OMflippingG! Micklem - I can't believe it!!

Queenbee

Queenbee

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So, I was debating trialing a Micklem, but thought sod it and took the plunge and purchased a competition Micklem. It arrived today. WHAT A PIECE OF DESIGN! A few points to note:

Assembly of the Micklem bridle should be a task on the Krypton factor!

They smell lovely - I love the smell of new leather ;)

They are totally worth it! I get that not all horses will go well in them, but mine certainly does.

There is a quote on the packaging - it says that its perfect for a SJ that needs to be light in front and quiet in the hand - up until today I always believed that it was kind of gimicky, probably a good bride that made a bit of difference but today I am a complete convert...

Ben did feel significantly lighter and uphill.

He finds it hard to concentrate and is always looking outside of the school for distractions... he half heartedly did this three times only throughout the entire schooling session and only because people were walking back with horses from their field.

So, he was much more able to focus...

he was far more willing to work... I always warm up but he was 'there' working correctly straight away.

On a long rein while stretching him out in between working, he maintained a contact... normally he will stretch lovely but resist a proper contact on the reins - no problems with that today!

For some reason he is responding much better to my leg and bending properly to the inside... I can only imagine that he is more relaxed/more able to focus on aids and respond to them.

The only resistance that we get is trot to canter transition... he pops straight into canter, but his head then comes up and we need to do a couple of circuits to settle him, then he relaxes, softens and works well... but this is something that I feel we can really focus on now and I have a feeling that it will come on very quickly.

Truly, I am blown away by JUST HOW MUCH of a difference this bridle makes to the beast! To me, it is worth every penny! Of course, we have yet to try it SJ, but that will come on Wednesday evening. I also have a new bomber bit on the way to trial... similar design to the one that was our saviour when ben had his wolf tooth shard working its way out, but instead of a straight bar, we have a double joint with rings in the middle... the hope is with this it will:

A) increase braking
B) Improve steering
C) help focus him on the bit

Anyway's, to anyone who is considering a Micklem, from my experience I would say go for it!
 
Tried it on two of mine - one was noticeably worse in it and for the other it made no difference. However I know a few people who have one and it had made a big difference to their horse.
 
I've never used them but know 3 friends who have and it made no difference. I would still try one if I thought it would help, but I'd rather not as I hate the way the look and they seemed to be appalling quality for the money. Horses for courses though :) If it works for you then it priceless, if it doesnt then you can sell them on for a good price anyway :)
 
Black Beastie said:
Mine solved the issues I was having as well :)

Very happy with it on my boy and I recommend them now as well.
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eggs said:
Tried it on two of mine - one was noticeably worse in it and for the other it made no difference. However I know a few people who have one and it had made a big difference to their horse.
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FrankieCob said:
I've never used them but know 3 friends who have and it made no difference. I would still try one if I thought it would help, but I'd rather not as I hate the way the look and they seemed to be appalling quality for the money. Horses for courses though :) If it works for you then it priceless, if it doesnt then you can sell them on for a good price anyway :)
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I really do think its 'horses for courses' I only know of people that have had good experiences from using them, although as I mentioned and as you have stated, I am sure that there are some that these bridles dont help.

FC... I have read reviews that say their quality has lessened over time, however, from the looks of them I would not say the quality of leather is appauling, I would say it is good... not necessarily excellent, but pretty good, and would add that you are also paying for the benefit of the design and effect... I would even go as far to say that if they did a better quality leather/micklem for more money... I would pay.

Sukistokes2 said:
Wonder if they do draft size?
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SS, I read a lot about sizing (thank god) the largest they do is 'large horse', the size below that is reccomended for 14.2 large head to 16.2 fine head... beast is 16.1 and in a large horse, but then his head is a bit of a 'mass' ;) I would class him as a MW hunter and in normal bridles... he is on the last hole on the noseband... He has three holes to spare around the nose and about 5 holes to spare on their equivalent of a throat lash? Comparing him to our shire, I would say that it most likely would have fitted her... but you can hire them for trial, if you are interested I would say do that :)
 
The design of the Micklem bridle is good however the leather it's made from is less than the best. The leather cracks on the surface & that's a poor sign. When you pay around £120 or so you would expect better quality. My partner is a bridle stitcher by trade, she hand stitches bridles & knows leather & she was surprised at the poor quality of the leather used in their manufacture. :(
 
I bought one as a last ditch attempt to get my headshaker comfortable ridden - massive difference, we have a 'normal' (for her) amount of headshaking now, instead of the exaggerated, 'hit you in the face' headshaking we used to get when ridden (everywhere else it is the 'normal' headshaking but ridden she was a nightmare). I've even been able to take all the masks off her.

