Micklem bridles

[Hobo2]

Just completed my first clinic on my new horse . All good put some previous horse demons to rest.
horse can be a bit fussy with her mouth and tongue. Instructor suggested trying a micklem and another rider has a spare one for me to try.
Have any of you tried them do you love them hate them. I am very scared of new things but know horse could go better and quieter in the mouth ect .

 

[Elno]

Yup... Tried on several of horses I've owned. Honestly not a fan. Bad quality leather, ugly, and none of the horses actually went better in one than they did in a bog standard drop noseband.

 

[Hobo2]

Elno I must admit that it what I remember being said about them . But I don’t like a dropped nose either. Sounds good that I can at least try before I buy just in case it is as you have found.

 

[Ratface]

Trying before you buy seems like a sensible way forward. I had one for a while. Didn't like it and gave it to a friend who loved it.

 

[Equi]

It was decent on my last horse, I felt it made a difference. I didn’t feel it made any difference at all to my current horse and in fact he didn’t like it. As said the quality isn’t that great, I had to send my first one back as it stretched unevenly…I’m not even sure I know where mine is now I must search for it lol

 

[dixie]

I’m using it on my current horse. I like it and he likes it. He doesn’t like a drop or flash but is perfectly fine in this. He’s fussy in the mouth but i think it keeps the bit steady in the mouth.
I’ve had the bridle a number of years and it suits some of the horses I’ve had and looked hideous on others !

 

[Cowpony]

I borrowed one, thank goodness, because my mare hated it as soon as it went on. I think they're a bit marmite.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Elno I must admit that it what I remember being said about them . But I don’t like a dropped nose either. Sounds good that I can at least try before I buy just in case it is as you have found.

Any reason for not liking a drop?

I tried a friends Micklem over 4 yrs ago when struggling with B. It was an original but I wasnt taken with the quality, nor how it worked on B. She reacted badly to it and was more fussy.
Dragged out an elderly drop (I don't like them) and with it correctly fitted, it helped stabilise her. I recall I used it for about 4 months or so, then popped a grackle on for xc. This was with using a loose ring Bomber happy tongue bit.
Both did the job and as you'll recall shes in a std hunter noseband and has been for a long time.

 

[Hobo2]

I just prefer either a plain noseband or flash . Though I have moved away from using a flash as well over the years. I am more aware how soft their nasal passages are and not wanting to clamp things down.
it was the first time that she had been so messy in the mouth she usually just lip flaps!

 

[Jambarissa]

I think mine is lovely quality leather, I know I bought at the time they were changing from the old version to the new but don't know which one I got. It's the multi bridle though, possibly they're different leather because they need to be stronger?

I particularly like the throat strap, it actually does something in stabilising the bridle unlike a throat lash.

I dont like the lower strap on the noseband, but I get it's a good place to fasten it.

They don't fit a non standard head very well, mine needs XF browband, F noseband, C cheek pieces and it's on the tightest buckle in some places and the loosest in others. I wouldn't be able to use a hanging cheek bit with it.

I do think my horse is more comfortable in it than her original bridle but the lower nose strap is making me search for something else.

 

[JBM]

Out of my two one loved the micklem and one hated it so really depends on the horse

 

[Hobo2]

Well it sounds like it is a good job someone is able to lend me one to try by the sounds of it. Sounds they are like marmite.

 

[Cragrat]

I bought one not long after they came out - it really helped with my horse at the time. Using the clips to transfer some 'pull' from his mouth to his nose in exciting situations such as XC really really helped.

I then bought another for a different horse, and it helped with her contact. The next two young horses we bought we also bought Micklems for, just because we like the, and horses seem to go well in them. Our oldest Micklem is probably about 12 years old, and is still in really good condition.

 

[Bonnie Allie]

My mare loves hers. I hate the poor quality leather but if she is happy then I’m happy.

Confess to really struggling with the logic of why they work as I feel I can achieve the same in a standard cavesson bridle, but my horse says apparently not.

 

[shortstuff99]

One of mine has a micklem and loves it! Mine is good quality leather though and has lasted years and years.

 

[dominobrown]

You could get a bridle fitter out? The lady who came to my yard did bits as well. Just there are milllions of “anatomical“ bridles out there now and its a minefield.

 

[Sprout]

Dennis is going better in his, no more opening his mouth and running through the bit. Good idea to try first.

 

[dreamcometrue]

I use a Micklem on my mare because it fits her so well. She has the type of head that is difficult to fit a standard bridle to. She goes really nicely with it.

 

[webble]

I'm another who found the leather quality poor and also the browband to be too short

Lots of options out there. Horsemanship get a lot of positive feedback on here and I have a quantum I'm really pleased with

 

[criso]

I use a Micklem on my mare because it fits her so well. She has the type of head that is difficult to fit a standard bridle to. She goes really nicely with it.

That's what I did. I was at the point of looking for custom made but sports direct had them on half price so i tried it.

Confess to really struggling with the logic of why they work as I feel I can achieve the same in a standard cavesson bridle, but my horse says apparently not.

Aside from some of the other straps avoiding sensitive areas, when Fairfax did noseband testing before designing their own, Cavessons came out really badly with only flashes worse. My previous horse hated Cavessons and preferred a drop.

 

[saddlesore]

Dennis is going better in his, no more opening his mouth and running through the bit. Good idea to try first.

No help at all but I love your horse’s name!

 

[Barton Bounty]

Fantastic quality leather, mine is still really great condition after 7 years of daily use. I used the micklem with a bit initially, now we are bitless

 

[Squeak]

You could get a bridle fitter out? The lady who came to my yard did bits as well. Just there are milllions of “anatomical“ bridles out there now and its a minefield.

This is what I’d be tempted to do. I’ve found micklems to help in the past with some horses but there are such a huge amount of anatomical bridles that it’s worth trying a couple if you can and getting the one that’s the best fit for your horse. Also a bit fitter might be able to suggest a bit if she’s being fussy in her mouth.