Micklem headpiece - which way round?

[Walrus]

Stupid question incoming....

Just purchased a micklem second hand and it arrived in bits (chuffed to bits with the quality and it has clearly been well maintained).

The head piece over the poll has one side that is more cut out and shaped than the other. I assumed this bit faced forwards so it shapes round the ears, but I've seen some pics where it looks like it might be fitted the other way round with the flatter edge against the ears. Not sure if that's just the angle of the pics. Can anyone enlighten me which way round it's supposed to go please? Thanks

 

[dixie]

http://www.williammicklem.com/multibridle-multibridle.html

I need to check mine when I’m at the yard as not sure now !

 

[cauda equina]

Flat to the Front

 

[Walrus]

Thank you. When I look at it that doesn't make sense, I wonder what the design benefit of it being that way round is, there must be one.

 

[GoldenWillow]

Flat to the front, shaped to the back. My Micklem has an arrow and front stamped on the headpiece.

 

[ycbm]

Flatter to the front but there are horses who prefer it the other way round.
.

 

[Cragrat]

Thank you. When I look at it that doesn't make sense, I wonder what the design benefit of it being that way round is, there must be one.

It gives a broader, therefore lower pressure headpiece area, without pushing forward over sensitve poll area or backs of the ears.

 

[ycbm]

Thank you. When I look at it that doesn't make sense, I wonder what the design benefit of it being that way round is, there must be one.

People think that they need a scoop around the ear of the ear, but it's more often the muscle behind the ear that pushes the headpiece into the ear, so the micklem scoops around that muscle instead.
.

 

[Walrus]

Thanks everyone, I had a very close look at the headpiece today and it does indeed have an arrow and the word front on it. I've flipped it round and it doesn't look as bad as I thought it would. Very pleased with the quality and fit vs some of the reviews I read before.

 

[Cragrat]

Thanks everyone, I had a very close look at the headpiece today and it does indeed have an arrow and the word front on it. I've flipped it round and it doesn't look as bad as I thought it would. Very pleased with the quality and fit vs some of the reviews I read before.

I bought my first Micklem not long after they first came out, and now have 4, 3 of which are in frequent use. They still look and feel really nice. Can't bring myself to sell the 4th, even though it's too big for any of our current horses.