"not a micklem horse" on dressage sheet

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MagicMelon

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So I had a pretty disastrous dressage test at my last BE event (pretty standard with this mare as she gets so anxious), twice in the judges comments at the end she says my horse "isnt a micklem horse" as she wears a Micklem bridle... does anyone know what she could mean by this? The mare has a high head carriage and goes like a giraffe on and off, runs into canter when anxious etc. She needs far more schooling / practice in the dressage arena, I know that (yet can jump like stink!) but Im baffled as to what she means by this. I changed from a regular bridle to a Micklem when she began shaking her head, the Micklem seemed to fix the issue.
 
Tiddlypom said:
I've done quite a lot of dressage scribing, and it's clear that a minority of judges are still very anti micklems. Eg on watching a competitor trotting round the arena pre test 'Here comes another micklem, let's look out for the contact problems'.
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Why would there be contact problems with this bridle? I figure that because its shaped more ergonomically then surely its comfier than the usual bridles? Id love to know their reasonings!
 
Tiddlypom said:
I've done quite a lot of dressage scribing, and it's clear that a minority of judges are still very anti micklems. Eg on watching a competitor trotting round the arena pre test 'Here comes another micklem, let's look out for the contact problems'.
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That's really interesting to hear because I wondered if that would be the case with some judges and it appears it is!!
 
MagicMelon said:
Why would there be contact problems with this bridle? I figure that because its shaped more ergonomically then surely its comfier than the usual bridles? Id love to know their reasonings!
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No it’s more that a judge sees the bridle and automatically assumes the horse is in it because it has a problem (and often it is / does) be that contact or just bad training.

But it’s a really daft and disappointing comment from the judge. I would honestly just ignore it and continue to work on your horses way of going
 
MagicMelon said:
Why would there be contact problems with this bridle? I figure that because its shaped more ergonomically then surely its comfier than the usual bridles? Id love to know their reasonings!
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other way round I think - they think that people reach for the micklem *because* they have contact issues.
 
It's not that micklems cause contact problems, but people tend to go down the micklem route BECAUSE the horse has contact problems. They are much more mainstream than they were a few years ago, though.

I'm a micklem fan. I came into them because I had a horse who hated a conventional lunge cavesson, so I got a micklem multibridle which doubles as everyday bridle/lunge cavesson. Some horses won't like them, of course, but those horses that do like them, IME like them a lot :).
 
I'd file that test sheet either in the 'one to be ignored' pile or the bin! I don't see how a judge can make that comment without being able to compare how the horse goes in a traditional bridle too. There was a big thread on this subject on one of the Facebook groups about 18 months ago and several judges came on to confirm that they will look for what the rider is trying to fix with the Micklem.

Tiddlypom said:
It's not that micklems cause contact problems, but people tend to go down the micklem route BECAUSE the horse has contact problems.
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This was my motivation for trying a Micklem. The horse hated it so went back into a trad bridle and, several years later, still has contact problems that I'm working on <sigh>.
 
Micklem bridles are often used on horses with contact problems, they're also often used just because they are fashionable, but judges can be forgiven for having an opinion on whether they are appropriate or not I think - after all they are being paid to give their views.
 
Oh I see, but then surely in that case judges should be suspicious of other things then like any other noseband than a plain cavesson? I only went down that route as she was head shaking and seems to prefer the shaped headpiece! I wish it made her go better but other than not shaking her head, it doesnt!
 
I have one bought on impulse half price because my tb doesn't fit a standard size bridle and I thought a different style might work. I didn't want to go down the made to measure route. I quite like the look of it too on my horse.

However at shows and clinics lots of people ask me how it helped assuming it was there to solve a problem.
 
Cortez said:
but judges can be forgiven for having an opinion on whether they are appropriate or not I think - after all they are being paid to give their views.
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But surely thats just views on the movements in front of them rather than commenting on my choice of tack? I always accept any suggestions but its not backed up with anything, it just makes me confused
 
MagicMelon said:
But surely thats just views on the movements in front of them rather than commenting on my choice of tack? I always accept any suggestions but its not backed up with anything, it just makes me confused
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I agree, I wouldn&#8217;t expect a judge to directly comment on choice of legal tack, they don&#8217;t say urgh not that awful diamanté browband do they? (Even if they are thinking it.)
They should comment on the performance, and if contact or headshaking or anything else is part of that it should be commented on and marked accordingly
 
ihatework said:
I agree, I wouldn’t expect a judge to directly comment on choice of legal tack, they don’t say urgh not that awful diamanté browband do they? (Even if they are thinking it.)
They should comment on the performance, and if contact or headshaking or anything else is part of that it should be commented on and marked accordingly
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*calling AlexHyde*
 
Goldenstar said:
I have also hear this but as a writer I have never heard a judge comment on the use of a micklem .
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Neither have I, nor would I comment on the tack if I was judging - but I have often looked at a test and wondered what on earth people thought they were doing with the equipment they had on!
 
ihatework said:
I agree, I wouldn’t expect a judge to directly comment on choice of legal tack, they don’t say urgh not that awful diamanté browband do they? (Even if they are thinking it.)
They should comment on the performance, and if contact or headshaking or anything else is part of that it should be commented on and marked accordingly
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I have had exactly that on my sheet from this weekend, judge disliked us so intensely they felt the need to comment on my choice of ear coverings on Topaz :rolleyes3:.

It’s the first and hopefully last time I have such an unprofessional comment written on my sheet, and thankfully had my team mates on hand to laugh it off with :o.
 
Tiddlypom said:
*wonders what type of ear coverings Alex Hyde's horse was wearing*
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This is the only thing I can imagine that would justify a comment!
 
I don't think there should have been a mention but I do think a horse wearing a micklem highlights there are contact issues, I don't know anyone that has one that hasn't tried it to help resolve issues with the contact.
So even if a judge doesn't say or write it the thought may well planted before you even start, rightly or wrongly.
 
Farma said:
I don't think there should have been a mention but I do think a horse wearing a micklem highlights there are contact issues, I don't know anyone that has one that hasn't tried it to help resolve issues with the contact.
So even if a judge doesn't say or write it the thought may well planted before you even start, rightly or wrongly.
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It wasn't why I chose to use one :p and you could pull apart all sorts of tack choices that may have been to help a variety of 'training issues'. But a micklem is just easily recognisable - it's lazy judging.

AH - can't believe you would offend peoples eyes with that head gear :( DF's choice would've been much more respectable :D
 
Judge scored me very harshly against the other two two judges, and wrote it was too distracting or words to that effect, not got my sheet with me to double check the exact phrase.
 
I have hoss in a micklem , simply because my lovely physio was saying how much easier they are on horses head due to their design . She had her mare in one and said she really liked it so thought I'd give it a whirl . It wasn't because of any specific issue , sad to read that some judges think a micklem is because of this or that negative reason. It's not nice that some judges are pre judging before the test has even began! I think I'd maybe ask for some more substantial feedback from judge regarding the comment. You know what your horse is happier with .
That's me cursed to receive the same comment when we're playing out on Sunday.
AlexHyde , what a Bonny horse , looks as smart as a carrot , that bottom lip is the cutest .
 
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