Kim Gentry
We recently reported that Kim Gentry, International Grand Prix Dressage Rider and specialist bit fitter with online American retailer Bits N’ Such, travelled to South Africa to visit Bombers’ Bits’ headquarters for a factory visit, and additionally carried out bit fittings at the manufacturer’s purpose-built headquarters.
One of her fittings was for Leanne Cutting and her talented Grand Prix horse Cinderella, aka Cindy, and some clients of Leanne’s. The mare is a former event horse, and in safe hands with dressage rider Leanne, one of the most experienced riders in her field, with over fifty years’ riding under her belt. (Leanne and Cindy pictured above and below right).
Leanne, who manages a facility in Shongweni in Outer West Durban and is a former event rider, was looking for support to allow Cindy more expression through her frame and shoulders, and wanted to explore the Bombers Bits range further.
“What a change it made…“
“Working with Leanne and her clients side by side with Bomber Nel himself was a treat – especially after a 15.5 hour flight,” remembers Kim of her visit. “I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I quickly found that South African riders face the same challenges and issues that I see with horses and riders all over the US,” Kim explains.
“The group of riders was so open to our input around bitting, and wanted our help. The Bombers team, Leanne and her clients let me jump right in and go to work,” Kim recalls.
“With Leanne’s lovely mare Cinderella, the first thing I noticed was she looked short in the neck, and tight in the shoulders. She also wasn’t lifting in the shoulders and withers the way she could have been,” Kim says. “Leanne said this is what the judges also comment on the most. My immediate thought was that the pressure on Cindy’s tongue could be blocking her.”
Kim and Leanne firstly tried a tongue relief bit from the Bombers range, which gave some improvement; but Kim had an idea that the Bombers Elliptical Dressage Control (pictured left in titanium loose ring style) would be a good bit to try for the mare. It’s designed to spread pressure over the tongue, and the mouth pieces are curved to soften the bar pressure. “The central lozenge distributes the pressure evenly over tongue and bars, which together with the offset links, help to reduce pressure points. Typically the horse will draw its head back and tuck its chin in, finding a better balance of control; and what a change it made for Cindy! Up came the withers, the shoulder freed up, and the neck opened up,” Kim tells us. “Cindy’s piaffe and passage improved, the canter had more lift and jump, and wow, what a trot extension she had now! The mare’s whole top line changed dramatically into a beautiful outline. Most importantly, Leanne was smiling from ear to ear,” Kim recalls.
“This session was such a wonderful example of demonstrating how the muscles and fascia in the horse’s body are all connected. Free up the tongue, a muscle, and wow – the difference is obvious,” continues Kim, who holds bitting clinics and individual fitting sessions in the Wellington area of America throughout the winter season, and all over the US for the rest of the year.
Kim adds that she does like to see the horse in different bits in the same session. “There are so many variables that can change in a horse and rider from day to day. Only changing one variable at a time is important. I also always caution the rider to go easy on the work in any new bit, to give the horse’s body time to adjust to what is sometimes a dramatic change in how the horse is moving,” Kim concludes.
Visit: www.bitsnsuch.com and https://bitsnsuch.com/pages/kims-bit-and-bridle-clinics for more info. #bombersbits #bombersbluebits #teambombers #bombersbitsbringbalance #dressage