolai, Steadfast Equestrian
Pitt Meadows, BC. Services all of BC and Vancouver Island; will travel to other provinces.
LANTRA Horse Bit Fit Certified.
Carries & Sells Agador's Bits
(604) 996-5234 · Website · Facebook · Email
New Brunswick: Laura Burtt, L.A.B. Equestrian
Woodstock, NB. Services all of Atlantic Provinces and Quebec; online fittings available.
LANTRA N.S. Certified.
Carries & Sells Agador's Bits
(506) 328-7260 · Facebook · Instagram · Email
Ontario: Dakota Wicklum
Barrie and area. Services Simcoe and Muskoka Counties, Kawartha Lakes, GTA north of the 401.
On The Bit Inc. Certified.
(705) 791-4654 · Email
Ontario: Tammy Levasseur, On The Bit Tack and Apparel
North Bay, ON. Services Ontario.
The Academy at Neue Schule Ltd. (LANTRA) Certified. Certificate in Lorinery Science (Distinction). Fundamentals of Bits and Bridles (Distinction). Recipient of The Loriners' Award, 2019.
(705) 471-7510 · Website · Email
Quebec: Julie Choquette
St-Hyacinthe, Québec. Services the entire province.
Institut de Formation à l'Ergonomie des Équipements Équins Certified.
United States
Florida: Kailyn Pupa, BullsEye Equine
Wellington, FL. Services Wellington, Florida and the Northeastern USA (NJ, PA, NY, CT).
MSc Veterinary Physiotherapy. Also offers equine bodywork and bridle fitting.
Carries & Sells Agador's Bits
(908) 797-7327 · Website · Facebook · Instagram · Email
Maine: Heather Goetsch
York, ME. Services New England.
Horse Bit Fit Advanced Bit/Bridle Fitting Consultant Course (LANTRA Certified). Equine Accredited Professionals ETHOS Registered.
(508) 816-1689 · Facebook
North Carolina: Lisa Heenan, Hooray For Neigh
Kannapolis, NC. Services NC and SC on-site, plus global virtual sessions.
Horse Bit Fit Academy, LANTRA (NS Academy), Equine Academy and Horses Inside Out Certified.
(571) 634-4469 · Facebook · Instagram
Virginia: Dana Cole, Blue Ridge Tack Fitting
Lynchburg, VA. Will travel within 2 hours for a single customer, or anywhere within 4 hours for a group of three or more.
North American Saddlery School Certified. Also offers bridle fitting with custom-build bridles.
(434) 841-3586 · Email
European Union
Latvia: Zane Cerednicenko, Back In Balance Physiotherapy
Ogre, Latvia. Services the broader Baltics and EU.
Human physiotherapist with MSc in Sports & Health Science. Uses exercise and fascia tools (Ergon technique) to reduce pain and discomfort and improve performance in and out of the saddle. ErgoX2 of Sweden saddle fitter using the VBR method. Comprehensive biomechanics assessment for horse and rider, saddle fit and bitting.
Carries & Sells Agador's Bits
+371 28617564 · Instagram · Email
Common questions about bit fitting
How is bit fitting different from bridle fitting?
Bridle fitting looks at the headpiece, browband, noseband, cheekpieces and reins, and how the entire bridle sits on your horse's head. Bit fitting focuses specifically on the mouthpiece and cheekpiece of the bit. Many of the fitters in this directory do both, since the bit and bridle interact, especially at the cheekpieces and at poll pressure under contact.
Do I need a certified bit fitter, or is asking my coach enough?
Coaches and trainers can be excellent resources, especially if they've worked with your horse for a while. A certified bit fitter brings two things a coach typically doesn't: a wide trial-bit kit you can sample on the spot, and structured training in mouth anatomy. If your horse has a recurring contact problem you can't shift, a fitting session is usually money well spent.
How often should I have my horse's bit re-fit?
Once a year is a reasonable cadence for a horse in steady work. More often if your horse is young, changing significantly in fitness or topline, recovering from dental work, or showing new contact behaviour. Bits also wear and oxidise over time, especially sweet iron, so checking the condition of the actual mouthpiece annually is sensible.
What if there's no fitter near me?
Several fitters in this directory offer virtual consultations. They'll typically ask for measurements (we have a sizing guide that walks through how to take them) plus video of your horse under saddle. It isn't the same as in-person, but it's far better than guessing.
How do I prepare for a fitting session?
Bring your current bit and bridle, video of recent rides if you have any, and a brief written history of your horse: age, discipline, any known dental or back issues, recent vet care. Most fitters appreciate a clean horse and a quiet environment to work in.
Related guides on Agadors
- Types of horse bits: a primer on the main cheekpiece and mouthpiece designs and what each is for.
- How to measure your horse for a bit: the measurements your fitter will check.
- Equine mouth anatomy: what's actually happening in there.
- The CalmBlue range: our flagship sweet iron tongue-relief design, often the starting point for sensitive horses.
Please note: this is a self-reported directory. We are not responsible for the accuracy of any information provided by the fitters listed.