Horse Bit Fit Academy 

Bit/Bridle Fitting 

Intro and Consultant courses


Horse Bit Fit Academy Intro and Advanced Bit and Bridle Fitting Knowledge Courses

LANTRA, and HBFA (with or without CPD points/hours) Certification

ALL THE COURSES ARE ONLINE, AND SELF LEARN.

Who is the course for?

HBFA Intro Bit/Bridle Fitting Knowledge is for Riders, Owners, Grooms, and anyone involved within the Equine industry, wanting to expand, and update their knowledge of Bridle, and Bit Fitting, to improve welfare of the horse, horse's way of going, biomechanics, performance, also communication between horse and rider. It doesn't matter if you just hack once a week, compete at a high level, or work in an equestrian environment, you will get so much from this course.
LANTRA Accredited/HBFA Certified Advanced Consultant Course, is a follow on from our Intro Course. Enhancing your Bit and Bridle fitting knowledge to a standard, and recognised Accreditation required, to run your own business as a Consultant on Bit and Bridle Fitting. 

Accreditations available, and who they are aimed at, and fees.

HBFA Certificate in the Intro can enable the student to follow up with the LANTRA Advanced Consultant Course. Achieving Distinction with this Certificate in the Intro Course will open up enrolment on the Advanced Consultant Course. HBFA Certificate can be Achieved in the Advanced again with Distinction, to certify the student can Consult overseas (only outside UK). LANTRA Accreditation is needed in the UK. Both these in Advanced Course will enable Associate Member listing in EAPER. 
The HBFA Certified Intro Course on its own, can be used for CPD equivalent to 20 hours/points. This is suited to anyone requiring CPD hours/points with their employment, or just for their own personal development, and to increase their knowledge.
Most students outside UK opt for both LANTRA, and HBFA. LANTRA showing excellent standard of training. HBFA showing Grade achieved, and again trained to excellent standard by the Academy


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FEES FROM 1ST SEPTEMBER 2023
INTRO COURSE FEES:
HBFA (with or without CPD) CERTIFICATE - £395 (to be completed within 2 months)
HBFA CERTIFICATE - £395 (open ended Course, join when you wish. Complete in your own time) 
 
ADVANCED COURSE FEES:
HBFA CERTIFICATE (OVERSEAS ONLY, OUTSIDE UK) £565
LANTRA ACCREDITATION, AND HBFA CERTIFICATE - £595 
TOTAL FEES FOR INTRO AND ADVANCED, and therefore qualification to be a Consultant :
HBFA CERTIFICATE £960
LANTRA AND HBFA  £990
We do not offer payment terms, but any Invoice can be paid off over your choice of time, without interest details

If you're based in Scotland you may get funding for our Courses from LANTRA Scotland. Apply to them direct: 
https://www.scotland.lantra.co.uk/women-agriculture-practical-training-fund
Deposits £50, non returnable, can be paid to secure your place on the month of your choice in UK. Overseas full payment is required. Both these are transferable to another month. Full payment must be made before Course can be logged on to.
Fees must be paid before taking the Course. Once you have logged on there is no refund. Should you change your mind before logging in the first time, within 14 days cooling off period, refund would be available minus £50 admin charge, and £50 deposit (non returnable). The Course must be completed within time limit specified, 2 months from Course start date. 

Are qualifications needed to take the course?

No qualifications are needed, to take the Intro, and very little knowledge of Bits and Bridle Fitting. Mainly a passion to understand how they can affect a horse, if not the right choice for the horse, and not fitted correctly. The less "old school" knowledge you have is probably better, as this course will question most of what you've learned before.
*Intro Bit/Bridle Fitting Course must be taken, and Distinction acquired before taking Advanced Bit and Bridle Fitting Consultant Course* 

What does it cover?

All the Courses are written by Carol Cobbett herself, Founder of Horse Bit Fit, with the back up of research, and science, which is now coming to the forefront of a horse's ridden welfare. It will take you from a Basic History of Bits, through several Brands, different Designs of both Bits and Bridles. Types of Nosebands and Bits. How they should be fitted correctly. How a horse maybe affected if they are not fitted correctly. Why horses react in certain ways to badly fitted Bits, and Bridles. How pressure points from Bits and Bridles affect horses. Anatomy, and conformation of a horse's head, and mouth. It will dispel many Bit and Bridle Fitting Myths. In fact everything that is needed to correctly fit Bit and Bridle to a horse to improve its welfare in ridden work, behaviour, and way of going. It is not based on equations, maths, percentages to baffle you, but excellent on hand knowledge, collected, learnt, and used on thousands of horses over many many years of Consultations, achieving amazing results.

How long will it take?

The Intro Course is solely online, self learn, it is available via Google Classroom App also. Consists of 21 sections, with 3/4 questions in each. A section will take from an hour to maybe 2 hours to complete. Notes and research will need to be read to source the answers, explaining, and teaching the HBFA Knowledge, that is used in Consultations. It would need to be completed in approx 8 weeks, depending on any other commitments you may have. There is a resit facility available, should this be necessary at subsidised fee of £125. NB: It is possible to do the Courses on a Mobile Phone, but it is advised probably easier on something you can read from easily, and do Word Docs or similar.
The Advanced Course is solely online, it is available via Google Classroom App also. Consists of 10 discussion, essay questions, and a submitted case study. 20 - 40 hours work over 2 months. PDF will be available with all the notes, research, this can be kept for reference. A Q&A Session on Consultation Structure available. Advice on how to set up a Consultancy also provided. Access to a horse is required.

What can I hope to achieve taking it?

By the end of the courses you should understand how to make the right choices of Bits and Bridles. How to fit them correctly for optimum comfort, welfare in ridden work, and performance of the horse. It will help you understand when problems are encountered in ridden work, how these can relate to Bits and Bridles, and what adjustments can be made to solve issues, and prevent others occurring. 

The Intro can lead up to taking Advanced LANTRA Consultant Course, and then Consulting, should you wish.

When will it be available, and how do I book? 

Next Intro Course starting 28th January 2024 is now open for enrolment, and deposits are being taken to secure a place. Course places are limited. 

Next Advanced Course Enrolment open now for Course starting 18th January 2024.

Both Courses are available to enrol monthly, and every month except December. So if you miss a start date, or can't fit it in at certain time of the year, there will be others chances regularly. To receive updates please subscribe to HBF emails, or register your interest to book, enrol on horsebitfitacademy@gmail.com . Really easy to enrol, and join Course, and complete within the timescale. Payment is by Bank Transfer, or Debit/Credit Card link if overseas. Login details, and code to use for signing in to Google Classroom Course, and also HBFA Knowledge notes, links, research, and a Welcome Page on this website are given out Course start date.