”In Eventing, you need up to three different bits for each horse, for Dressage, Showjumping and Cross Country. If you have several horses, that can become quite a challenge… Thanks to Neue Schule, I am now able to try until I have found for every horse and each discipline exactly the bit which offers him maximum comfort and enables me to give optimal support.”

The Company

Strolling among the tradestands at Badminton Horse Trials this spring, we passed one which featured a plate saying “Neue Schule” – that was German, but we had never heard of them! Curiosity aroused, we approached the staff and learned that Neue Schule is the leading UK specialist in bitting technology and based in North Yorkshire, not far from Chris Bartle’s Yorkshire Riding Center, where Julia was staying with her horses at that time.
The company was started by Heather Hyde in 2000 after having successfully introduced the first Bit Bank to the UK market. This experience highlighted that there was considerable demand for appropriate horse and rider comfort and performance centered bits designed by riders themselves, Heather began the process of designing and manufacturing an exclusive range of high performance, superior comfort bits:

The Neue Schule Collection

comprises an exciting and innovative range of bits that are ergonomically designed and produced using state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and techniques. It offers a range of mouthpieces in a variety of thicknesses that are suitable for every discipline at all levels. Neue Schule has developed a unique and patented material: Neue Schule Salox Gold—this specialised material is used in the mouthpieces for all Neue Schule bits. Salox Gold is a warmer, sweeter metal that heats up within seconds of being placed into the horse’s mouth. The benefit of this is that the comfort and acceptance of the bit is accelerated. The horse is therefore able to quickly start to focus on the action of the bit.
Further information can be found on www.nsbits.com where a catalogue including explanations of the action of each of the bits can be downloaded.

Bitting Advice by Heather Hyde

Just before the end of Julia’s time in UK, Heather came to visit Julia at the YRC and spent several hours helping her to select the appropriate bits for each of her 5 horses. Expert advice is the special concern of Neue Schule: Heather is regularly delivering bitting clinics in the UK and internationally, and every customer is invited to make use of the telephone hotline to get particular assistance if the offered online expert bit selector does not solve his problem.

Superior bits promote great success

The bits which were put at Julia’s disposal by Neue Schule finally amounted to an impressive number. Already in Strzegom she had the possibility to start testing the first, meanwhile she gained lots of upbeat experience as proved by the current streak of success: Victory in CIC** in both Hünxe and Bad Harzburg, 3rd and 4th place CNC*** and 3rd CIC** in Schenefeld. The picture below shows Heather and Julia at SPOGA Cologne in September. to the top