Bridle

I personally don't like the look of it - I'm quite happy with my Elevator bridles.

I have got Stubben's new equi-soft girths though - I have a long standard and a stud girth - and they are fabulous :)
 
On the image where the horse is being ridden in the bridle, it appears the gap to give the horse "full sight" dissappears when the contact is taken up.. I also noticed how tight the cheek strap/ alternative throat lash is done up (as well as the noseband)

Other than that it looks like a mess of buckles and billets!
 
As a bridle maker I find it technically interesting, as a rider I find overtly gimmicky. I'm currently making something similar but less extreme for a sensitive dressage horse.
 
I don't think it looks very smart to be honest. Unless a horse has a specific problem, surely a well oiled, clean, well fitting ordinary snaffle bridle is enough ?? IMHO.
 
Its like someone at Stubben has said 'hey tell you what, those quirky Micklem bridles sell well, could we make an unusual looking bridle?'
 
Just tried one on our 6 yr old Irish boy who is very difficult to find a bridle to fit. He is full sized but with an extra big forehead so even an extra full browband still seems to pull the head piece forward onto his ears. I've tried all sorts of bridles but nothing looks comfortable. However, the freedom fitted really nicely around his ears with lots of room and looked a lot better on than off. He seemed to love it and my non horsey OH said as he looked at him work, "he looks happy, he's got relaxed ears today !!!" And he did ! It's certainly worked well for our issue and he won on his first outing in it so must be good 😜
 
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I use cut back bridles on both the ponies now and both are much happier. Both have sensitive ears, Buzz because of an accident and Winnie from ear notching.
 
I use a micklem without a browband - less fuss, less bulk, less weak areas.
horses have many sensitive nerves that run across the jaw bone where the cavesson sits this bridle has a huge lump of leather that sits there so it still sits on masses of nerves.
 
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