Micklem Bridle - is it worth an investment?

Pinkvboots said:
I just am not convinced by them and I don't think they look that nice🙈

But then I'm probably old fashioned and I ride in this set up 😆
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I like that too 😍 but initially when I got Orbi I wasnt sure what was going to happen 🤣 so I thought I need some sort of control.
Eventually we will be bitless , ☺️
 
I appreciate this is an old thread but just wondering- anyone feel like their horses dont really like the Micklem?
Had mine on my rehabbing boy last night and have to say I came home to clean my old bog standard cavesson to see if he prefers that today!
 
jilly2024 said:
I appreciate this is an old thread but just wondering- anyone feel like their horses dont really like the Micklem?
Had mine on my rehabbing boy last night and have to say I came home to clean my old bog standard cavesson to see if he prefers that today!
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sold mine after 1 ride because my mare hated it! her old owner had her in a similar style with the flash type attachment and she was fine, so definitely something about the micklem she didn’t like!
 
I saw something on Facebook recently talking about fitting micklems and how they don't work with all head shapes. Plus the integrated design gives you less adjustability. I see they've now introduced additional sizes and options.

My horse is in a micklem because I struggled with a traditional bridle with his head shape even with mix and match and the micklem fitted him.
 
My boy went a lot better in the Micklem compared to his old 'trad' bridle... however, I switched to a Felix Buhler anatomical bridle earlier this year and he really does seem to like it - perhaps because it's shaped so it doesn't get too close to the eyes. It was less than £100 too so I'm really pleased with it!
 
Mine hated it and much prefers a grackle noseband. (I know this because if I bring anything else out of the tack room he hides in the back of his box!)
 
Pinkvboots said:
Have you tried just removing the noseband from your current bridle.

One of my horses is a mild head shaker so anything on his face can make him rub on things.

I tried various anatomical padded all sorts of different bridles but found his better in a very flat straight head piece with shorter cheek pieces that are level with his eye.

And I took the noseband off its a really old plain bridle so although all these new types claim to be better they don't work for all.

Most bridles I see on some horses just don't fit the cheeks are too long and often the browband is too small so it pulls the head piece onto the ears.

So fit is essential over anything else in my opinion.
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This.
unless you absolutely need a noseband for whatever activity you’re doing?
And you might as well remove the browband, too, see if that helps the itchiness. Unless horse has the thinnest, weediest neck and jowl ever, your bridle isn’t going to slip back down it!
Working horses in other (often hot) parts of the world regularly don’t have brow bands. Just take away anything unnecessary which might irritate, and see how you go.
Personally, I’ve found Micklem bridles very over hyped, and not well tolerated, but it’s horses for courses. And obviously will be in comparison with whatever you were previously using!
some people simply like the ‘image’ they project, and there has been extensive marketing since inception.
 
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