The Springfield Saddler

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The Springfield Saddler

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Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from The Springfield Saddler, 33 Main Street, Cupar.

Jennifer Roy
SMS Master Bridlemaker & Saddler
SMS Registered Qualified Bridle Fitter
LANTRA Qualified Bit Fitter with HBFA
Association of Professional Bit & Bridle Fitters Approved Member

14/10/2026

Useful information from Ikkos Equestrian for anyone in the Aberdeen area. North of the Forth, I cover Fife, Angus and Perthshire.

04/10/2026

Back from Durham and an excellent inaugural Northern Saddlery Convention. Two days of lectures, demos, chat and laughs. Thanks to Andrea and her team for making it happen and to all the suppliers for their very generous support. Saddles, bits, bridles, rider and horse balance and symmetry, horse development and current research all discussed. Looking forward to the next one.

04/09/2026

They say " never meet your heroes". Well I did and she was lovely. A great day looking at all things Sprenger. A morning run through of their (mainly) bits followed by an afternoon with Becky Moodie, a tour of her yard then watching her work Eddie, her up and coming star (Bomb was in his field chilling out after Achen). I was impressed by the latest developments and changes Sprenger have made to their bits, smaller lozenges, smaller joints and the most lovely pony bits where everything is in proportion. Bitting is advancing in leaps and bounds and the message these days so conforms to my own. Bit to aid communication not to coerce. Now to go shopping ........

25/08/2026

Came back from holiday to a pile of messages. To all who have contacted me, be reassured, I'm working my way through all your emails and messages and will be in touch very soon.

14/08/2026

Managed to finally take a photo! This lovely lady took possession of her new bridle yesterday and, coupled with her new bit, gave it the thumbs up. Springfield Saddler headpiece and browband plus off the peg cheekpieces and noseband (tweaked to fit) kept it all within budget.

10/08/2026

Delighted to once again be able to deliver the first prize for the Pony Club Horse and Pony Care team winners. Myself and Kay Hastilow hosted the Junior team from Fife Pony Club, who spent a morning making browbands and the Senior team from the Hayfield Centre near Aberdeen. They spent two days with us making a leather horse head on the first day followed by a day of bit, bridle and saddle fitting. Thanks go to The Worshipful Company of Saddlers for donating this prize. Well done all 😃

27/07/2026

🐴 Understanding Your Horse's Relationship with the Bit 🐴

A bit and bridle fitting consultation isn't just about finding a different bit. It's about taking a holistic approach to understanding the horse, how they feel about the bit they wear, and what they may be trying to tell us through their behaviour.

Every horse experiences pressure differently. When a bit doesn't suit a horse's anatomical features, or when unnecessary pressure is created around the head and mouth, the horse may respond in ways that are often mistaken for training or behavioural issues. Resistance in the contact, mouth opening, tongue evasions, head tossing, leaning, over-flexion, tension, or inconsistency can all be signs that the horse is struggling to find comfort.

By assessing the horse as an individual and selecting a bit and bridle that work with their anatomy rather than against it, we can help reduce unnecessary pressure and improve comfort.

When a horse becomes more comfortable, we often see positive changes throughout the body:
✅ A softer, more relaxed jaw and poll
✅ Improved freedom of movement through the shoulders and back
✅ Better balance and posture
✅ Increased confidence in the contact
✅ Greater willingness to work and engage with the rider

It's also important to remember that not every issue disappears overnight. Horses can develop patterns of compensation and learned behaviours from previous experiences of discomfort. Bit evasions are often the horse's way of protecting themselves or coping with pressure they have felt in the past.

This is why patience is so important.

As comfort improves, the horse may need time to trust the new feeling and learn that they no longer need those protective behaviours. Long-standing dysfunctions within the body can take time to resolve, and the horse may need support from a wider team of professionals to help them move more freely and confidently.

A bit and bridle fitting consultation is therefore not simply about changing equipment—it's about understanding the horse in front of us, recognising what their behaviour may be telling us, and helping them become more comfortable in their work.

When we reduce pressure, we improve comfort. When we improve comfort, we improve movement. And when movement improves, communication between horse and rider can flourish.

Because the best bit is not necessarily the one that gives the rider more control—it's the one that allows the horse to be comfortable, confident, and understood. ❤️🐎

23/06/2026

A big hello and welcome to all my new followers. Hope you enjoy my occasional posts.

I was tidying my bit boxes the other day and decided to photograph all the double jointed bits I have to try. Whilst all broadly work in a similar way, they individually sit differently in the horse's mouth and act in different subtle ways. And that's just the mouthpieces. The cheeks (rings) also alter how a bit functions. And these are just the double jointed ones! I also have a range of single joints, barrel, straight bar and synthetic bits too.

I have a couple of guidelines that I work by on a bit fitting. One of them is that we are limited to about 4 or 5 mounts during the session (less in a young horse), before the horse stops being an active participant. It asks a lot of a horse to constantly stop and start whilst also having their head and mouth poked about.

During a bit fitting, I have to decide, based on the horse, their level of training, conformation, discipline, history, mood on the day, then the rider, their skill, ambitions, mental state, what 4 bits out of all that I have, might be the best to try.

Often, it is a case of ruling out mouthpieces so we have a clearer idea which direction to go. Sometimes a follow up visit is needed to refine our choices or try alternatives.

26/05/2026

Keeping Therapy ponies comfy so they can concentrate on their job. A lovely herd of horses and gentle, conscientious handlers. I had a great day.

22/05/2026

A short addition to my FAQ's

Do you do saddle fitting? No, I don't. If you're wanting a saddle fitter, have a look in the Equine Fitters Directory or at The Society of Master Saddlers for saddle fitters in your area. I concentrate on Bit and Bridle fitting only.

Address

33 Main Street
Cupar
KY155SQ

Telephone

+441334653386

Website

http://www.springfieldsaddler.co.uk/

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