Micklem alternatives?

[Annagain]

I tried Charlie in the Micklem last night and he was soooo much better in it. "Great" I hear you say, "So, where's the problem?"

Well, reader, this is the problem: It made him look like the love child of a mule and a yak. And I don't mean that figuratively. While it's fine for using at home, I don't want to take him out in public in it! Seriously. I'm normally a very pragmatic, substance-over-style girl but he looks that bad in it. Even his neck looks weird when he's wearing it, much longer and thinner. His head and ears look three times as big from the side and when you look at him straight on it looks like something out of a magic mirror fairground attraction, much longer and thinner than normal.

How can a few bits of leather have such an awful effect? It never looked like this on Archie. Are there any bridles that have a similar fit but don't have the same aesthetic issue?

 

[Bernster]

Not sure they’re exactly the same fit but it’s kind of the same idea around the nose band at least I think - have you tried the collegiate comfitec? It does have the standard throat lash thingy but not sure that really makes much of a difference in terms of where’s it’s placed. It’s nice leather and fits well. Mine is usually on the top hole in full but is about middle in this one.

PS I don’t like the look of the micklem either.

 

[Fluffypiglet]

I moved from a micklem to a grackle (which is adjustable both sides and padded in specific bits) and he is probably happier than he was in the micklem and looks (nearly) like a normal horse instead of a special case. Although he will always look slightly like his mum had an affair with a goat tbh. ?

 

[Annagain]

Thanks I'll take a look. I've not tried anything else yet, just my beautiful English Bridles comfort hunter bridle (which looks lovely on him, he's a very handsome horse normally) and the micklem.

 

[Squeak]

Thanks I'll take a look. I've not tried anything else yet, just my beautiful English Bridles comfort hunter bridle (which looks lovely on him, he's a very handsome horse normally) and the micklem.

Have you tried just adding a drop noseband to your current bridle? Probably one of the more anatomic versions like the fairfax or collegiate rather than a standard one.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

A mule yak sounds like a lovely thing to see, and while you ride him you won't see his head much anyway, so why not tell yourself he looks like the horse version of Mr Universe when you ride him, even in the Micklem bridle.

 

[ihatework]

If you have a monocrown bridle I’ve got a fairfax drop you are welcome to try

 

[Annagain]

If you have a monocrown bridle I’ve got a fairfax drop you are welcome to try

Thank you, that's so kind. I don't unfortunately but suspect I'll be buying one soon! I'll give you a shout if/when I do if that's ok please? I'd forgotten about all this trial and error in getting a new horse as comfy as possible, although to be fair, so far I've only had to buy Charlie one new bit and that was a pretty cheap one. His super duper tail guard to try to stop him rubbing his tail out on the trailer on the other hand...

 

[Annagain]

A mule yak sounds like a lovely thing to see, and while you ride him you won't see his head much anyway, so why not tell yourself he looks like the horse version of Mr Universe when you ride him, even in the Micklem bridle.

Well, there is this - but he hasn't met many people yet and I don't want them thinking he's a giant headed mule-yak (yule or mak?)

I have absolutely nothing against mules or yaks, but their offspring, have very strange heads indeed, especially when they're on the end of 17hh bodies and yet-to-fill-out necks.