sport horse snippets Beginning with the Bit F
or Mette Larsen, finding the right bit for her horse was a life changing experience, one she was determined to help others experience and enjoy. That’s why the
company she founded, Metlar Premium Performance Saddlery (
metlar-us.com), became the U.S. and Canadian distributor for English-made Neue Schule bits in late 2012— so that these bits she admires so much can be more readily accessible to North American consumers. “When I was first introduced to them, I just
thought they were great,” Mette explains. “I was in Germany about a year and a half ago when I saw them and loved them!” Mette is herself an avid amateur dressage
rider who has competed through Intermediare I. She says with a laugh that she turned to dressage as she got a bit older, after spending her youth focused on eventing and the jumpers. “My company is all about trying to help
riders figure out what’s better for their horses,” she continues. “My horses love these bits! Because of that, I really wanted to become their U.S. distributor and help these bits become better known to riders of all disciplines here in the states.” There were already a few tack shops offering Neue Schule
bits, she says, but many, many others that were not. And that is what she’s hoping to change. “Because I liked them so much and saw such good results with them, I wondered why they weren’t better known,” she continues. Neue Schule bits have a couple of special features, Mette
explains. The bits use a metal with a high copper content, one that allows a great deal of warmth to be conducted through the horse’s mouth. In addition, she says, the Neue Schule bits are designed
to be as comfortable as possible, conforming to the shape of the horse’s mouth and offered in more sizes for better fit. They come in quarter-inch increments instead of the more common half-inch increments, she explains. Finally, she says, the bits are created using a computerized design system that allows for constant changes and improvements. “That really impressed me,” she says. “So many bits don’t change for decades!” As a result of all this, she theorizes, the Neue Schule bit feels more comfortable and less like a foreign object in the
54 May/June 2013
Mette Larsen showing her Dutch Warmblood Ulivi in the bits.
By Pat Payne
horse’s mouth. “As soon as I started using the Neue Schule bits, I found that my horses fussed less. They were more relaxed in the bridle and more responsive to the aids—they just seemed to like these bits. I think that the material that the bits are made out of, the ergonomic design and the lighter weight all made a difference. What made the curb bits so nice was that they were thinner in diameter, taking up less space and weighing less,” she says. And her experience is not unique,
Mette says; other riders are having similar experiences. Well-known Grand Prix show jumpers Candace King and Danielle Goldstein, for example, are currently using these bits. They are also becoming popular with dressage riders, she adds. “Riders really see a difference! And so we really want to get the word out about them.” The care Mette takes in ensuring her
horses’ comfort has led Metlar Saddlery into a number of ventures besides distributing these bits. She is also developing a new dressage saddle. It is currently in its third prototype version, she explains, as she works to perfect it. She is also working with the Otto Schumacher company, some of
whose products are also available on Metlar’s web site, to develop a new bridle. She is passionate on the subject of the proper bit.
“The better the fit, the more likely it is your horse will like and accept the bit,” she continues. “The Neue Schule bit is not right for every horse but has proven to be absolutely wonderful for most horses.” In the end, she says, education is the key to success, both
for her business and for the many riders working to improve themselves and their horses. Mette uses herself as an example, saying it took her years to realize the double bridles she was using on her horses were simply too big and didn’t fit correctly. “So many riders, including me, need to learn more so they can buy the right equipment for their horses,” she explains. “That’s what I care the most about—figuring out what’s best for the horse.”
SusanJStickle.com
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