Available courses

Our online courses comprise:

1. Certificate in Bits and Bitting Science - Designed as a primer for all those interested in the basics of Lorinery Science. This is the entry level course and is also the qualifying course for the Bit and Bridle Fitting course.

2. Lorinery Science - This course is an advanced study of Lorinery Science and provides students with a comprehensive tool-set to analyse bit and bridle actions and their effect on the horse. Entry requires a Merit or higher pass grade in the Certificate course.

3. Mathematics for Bits and Bitting - Enrolment is free to all those enrolled on courses 1 and 2 but can be studied on its own.

This course is intended to introduce a qualitative understanding of the field of bits and bitting. After completing this course the student will have been introduced to the major principles of the subject. The emphasis is on design and operation of bits in the context of the head and mouth anatomy of the horse and the rider position. The student completing this course will be able to identify and rationally argue against many common misconceptions that can be found in the popular literature on the subject. Enrolment can be made either for the NS Academy Certificate or for the Lantra Certified Certificate

This course is intended to introduce the physical principles of the bit and bitting. Unlike other treatments of the subject, this course will analyse bits from their operational perspective using simple mechanical models and backed up by experimental test data where possible. The student will become able to categorise bits in terms of their operational behaviour. The principles rely on a certain basic level of mathematical analysis. It is recommended that the open access course Mathematics and the Bit is studied for those who require support in this area. The enrolment can be for either the NS Academy Certificate or the Lantra Certified Certificate.

The Certificate in Bits and Bitting Science Examinations here are extended time-limited by +25 % to accommodate students with neurodivergent and other common disabilities that may impact examination performance.

Students notified with neorodivergent or other relevant conditions are enrolled to allow 25 % extra time in examinations.

FREE ENROLMENT FOR ALL CERTIFICATE OR LORINERY SCIENCE STUDENTS*

This course aims to help students develop their confidence in the use of mathematics, with reference to a range of equestrian contexts. The course offers a thorough grounding in all of the mathematical skills required for the Certificate in Bits and Bitting Science and Lorinery Science courses, as well as aiding an understanding of how such skills can be applied to a broader range of situations, such as calculating body weight, feed rations and basic statistical analyses as they apply to the upper level courses as well as equitation. The course provides anyone seeking to improve their mathematical skills with a range of resources and activities to help develop their knowledge of fundamental mathematical skills with a focus on practical, horse-related, examples.

The course provides a range of tasks which provide a chance to track your progress. Assessment through these guided tasks, and an online exam provides an opportunity to gain a certificate at the end of the course.

The cost of this course is £30 + VAT. LANTRA certification is also offered for this course at a cost of £75 + VAT.

The course makes no assumptions regarding prior mathematical knowledge and is open to anybody who would like to develop or refresh their skills as they apply to the equine industry.

*NS Certificate Enrolment Only

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS COURSE IS BEING REMODELLED FOR ONLINE DELIVERY AND IS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. WE WILL ADVERTISE ITS AVAILABILITY WIDELY WHEN IT IS RELEASED.

Becoming a Neue Schule Academy Qualified Bit Fitter is the most prestigious qualification in its field. The course provides rigorous theoretical and practical instruction to a syllabus and standard of delivery that has been approved by the UK LANTRA awarding body.

Demand for this course is extremely high but we will ensure that everyone has the same opportunity to enrol on the next student cohort.

We cannot answer individual queries about the scheduling but can assure you that we will announce the next availability through all channels open to us. This will include social media (Facebook) and email to the group providing their details here. The instructions will clearly set out your responsibilities to help you secure a place.

We look forward to meeting you in due course.

Students will be assessed in two stages;

  1. During the online remote learning (RL) component students view videos and undertake continuous assessment tests on Bit Analysis, Lorinery Science, Anatomy and Practical Bit Fitting and are expected to read and become familiar with the accompanying course material. This will be assessed in an invigilated online examination. Students must achieve at least a pass grade in the examination to proceed on to the Field Studies (FS) component*.
  2. The final part of the formal assessment is the submission of a series of four FS cases completed to a satisfactory standard, two of which benefit from the oversight of an accredited equine professional. Assessment is by submission of Case Studies which are assessed by the Academy teaching staff.

Certificates are awarded as follows:

  1. On successful completion of the RL component and passing the QBA exam
  2. On successful completion of the FS component and submitting case studies that meet the satisfying criteria (QBF)

Notes on the certificates:

  1. The QBA certificate may be used for personal or professional purposes and qualifies the student to analyse bitting situations**. The post-nominal, QBA may be used. THIS IS NOT A BIT FITTING QUALIFICATION
  2. The QBF certificate permits the student to operate as a professional bit fitter and carries the post-nominal, QBF. QBFs may opt to be registered by the NS Academy on an online public record of Bit Fitting Professionals along with, as a minimum, their name and location.

*Students who fail this examination at the first attempt may retake the examination under time-constrained virtual invigilation conditions. Medical concessions to retake the online component of the course in its entirety or just the examination component can be considered should a student produce medical evidence.

**Note that to undertake bitting analysis the student is able to define feature lines, bore axes or shank axes of interest on the bit(s) of interest, the tongue line of the horse (from full profile photographs) and the working angle of relevant bits (also from profile photographs). Students holding the QBA title are then able to advise clients on how the mouthpiece features align to the tissues of the mouth (tongue in particular) and therefore advise on the relative degree of bit pressure that a particular bit delivers.

Until holding the QBF title after successful completion of the third stage of the course and therefore being eligible for a public listing of competence in bit fitting, the student must not claim to act as a bit fitter. They must only undertake trainee bit fitting appointments for the purposes of generating Case Studies until receiving confirmation of satisfactory performance.