Micklem update.

Elsbells

Elsbells

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 April 2010
Messages
2,576
Location
Staffordshire
Visit site
Day 6 of using the new Micklem bridle.

The change is almost awesome!!:D

She's just going so much better and is so settled in it. The test today was a canter in the fields. For the first time, there wasn't the snatching. It was collected, rythnic and on the bit, very relaxed and without spooks! It could of been the rider I was with of course, who knows how to canter and not blast along, but I think a great deal of it was because she was comfortable. Brakes worked with the lightest touch.

Another plus, which is a big one for me anyway, is that she's easier to bridle and when we've finished she's not dashing off to find something to rub her head on. In fact, I've never seen her so chilled and it's not really the time of year for chilled horses.

So next step will be schooling and jumping. It's not going back that's for sure.
 
Can you use any bit with it? All the photos I've seen seem to show it with an eggbut snaffle or a loose ring. I ride mine in a hanging cheek and I'm not sure if it would get in the way of the bottom strap? Of course, he may not need a hanging cheek in one of those, he has it as he pokes his nose out and locks his jaw in an eggbut and a loose ring pinches his lips, even with rubbers!
 
annagain said:
Can you use any bit with it? All the photos I've seen seem to show it with an eggbut snaffle or a loose ring. I ride mine in a hanging cheek and I'm not sure if it would get in the way of the bottom strap? Of course, he may not need a hanging cheek in one of those, he has it as he pokes his nose out and locks his jaw in an eggbut and a loose ring pinches his lips, even with rubbers!
Click to expand...

Ditto the above. Another question I have, are they competition legal for dressage, jumping and unaff ODEs?
 
Stroppy Mare said:
Ditto the above. Another question I have, are they competition legal for dressage, jumping and unaff ODEs?
Click to expand...

Yes they are, the competition Looks slightly smarter and does not have the ring on the front you cannot use the plastic bit clips for dressage though.
 
I have decided to try my lad in one of these and your reviews are giving me great hope that if might help him :) I am planning to do the 2 week trial (if they have any left) starting with my next lesson. Would be great to hear how you continue to get on with your's :)
 
annagain said:
Can you use any bit with it? All the photos I've seen seem to show it with an eggbut snaffle or a loose ring. I ride mine in a hanging cheek and I'm not sure if it would get in the way of the bottom strap? Of course, he may not need a hanging cheek in one of those, he has it as he pokes his nose out and locks his jaw in an eggbut and a loose ring pinches his lips, even with rubbers!
Click to expand...

Sorry I didn't get back, but we've been out.

I don't think it'll work with a hanging cheek as the bit is held up by straps from the headpiece, so to long. I am using a NS team up bit the one with the big rings and thin bars which is fine.

If you search on line for Micklem you'll find there is a lot of information on them and how they work, even on YouTube.
I think she likes the fact that Welght of the bit is held up in the mouth, off the tongue and the bridle itself is just balanced completely differently, its shaped to the horses face away from sensitive areas.

It has taken me two years of umming and ahhhhing before buying and right now I wish I had two years ago.
 
If you look at the micklem website it shows how you can use different bits without the straps, but using the clips to hold it to the noseband......I didn't know that either but I just use a bog standard eggbutt cheekpiece.
I love mine:)
 
Hippona said:
If you look at the micklem website it shows how you can use different bits without the straps, but using the clips to hold it to the noseband......I didn't know that either but I just use a bog standard eggbutt cheekpiece.
I love mine:)
Click to expand...

Thats interesting Hippona. I hadn't seen that, but I can understand how that'll work.
 
Noticed some pictures showing that you can use the noseband on the Micklam Bridle as an ordinary noseband as opposed to a flash, anyone tried this as my horse hates a flash.
 
