Micklem bridles

ILuvCowparsely

ILuvCowparsely

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My show jumping trainer does not rate them at all so gave up the idea till now.

I was advised to try a drop by my flat work teacher on my mare as she chaws the bit in the flash unless you do the noseband up really tight.

Nothing to do with teeth back schooling as everything is done or being done. I have done some research and the Micklem has bit attachments which if the horse starts to cross it's jaw or chaws it makes the bit higher thus trains it not to, a bit like the elevator bit does on my gelding with his broncking. Also it is a more comfortable bridle and my mare is a sensitive mare, specially when it comes to voice. I think her history must have had some harsh words at her when in Ireland.

I know most here are against flash bridles, so no need to tell me :)...................

My questions are

!) What made you buy a Micklem

2) Which one i did you go for and why

3) Does your horse go better in one



Also SpottyAppy I've see your boy in one on facebook I would be interested in your view too.
 
I've been using one for a couple of years now ...

1) Jazz is fidgety and can be fussy in the mouth, I'd changed him from a normal french link snaffle into a Neue Schule and that helped but he still wasn't 100% so I decided to give the Micklem a go. Luckily my lovely neighbour was willing to let me borrow hers for a few weeks to see if he liked it before I splashed out!

2) I bought the diamante competition one because it was half price in Sports Direct and only cost me £75 :lol: they didn't have the regular competition one in Jazz's size so he ended up with sparkles on his napper.

3) I think he settles quicker in the Micklem than he did in his previous bridle (which was a normal cavesson) and is less fidgety in his mouth - I suspect it's a combination of the bridle and the bit. I will caveat this by saying he's never been ridden in an arena/schooled with it on, only hacked out. He's kept at home and I don't have anywhere for schooling at the moment.

Some horses seem to absolutely loathe them so it's definitely worth hiring or borrowing one, although they do hold their value if you decide to buy one and it doesn't suit.

Good luck!
 
We found the fit of the bridle is really good, it follows the contours of the face. I think we had the competition bridle, can't really remember as we've had them for so long. The horses like them & seem to go well in them. The worst thing about them is the poor quality leather that is used to make them. Rambo need to use better quality as at the moment the price of the bridle does not match the quality of the leather.
 
I’ve been using one for a while now. My answers:
1. My mare was opening her mouth and sticking out her tongue a lot. I got teeth done, and spent a lot of time trying bits until we settled on NS team up. I don’t like flashes, think you potentially cover an issue, rather than find and fix what was wrong. I took off her cavesson noseband and she was much better. Rode her like that for a while, but wanted to compete, so needed a noseband. The drop for my bridle would have cost same as a micklem so decided to try it on basis it would be easier to sell.
2. I got the competition one and use different (bigger) brow bands on it.
3. Yes, she’s much more settled. We only get tongue out when she’s learning something new, otherwise really steady and happy in bridle. She was a bit better first ride and has steadily got more and more settled.

For my horse, I think she’s really sensitive on side of her face, hence why cavesson bothered her.

I don’t use the bit attachments. They aren’t dressage legal. I did try them, from memory they keep the bit still in their mouth, but I could see/feel no difference. I also do the nose strap up loosely.

Good luck, it can be challenging (and expensive) finding something that works for your horse.
 
I bought mine when I needed a new bridle. Didn't try first. I was lucky as it's worked out well, but would also suggest borrowing one first. The leather was stiff and horrible for ages after I bought it and so it was quite difficult to get it to fit just right at the beginning.
 
1. I was in the market for a new bridle and a few friends had recommended the micklem.

2. I got the competition one

3. Diva- I though so at first, but think it was a placebo effect on me to be honest as I don’t actually think it made that much difference,
Tobi- he went well in it, but in all fairness, he went well in any bridle. He did seem much less mouthy though, which was good.
Polly- hated it. Despite me putting the mouth strap loose she absolutely couldn’t stand that feeling on her mouth. Spent most of the time reversing or in the air. Her reaction was really extreme.
 
One of my friends has just bought one and she was kind enough to let me try it on my mare. I'd had a hankering to try one for years. My mare absolutely hated it, much to my surprise. I didn't even ride her in it. She told me exactly what she thought of it within seconds of me putting it on! The look of relief on her face when I took it off and put her own bridle on was priceless!
 
