Mustangs’ Corral provides an exciting opportunity for new businesses to get their ideas seen and heard, with the real chance for investment too. The first ‘round’ saw applications received from all corners of the industry, and although just four finalists have got through to the live pitching event at BETA International on Sunday 27th September at 3.45pm, we also wanted to shine a light on some of the other fantastic entries we received. Over to Belinda from Aster Bits…
What business/opportunity did you submit a pitch for?
I pitched Aster Bits at Mustangs' Corral — a clinically-led bit brand built on real equine dentistry and biomechanics expertise, looking to fund the next stage of growth, particularly into the US market.
Was there a moment that inspired the creation of your business?
Not one moment — it built up over years. I'd been bit fitting for a long time, seeing the same patterns again and again, and never finding the designs I actually wanted to reach for. Eventually I stopped waiting for someone else to make what I needed and started making it myself.
What makes you and your business different from others out there?
I've spent years studying this — as an Equine Dentist and Bit Fitter looking inside thousands of mouths, and connecting patterns most people never get the chance to see. That depth is what shapes every decision behind Aster. Honestly, I just enjoy the process — chasing the problem the horse in front of me is having, and working out how to actually solve it. The business is grounded in the welfare of the horse. That's less of a business strategy and more just how I'm wired, and it shows in the product.
What's next for you? What are your plans for the future?
Growing Aster into the US market, building on demand that's already coming in from tack shops, fitters, and yards over there. Longer term, I'm working on a few other ideas beyond bits that I'm not ready to share publicly yet — but the direction is the same: better, more informed care for the horse.
As a young business, what's something you know now you wish you knew when you started?
So far, not much has caught me off guard with Aster specifically — I'd already made those mistakes with previous businesses, and that's exactly what let me run this one thoughtfully and meticulously from the start. If anything, it confirmed that the lessons from getting things wrong before were worth every bit of the pain at the time.
What advice would you give any others looking to start a business?
Solve a problem you genuinely can't leave alone, not one you think will just sell well. That's what gets you through the boring, unglamorous parts nobody warns you about.
Where can people find out more about you online/social?
asterhorse.com or @aster_bits