That was one of my concerns, as I don't like flashes. However, both of my horses are more comfortable so I use it in the intended way....
I really cannot recommend it enough....I'm intending to buy another so me and daughter can hack out together without fighting over the bridle lol:D
 
hi, there im just looking into getting a micklem bridle for my boy and i was wondering if i could just pick your brain, iv had him about 9 months now and although he is getting better he doesnt like the bridle going over his ears, when i first got him and he saw the bridle he would shake and freak out at the back of his stable, can now get the bit in no problem and then thats it, had two trainers work with him who both agree hes had a bad beating at some point, anyway hes fine with a head collar etc so was just wondering if you think it would be possible to fasten it like a headcollar rather than go over his ears, it does look like it would be possible, hope this makes sense, many thanks x
 
No you couldn't really but you could unbuckle the bit, put the head piece on and rebuckle the bit.

I noticed my mare initially was very strong and I concluded its the bit clips making the bit much milder, she seems to be back to normal now.

It's not really like a flash noseband and I am very pleased so far.
 
titchward said:
hi, there im just looking into getting a micklem bridle for my boy and i was wondering if i could just pick your brain, iv had him about 9 months now and although he is getting better he doesnt like the bridle going over his ears, when i first got him and he saw the bridle he would shake and freak out at the back of his stable, can now get the bit in no problem and then thats it, had two trainers work with him who both agree hes had a bad beating at some point, anyway hes fine with a head collar etc so was just wondering if you think it would be possible to fasten it like a headcollar rather than go over his ears, it does look like it would be possible, hope this makes sense, many thanks x
Click to expand...

Also carefully check the inside of horses ears without touching them to see if there are any small white discs, these are ear plaques caused by blackfly bite allergy and are one of the commonest causes of head shyness (tho agree he might have been ear twitched or beaten) instead or as well.

If you find ethe ear plaques it is worthwhile turning out with a fly fringe that includes ear covers. And bridling as recommended by the other poster, split the bridle at the cheeks, pop top half over ears, take bottom half and put bit in, and then rejoin the two halves. It's best not to put lotions and potions on the plaques as it is very painful to have the ears handled and that can be more damaging to behaviour than the original problem, it's something to manage.
 
I've been a bit put off the Micklem bridle. I would like one, but can't work out what size I need. Have contacted Horseware several times but they don't reply to enquiries it seems. So I have had a fit of pique and decided not to bother with them any more.
 
My mare is a 14.1 American paint horse (QH). She usually wears a cob size bridle and that would be on the top holes of everywhere. She has a small horse/cob Micklem. It is on the top holes of the nose band part, middle way on the bit holder part, and the throat strap is on the last hole. I have also had a standard horse size on her and it was ok although we only used it bitless. Hope that helps! I agree the sizing is a bit strange. I got mine from ride away using a discount code so it was only 86 quid :D

Oh and I had the head piece pointing the wrong way for a week, its handy there are arrows (I didn't notice til I rode in it tho) :o:o
 
I used the measurements suggested? So measuring tape from bottom of cheek bone, across top of nose to bottom of cheek bone on other side. My horse came out at 12.5 inches, so I ordered a Large Horse size (he takes WB in regular bridles so I could have guessed) and it fits perfectly. It's on hole three on the cheekpieces.

I'm using it as a bitless, but wanted it because regular bridles seem to catch his cheekbone and rub. It's perfect for this (but has rubbed under the buckle of the noseband :rolleyes: he has ridiculously sensitive skin on his face for a big strapping boy). I also like the jowl strap instead of the throat lash - makes it a very stable bitless option.

The measuring guide I used was this one:
Measuring instructions for the Micklem Bridle: Measure the distance from the bottom point of the protruding cheek bone on one side of the head to the bottom point of the protruding cheek bone on the other side of the head, going round the front of the head.

•Under 27 cm (10.6 inches) = Pony
•27 - 29 cm (10.6 to 11.4 inches) = Small Horse
•29 - 31 cm (11.4 to 12.2 inches) = Standard Horse
•31 - 33 cm (12.2 inches to 13 inches) = Large Horse
You can use a bridle that is slightly too big from cheek bone to cheek bone but not a bridle that is slightly too small.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top