I dont rate them and they have no research data at all backing up their claims.

A nose band does nothing on a horse.
I would go for the drop if you think you need it or have a look at changing bits.

Give the bit bank a call as they helped me with mine and he was a different horse
 
Slightlyconfused said:
I dont rate them and they have no research data at all backing up their claims.

A nose band does nothing on a horse.
I would go for the drop if you think you need it or have a look at changing bits.

Give the bit bank a call as they helped me with mine and he was a different horse
Click to expand...


I appreciate your view but this is asking those who bought one questions. I have taken on board what you said, and my still go the drop route. I just want to find out from a comfort angle in case it is that is effecting her.
I tried bit bank and both bits I bought did nothing, I have gone through 9 bits so far. Not buying any more for the moment.

McFluff That is interesting what you say about brow band as my mare is a extra full 17 inches and most browbands are too tight

sadly I don't know anyone who has one to try in extra full /warmblood
 
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ILuvCowparsely said:
!) What made you buy a Micklem

2) Which one i did you go for and why

3) Does your horse go better in one
Click to expand...

Horse was very fussy in the mouth and having ruled out teeth etc as a cause we tried a Micklem

Got the deluxe competition one in the hope that it would be better quality than the regular ones, it was better but still utterly appalling for the price tag - the sort of quality I’d expect in a £30 bridle not £100+

Horse hated it and was so distracted by it we gave up after a few attempts and I sold it on. We’re both much happier without one in our lives :)
 
!) What made you buy a Micklem - Thought I'd give one a go to see f there was any difference - the horse loved it. He has nerve damage in his face, so I think it is much more comfy for him. 2nd hors, I tried it as he was quite unsettled in his contact. He also is very happy in it. Neither are done up tight, you can easily put 2 fingers under the noseband.

2) Which one i did you go for and why - small horse has a comp one which I bought on ebay. Big horse has a training one, also purchased on ebay. I did buy a comp one as well from a forum, and that one is now used by a friend.

3) Does your horse go better in one. The two mentioned above do, as does friends cob, however, 2 other horses on the yard hated it.
 
I bought one for my sensitive horse who is a slight headshaker, I wanted a new bridle for him and couldn't find a smart brown bridle with a plain cavesson other than a hunter bridle which I already had, he was happy in it, I think he liked the stability of the bit as well as the lower fitting noseband, the leather quality in my brown competition bridle is fine, it was supple from day 1 and I suspect it is the black ones that are not so good.

Horse is now retired so I will probably sell it as unlikely to need a full size bridle for anything else I buy.
 
I bought one recently, the competion version and the real deal, not a copy. The leather is really soft, especially across the poll. My horse was initially very wary in case I strapped him in across his jaw - I never have but he has obviously some bad memories, judging by his reaction. He now puts his head in the bridle by himself - very willingly. He is softer and more relaxed and so far I see no reason to change back to a traditional bridle. I found it difficult to fit accurately and had to refer to the video a few times until I found the right place for everything at first. Now I'm used to it I know where everything should be. It is hard to swap to something different when you know by experience how the parts of a bridle should be placed and are suddenly faced with a completely different design but I am very happy with mine, and happy with the concept behind the design.
 
This is great and I thank you all and have read every post and will read them all again several times tomorrow and any more contributions.
 
1)bought one because my gelding hated nosebands - he seemed to screw his face up when he had one on, but I couldn't compete without a noseband so gave the micklem a try and he was happy with it.

2)competition version. No particular reason why, but since I wanted it for competing it seemed the obvious choice

3)yes the gelding goes very well in it, but I suspect he is less sensitive than he used to be now and I would probably get away with a cavesson, though I haven't tested this theory. I tried it on my mare as she is also very sensitive, but she wasn't keen on it at all.
 
I bought a training Micklem for a horse that was very sensitive over the poll, made no difference to him but I found it useful for lunging especially with the bit off. I've now been using it on a different pony for the last 3 years and he's happier in it than anything else. I think the bit being kept stiller is why it works for him, I use it with a baucher snaffle and the lower strap on the loosest hole, I can get my hand under it!

I have a brown one and the leather quality is surprisingly fine, it's probably had 4 years full on use and will be 7 years old now. I did have to put a larger browband on though I seem to have to do that with most bridles.
 
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