Western Australia

 Welcome to our directory page for Bit Bank Accredited Fitters located in Western Australia

 

Jai Rowe - Geraldton

My love affair with horses began at a very early age and has continued into my adult life.

I started riding my first pony Diablo at the age of 13 and with my ever growing passion I eventually  graduated to my first “big” horse, a QH called Yuli. From there Western showing became my passion to which I have competed at state level as a youth & now Amateur.

I currently own and compete a beautiful QH gelding called “Jaebelle Cee Ima Hotrod” AKA Reggie and have many goals for the future. My youngest daughter also rides competitively. 

Ailey and her beautiful horses Ellie and Amira currently ride State level show jumping as well as competing successfully in both Eventing & Show Horse. You could say I have been the typical show mum, learning first hand on the job with these new disciplines.  

I am a proud owner & operator of a well established local pony ride business called Hop-Upon-A-Pony. Along side this I also pride myself in working at Rogue Pony, a local saddlery & clothing shop. 

I have always been interested & fascinated with the mechanics of a horse, especially their mouths. Like most of us, I didn’t fully understand the full importance of the bits we use and how a particular bit can make the difference between a bad ride and great one!

So that is how my journey began to educate myself on all the in’s and out’s of bits and by doing so I aim to help educate others, because at the end of the day ....Our horse’s mouths matter!

Jai Rowe

Phone - 0417182815

Email - jai.rowe@bitbankaustralia.com.au

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Kristina Travers - Busselton WA

Hi! My name is Kristina, I am a Bit Bank Accredited Bit Fitter based out of Busselton in WA. I have extensive experience in the equine world to compliment bitting.

I have qualifications in equine body work (Emmett Therapy (Practitioner level), Equine Nutrition and teach practical horsemanship ( John Lyons based) on ground and in the saddle.

The bit is a key component in delivering a clear and concise message through a soft responsive mouth, being the main point of communication between your hand and the horse’s mouth.

My goal is to share my passion for horses and developing a solid foundation, providing education to riders and sharing the importance of finding the correct bitting solution. I am available for individual and group fittings, plus club bookings. 

Kristina Travers

Email - baroombie.eq@gmail.com

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Chris Lloyd - Albany Area

Chris was from a non-horsey family, and only started riding at 12 in 1970.  He and his brother bought horses from a neighbour, who in turn had bought them at the sales, and the boys worked for months to pay them off.

Chris started at Coomalbidgup Horse and Pony Club in WA and it wasn’t long before he was doing ‘a bit of everything’.  The first thing he remembers winning was champion boy rider at Esperance show in the early 1970s, and for a few years after that. He placed second by just a couple of penalties in his  first state eventing championship in 1976 – his penalties coming mainly from riding too fast across country - and woke up and won it the next year.

Showjumping became his main interest and he won several high point showjumper awards with his two horses, including at the Great Southern Showjumping Championships.

His two main horses were thoroughbreds, which nearly everyone rode back then. His A Grade horse Idaho’s Nevada was home bred and unraced, while Dream Merchant his B-grader was an ‘off the track’ TB. “Dream Merchant was one of the horses involved in the accident in the Boulder Cup 1975, when Ray Oliver was fatally injured,” he recalls. “Ray’s son Jason was also killed in a racing accident in Perth. Jason had previously won the Boulder Cup around 1991."  

Then Chris diversified, and “did some dressage” on his warmblood stallion Moselking. He says he also dabbled in breeding, and was a colt classifier with the Warmblood Society for a few years  - times of which he has some great memories. He was also a qualified judge and course builder.

We may see Chris riding competitively - and coaching - again very soon. “I have been out of the game now for a few years and am just starting to try and get going again on a little but brave thoroughbred-Andalusian cross with the help of Steven Johnson."

(courtesy of Equestrian Memories Australia)

Chris Lloyd

Email - chris57.lloyd@gmail.com

 

Tara Ramsay - Southern Suburbs WA

 

Tara, an accredited Bit Fitter based in the southern suburbs of Perth, moved from her hometown of Christchurch, New Zealand to Australia with her family in 2011. Surrounded by animals from a young age, Tara developed a deep affection for horses, eventually owning two of her own. Her passion for equines led her to a role as an Equine Dental Assistant at Dental Vet in 2020. As Western Australia’s sole dedicated veterinary equine dentistry clinic, Dental Vet specializes in endodontics (root canals), restorations (fillings), extractions, and routine dental care.

 

Over the past four years, Tara has amassed invaluable experience and a profound understanding of equine dental health, highlighting the critical role of proper dental care in effective bitting. Her hands-on experience with dental issues, including injuries caused by ill-fitting bits and untreated pathologies, fuelled her enthusiasm for bitting.

 

Inspired by her background in equine dentistry, Tara pursued further specialisation through the Bit Bank Australia Bit Fitting course, earning her accreditation in 2023. Her goal is to enhance the synergy between horse and rider, believing that proper bitting is essential not only for the horse’s comfort but also for achieving optimal performance. Tara is dedicated to helping every horse and rider team work together more harmoniously and effectively.

 

Tara Ramsay

Mobile: 0468 304 131

Email: tara@ebfwa.com.au

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Alex Stotter - Herne Hill WA and Surrounds