Micklem Bridle

clairefundrey

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Well having stumbled across this forum whilst looking up information about whether I was now able to use my Micklem bridle in competitions, I was enormously shocked to read some fairly unenthusiastic accounts about it.

After getting a new mare earlier last year who is quite a big lady in comparison to my fairly weak 17 year old self I spent the year eventing her, getting fairly dismal dressage marks as she went round particularly disconnected with her nose stuck out; I really felt I had no chance. This is a shame seeing as we have accumulated many a double a clear when I ride her jumping in a large Cheltnem gag. However in early December our trainer bought a Micklem bridle onto the yard which she used on many horses and seemed to think it worked wonders, so I decided to give it a go.

The day I tried it I was absolutely amazed. First of all she went in an outline, and a fairly good one at that, without having to have an hour lesson. Her contact was light and she went easily off my leg into my outside rein and for the first time I felt it was an absolute pleasure riding her on the flat. I can’t express what wonders it has done for us, I even last weekend rode her BSJA in it, something a month ago I would never have even dreamed about doing. We now call it the magic bridle, I’m not sure what it does or how it does it, but it is pure magic. I am now looking forward to those dressage tests this eventing season.

Whilst reading through some posts about the bridle I read a comment that 'you need a degree to put it together properly'. I’m not quite sure what the fuss is about but my 13 year old sister managed to put the bridle together quite competently for me after having read the instructions, and had the bridle from the bag to my hand in the time it took me to put my mare’s boots and saddle on.

And as for the few people who say they won't use it and are instead intending to sell it on eBay, look no further my mum said she’d quite happily buy it second hand as we could do with another one for our other horse as I used all my money buying my first one, in fact there are quite a few of us at Hoplands wanting them!

Anyway, in short I think it’s about time the Micklem bridle got the feedback I truly feel it deserves. I'd happily recomend it to anyone who asked.
 
I was also surprised at the negative feedback it got. I've seen him use them on his own horses before he patented it and thought it was a really good idea. I'm considering getting one for my rising 4yo as he's coming into work this year. As for fitting, it's not that difficult as it's designed to fit the shape of the horses head. There's a good video on the horseware website of Tom McGuinness showing how to fit it correctly. I've seen a good few people out competing in them this year so they do seem to be popular. It's nice to hear some positive comments about it!
 
I quite like the look of them, and have been contemplating buying one for a while, but after reading the comments on here I was put off! Might get one afterall after reading your post.
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Hi , the best price is on Conchies saddlery or Rideaway... however what I meant re where they were being sold was in response to Claire100s comments that everyone was saying they were going to sell them on ebay... yet to see one unfortunately :-)
 
A friend of mine had the same problem, but she just dyed hers black- worked a treat! Luckily her horse is dark bay, but I imagine if you have a light coloured horse the dye may rub off a bit in wet weather!!!
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I feel I would like to back-up Claire's comments on the Micklem bridle. I have a competition / training yard, with a variety of horses from eventers to racehorses and all have responded well to the bridle.
They have all have been happy and several have shown good improvement. Certainly as a training aid, it has improved the feeling from the riders hand to the horses mouth. I thoroughly recommend the bridle and do not find it a problem in the least to put together or fit.
 
I think Claire is quite right in what she says. I have seven horses that I’m riding using Rambo Micklem bridles and I think a one eyed pigeon could put it together in minutes.
To be honest there are allot people who have commented on this site about it the bridle and it baffles me to think how they have been trying to use it.
I would expect them to have their horse’s rugs on backwards with some of the crazy comments of how it caused problems.

The bridle is not a miracle worker, nor a cure for problems often caused by poor riders, but it is the best bridle option on the market at the moment.
 
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