Together with our partner Stübben North America and Stübben STEELtec, HorseGrooms invites grooms and equestrians to an in-depth educational MeetUp focused on one of the most influential and often misunderstood pieces of equipment: the bit.
Bitting choices directly affect a horse’s comfort, communication, and performance. Yet many decisions are still based on habit, assumptions, or trial and error. This expert-led session is designed to replace confusion with understanding and to give grooms practical tools they can apply immediately in daily barn life.
What This MeetUp Will Cover
This session takes a horse-first approach to bitting and will explore how thoughtful equipment choices support clarity and comfort.
Topics include:
- Equine anatomy as it relates to bitting
- Proper sizing and correct fit
- Mouthpieces, materials, side pieces, and leverage, what they do and why they matter
- Common myths and misconceptions
- Practical troubleshooting for everyday situations
- Open Q&A with the clinicians
The goal is not to promote one solution for every horse, but to help grooms understand how to make informed, individualized decisions.
Expert-Led Discussion
The MeetUp will be led by Xander Boere, Stübben’s bitting specialist and Product Manager for STEELtec, together with Daniel Bluman, three-time Olympian and international show jumper.
Daniel Bluman has competed at three Olympic Games and consistently rides at the highest level of the sport worldwide. Known for his precision and horsemanship, Daniel places strong emphasis on thoughtful equipment choices that support each individual horse’s comfort, clarity, and performance.
Xander Boere brings more than 20 years of experience as an equine dentist, rider, and trainer. His background gives him a deep understanding of equine oral anatomy and how it relates to effective, horse-specific bitting solutions. Working closely with top riders and trainers, including Daniel Bluman, Xander helps fine-tune communication between horse and rider through precise and informed bitting decisions.
Product Manager for STEELtec
Partner Spotlight: Stübben North America
Stübben North America has a long-standing reputation for craftsmanship, research-driven design, and a strong commitment to horse welfare. Through its STEELtec line, Stübben focuses on precision, material quality, and fit to support clear communication and comfort for the horse. Their continued support of HorseGrooms education makes in-person learning opportunities like this MeetUp possible.
Event Details
Date: Tuesday, January 27
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Bluman Equestrian, 15393 Ocean Breeze Ln, Wellington, FL
Food and drinks: Generously provided by Stübben North America
Website: www.stubbensaddles.com
This MeetUp is free and open to everyone. Non-grooms who are able to support the mission are welcome to make a small voluntary donation.
RSVP is required
Please RSVP through the HorseGrooms Community. Or via this Google Form for those who prefer not to join the community.
The bit may be small, but its impact is significant. Join us for an educational evening that puts understanding, horsemanship, and the horse first.
HorseGrooms is a platform of resources, education, and support for grooms by grooms. This is an online community, hub of resources, and spotlight of industry highlights born out of love for the horse and love for the sport. But our mission goes beyond simply providing resources and creating content.
Our goal is to create a space to keep horsemanship alive; for grooms to support and educate each other; and to help advance the craft of grooming. HorseGrooms is dedicated to ambitious grooms everywhere.
