Micklem bridle

N

Ninfapaola

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 July 2005
Messages
81
Visit site
I know this is probably on here somewhere... However has anyone used a Micklem bridle especially bitless I would be interested in your views regarding it. I'm thinking of getting one.
 
If you use the search button, there are a couple of recent posts about them. I know quirky (is that right ?) uses one very successfully.

Hope that helps :)
 
I love mine. Use it bitted and bitless as the need arises. Both my horses were markedly better in the contact in it with a bit and I have found the bitless settings easy to use. Also find it super for lunging in. I've just in the process of buying another one so both my boys have one. My ginger boy has has tooth and sinus issues and was instantly straighter and more consistant when we swapped to this.

This is my lad bitless in his yesterday - it's on the middle bitless setting.
DSCF1180.jpg
 
I am also interested in the micklem bridle but confess to be worried about the whole sizing issue? It is nice to see a photo of one in action. Can i ask what size you have your horse in, in the photo please.?
 
He's in a standard horse size and it is a little big on him, although it does fit around the top of his head, I have had to punch a hole in the noseband strap to get it tight enough. He is a 16.3 Tb with quite a small head, his previous bridle was cob size but with a full browband.
 
potto said:
I am also interested in the micklem bridle but confess to be worried about the whole sizing issue? It is nice to see a photo of one in action. Can i ask what size you have your horse in, in the photo please.?
Click to expand...

I have a 15.2 tb so bought small horse...wouldn't even do up! So swapped it for the normal horse size and fits ok except the 'throatlash' is still to tight but useable until it stretches! However the noseband strap is one from the top, so it's a weird fit for mine anyway! :p
 
potto said:
I am also interested in the micklem bridle but confess to be worried about the whole sizing issue? It is nice to see a photo of one in action. Can i ask what size you have your horse in, in the photo please.?
Click to expand...

I went to the hire a micklem website and emailed them. Was asked to do a couple of measurements to get the sizing correctly. Well worth considering as you get the hire price off if you buy in the end.
 
whizzer said:
Probably a silly question, but can you use these with a Pelham?
Click to expand...

No you can't as the curb would be where the back micklem strap would be. The back of it is almost like a drop noseband.

My very fussy mare was better in the micklem bridle. I figured I would buy a new one and if it was no good I could sell it on eBay. That horse isn't with me any more but I'm going to keep the bridle
 
Thanks Vicki & floxie, might get one anyway as I can use another bit for hacking. Another possibley silly question but would a nosenet fit on one? (Sorry to hijack!)
 
Vickijay said:
No you can't as the curb would be where the back micklem strap would be. The back of it is almost like a drop noseband.

My very fussy mare was better in the micklem bridle. I figured I would buy a new one and if it was no good I could sell it on eBay. That horse isn't with me any more but I'm going to keep the bridle
Click to expand...




Yes you can! Im not sure why people are saying you cant, there is a poster made by the Micklem manufacture stating what kind of bits you can use with the bridle and the Pelham is listed. Some bits have different ring sizes such as gag bits and this interferes with the height in which the bit sits in the mouth. The bridle is designed to fit comfortably around the more sensitive nerves on the face and although it seems more appealing when ridden with some form of snaffle the actual bridle can be used with a variety of different and stronger bits. The curb chain sits ABOVE where the noseband/flash strap sits therefore does not interfere with the bridle or vice versa.

I ride mine in a Pelham and a micklem and my horse loves it. I would look for the bitting poster. Its very helpful. Or ring their helpline and ask a professional.
 
Just trying one at the moment - sports direct had them half price (£59) so impulse purchase.

I have a 16.2 tb with a very dainty very tapered head who is a weird fit - his previous bridle was full headpiece, cob cheekpieces extra full browband and neither cob nor full nosebands quite work on him.

Got a small horse which seems to work. The throat lash is on the last hole but research tells me it is supposed to snug not loose like a traditional bridle. Cheekpieces are one from the top so a larger size would not work, noseband bit is fine, browband is big enough.

Early tests say he likes it but then my other tb hated a cavesson and was better in a drop so I might have got the same effect with that. However I needed a new bridle and I knew off the peg traditional didnt fit.

In an ideal world I would have bought the multibridle in case I wanted to try bitless but that wasn't the one at half price in the sale ;)

I'll get some pictures of it.
 
i have one and love it. have used it on all sorts of horses. it was the small horse size and it fits a dainty 15hh, to a big 16.2hh no problems. the big horse is strong and gobby and he is going really sweetly in it with a jointed snaffle. love it! highly recommend.
 
Giving up on mine and about to try and sell... I got small horse for a fine 15hh mare. The fit is just not right and most importantly the horse can't bear it. I think she finds the strap around the mouth most unnerving. She's not the only horse I'm aware of that was terrible in one. That said the other horses on my yard that have one are very happy in theirs. They don't suit every horse. Shame it's probably the best quality bridle I ever owned! 😔
 
My horse has changed drastically for the better in his! Its the largest size, and he is xfull head collars so big ole head. Frankly i think he looks rather dashing in it.

14657328_10209224722512585_4403649691897582414_n.jpg
 
Ninfapaola said:
I know this is probably on here somewhere... However has anyone used a Micklem bridle especially bitless I would be interested in your views regarding it. I'm thinking of getting one.
Click to expand...

I suggest loaning/hiring one, both to get the correct fitting and to see how horse reacts. For the original horse ours was bought for - it made an instant incredible improvement, totally changed him and his way of going. For all others I've tried it on - no difference. It's a very useful bit of kit to lunge in and lead in. Original full size fits all our 14.2 to 16.2 TBs - more or less!!
 
A horse with a short wide head is not easy to fit a Micklem to. I struggled to fit one to my cob X and although I managed to get one in the end, I had to make some adjustments and punch holes in to things that didn't entirely fit well before.

I noticed a massive difference in my mare for the first few months but now I have found myself reaching back for her normal bridle.
 
Does anyone please know how big is the size difference between cob and full size?
I'm trying one right now - borrowed it from my friend and it's the full size. My horse usually wears cob size (16.2 but quite small head), but it looks to me that it fits okay except all straps are at last holes (tight enough if the leather won't give in and get looser) and the brow band seems a bit too long.
I plan to buy my own as the horse likes it a lot more than regular lunge cavesson, but I wonder if I should get a smaller size - I plan to order it internationally as the cost is almost twice as much here than in UK, so I don't want to get the wrong size:-)

15844454_1395966253749182_4960263901526522125_o.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top