Wow to Micklem competition bridle!!

[eml]

Last time we had our Osteo out to the yard we were talking about tack and he said that many people were having a lot of success with Micklem bridles. Lots of the eventing people we know also swear by them.

Kirkum has to have a gel pad on his headpiece and can be a bit deep in his contact and open his mouth not as an evasion but more bad habit, when raced he always wore an Australian noseband. We discovered the competition version of the Micklem is BD legal so bought one on Ebay and tried it today. The difference was amazing, lighter in hand, more still in the contact and able to pick him up if he went deep was daughters description. To look at he was more relaxed and open through his shoulder.

Downside was it took daughter and I about 15 minutes to figure out the way to adjust all it to fit perfectly...we can both assemble a double bridle quickly but this was amazing...really tailors the bridle to the horses head.

Great invention!!

[Nookster]

I just got mega excited by the title of this thread before even reading it

When i had my last clinic with Marie Kent she advised trying the Micklem as now BD legal for vol as he opens mouth through habit and thought it would be a great way forward for us.

I was dubious due to cost but been trying to do a bit of research and so far not finding anything bad. Reading their own site there is so much detail in the design it really makes you think

[bitsnpieces]

Oooh, so how do these bridles work?

[eml]

Ours was £60 from Ebay!!

They are actually designed to fit the horses head, very different from a 'traditional bridle' The whole thing is very adjustable and light and sits securely, the equivalent of the throat lash being about where the top strap of a grackle would fit. The nose band sits higher than a drop but the back strap fits below the bit. We didn't do ours up particularly tightly and were careful to adjust it so the backstrap did not interfere with the action of the bit. There are separate clips that can be attached to bring the noseband into play when the bit is used which has a similar action to a Kinnerton and eventers like them XC. The clips are not however BD legal!!

[Lot1983]

Are these the ones that you can use like a headcollar? If so how easy is that? Hens gets a bit excited travelling and I like the idea of not having to take his headcollar off to bridle him.

What's the quality like?

[eml]

You could but I wouldn't as the leather is soft and quite fine and new ones cost £120 so not something I would be using as a headcollar to tie up in!!! We mainly put bridles on before unloading anyway.

[Lot1983]

Originally Posted by eml

You could but I wouldn't as the leather is soft and quite fine and new ones cost £120 so not something I would be using as a headcollar to tie up in!!!

I was just thinking of using it in the lorry for the first few times I take him out until I'm confident I can get the headcollar off and the bridle on without him going AWOL!

The other idea would be to travel him in his bridle with the headcollar over the top (and reins twisted through the throat lash).

Sorry, hi-jacking!

I think I'm going to keep an eye on ebay, they sound like a useful bit of kit!

[eml]

We travelled one for his first outings in a bridle with headcollar over.

New lorry is ideal to change them in/take off bandages etc as you can access then over/under the partitions but they cannot get away.

Attaching a bit is not that straightforward ..... only two bits of leather but they need to be threaded through a bit like a lip strap.

Second horse we tried it in also went far better, seems to keep the bit more stable but give a clearer range of movement if that makes sense????

[Rubic]

Very interesting. I wonder if this would suit Rubic. She is forever opening her mouth and leans on me when she is feeling full of it, I'm not quite sure how to explain it. I was loathed to strap her mouth shut but I did and it made matters worse. Hmmm, I wonder if this is worth a shot.

[eml]

I think it suit horses who do not like or overreact to any sort of poll pressure. I think the secret of the noseband is not that it shuts the horses mouth ( we do not tighten it up) but that it keeps the bit more stable so encourages the horse to accept it more.

Horses that open mouth and lean are often more suited to something like a Waterford or roller snaffle to prevent them leaning and ironically are often better if ridden on a very light contact and kept balanced with seat and back.

(sorry wandered ot there!!)

[Rubic]

I have been trying various bits and someone gave me a Waterford but I don't really want to use it. I don't trust my hands enough. I was going to try a copper roller. She used to be in a hanging cheek or a Dutch gag but I didn't think she liked them. She is now in a myler with the slots for cheek pieces and reins (not sure exactly what one it is). I know the slots will give a bit of poll pressure but so far this seems the one that she is happiest with. A friend has the micklem multibridle which I think can be used in the same way, it just has extra rings and hooks so I might as well give it a shot. Nothing to lose, if she doesn't like it she doesn't like it!

[eml]

Yes you can use it the same way, we only had the competition version which is BD legal as we compete this horse.

[Rubic]

Originally Posted by eml

Yes you can use it the same way, we only had the competition version which is BD legal as we compete this horse.

I compete now and again,if it works I'd rather spend a little extra just now so having a non-legal bridle wouldn't hold me back! (not that I expect to be doing loads of dressage but you never know! Thanks for the advice

[daftdraught]

Originally Posted by Lot1983

I was just thinking of using it in the lorry for the first few times I take him out until I'm confident I can get the headcollar off and the bridle on without him going AWOL!

The other idea would be to travel him in his bridle with the headcollar over the top (and reins twisted through the throat lash).

Sorry, hi-jacking!

I think I'm going to keep an eye on ebay, they sound like a useful bit of kit!

I use shires head collars as easy to take off under the bridle as the buckle is on the nose

[Skippys Mum]

I believe that the ordinary micklem is also competition legal as long as you dont use the plastic clips with it. Without the clips, the only difference is the ring is missing from the noseband

Mine is out on loan just now but is hopefully coming back shortly. Rubic, you can have a quick try of it then its going on ebay - or you can buy it off me (I'll sell it cheaper to you!)

[Nookster]

SM - How did you find the bridle? good? bad?

[HoneyMonster]

Really glad I cam across this thread! I've been looking at these bridles for a while now thinking maybe I should try Simba in it as he's always been a bit silly! It's just the idea of spending the money and it not making a difference as I've just bought a new Dressage Bridle - ooops!

[Black Beastie]

These bridles are brilliant!! Once baby pony and I get going properly I think I will be getting her one as a trend has one and her horses go fabulously in them and they look so versatile and very comfy on the horses

I was also very impressed by the quality, well worth the extra if your out competing

[Skippys Mum]

Originally Posted by Nookster

SM - How did you find the bridle? good? bad?

I missed this - sorry

I didnt find it that spectacular tbh. I bought it to use as a bitless bridle and he didnt really like it - the straps came out higher on his head than on a Dr Cooks so I ended up using that.

I didnt like using it for lungeing - the noseband was too thin for my liking and it marked his wee nose.

I ended up getting a very lovely bridle from KV with a loosely fitted drop noseband which seems to do the job better for me

I think it just wasnt really quite the right shape for Arnie. I struggled with getting it adjusted to suit. The smaller size was too wee for him but I think the one I have was bordering on too big.