Glad to hear it's working for you too :) I'm a convert.
 
It makes a difference to my horse too. I don't see how people think its hard to put together though! It's pretty simple.

I have the competition one and the leather is lovely and soft with no cracking. One thing I will say is that the reins are really short - and mine is a large horse!
 
I''ve had Mr B in one since April and I think he's much more comfortable and is going beautifully. I've got the competition bridle and think the leather is fine. Now I'm used to the look of it I quite like it and it goes on easily as he doesn't argue when I do the drop up. It took him a few days to settle in it and actually didn't seem to like it initially but I wouldn't go back to his old bridle now.
 
Apparently, they are bringing out an English leather version in the autumn. I think I read that it will retail at about £200, but I think it will be worth it as the quality of the leather is the only thing that let's them down.
 
I bought one recently to try on my youngster, unfortunately he is cutting his canine teeth and is extremely uncomfortable in his mouth so I've turned him away. I'm hoping he likes it, when I eventually get to ride him in it!
 
We have multiple micklems at work, some competition some normal. The leather quality seems perfectly good to me - they are used multiple times per day in all weathers and clean up very nicely.
 
I have been kind of tempted to try one of these even though i think deep down they are maybe not as helpful as they say. But my horse is being an ass and used to hate me putting on his bridle at all still does at times but not as bad. His attitude has worsened since i got the padded bridle but not straight away so i think in all honesty i am making excuses and just want a reason for why he is an ass when really it's probably my riding causing it no doubt.

Just he never used to be this rude to ride even a professional finds him rude. Think it's worth trialling one? Can you even use one for dressage competitions? He used to be lovely and safe and this year he has just been a pain but he is 7 now.
 
Last year I went to an ROR clinic. There were 10 ex racehorses there and mine was the only one not in a Micklem. I decided to buy one and yes it did make a difference, so much so I now ride him bitless in it
 
I think what people have said is that for some horses they work very well and for some they make no difference at all. It all depends what problem you are trying to solve.Mr B had no behavioural issues whatsover, he is a polite well schooled horse but he has always opened his mouth and liked to lean on the bit if given the opportunity. He has a small mouth, a big fleshy tongue and a broad head and he's a forward thinking sensitive ride. He was better in a drop, didn't like a flash much and would put his tongue over the bit in a plain cavesson. The micklem has made a big difference to him, he is quiet in the mouth, much more "to the bridle" and much lighter in the hand without being curled up. I trialled it for a week before buying. You may find a micklem helps but I'd definitely trial it first.
rachk89 said:
I have been kind of tempted to try one of these even though i think deep down they are maybe not as helpful as they say. But my horse is being an ass and used to hate me putting on his bridle at all still does at times but not as bad. His attitude has worsened since i got the padded bridle but not straight away so i think in all honesty i am making excuses and just want a reason for why he is an ass when really it's probably my riding causing it no doubt.

.
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oldie48 said:
I think what people have said is that for some horses they work very well and for some they make no difference at all. It all depends what problem you are trying to solve.Mr B had no behavioural issues whatsover, he is a polite well schooled horse but he has always opened his mouth and liked to lean on the bit if given the opportunity. He has a small mouth, a big fleshy tongue and a broad head and he's a forward thinking sensitive ride. He was better in a drop, didn't like a flash much and would put his tongue over the bit in a plain cavesson. The micklem has made a big difference to him, he is quiet in the mouth, much more "to the bridle" and much lighter in the hand without being curled up. I trialled it for a week before buying. You may find a micklem helps but I'd definitely trial it first.
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I just don't know what has caused my horse to become horrible to be honest.*I don't think a new bridle is going to help sadly. Thanks though might trial one if we don't get to the bottom of this soon.
 
indie1282 said:
It makes a difference to my horse too. I don't see how people think its hard to put together though! It's pretty simple.

I have the competition one and the leather is lovely and soft with no cracking. One thing I will say is that the reins are really short - and mine is a large horse!
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I was having a bit of a laugh on the 'hard to put together' bit. Agree that its straightforward, although I must say during fitting I checked, double checked and triple checked the holes it was done up on and positioning, but then - I would always do that with a new fit.

I have the competition one and agree - the leather is lovely and soft (although this is only week 1) however all the other micklems at my yard seem to be holding up fine with no cracking and the proper care - however, I do remember reading a few posts a fair while back that said the quality is not what it once was - so I see what TZ is saying, however - it is still decent quality leather as opposed to some of the bridles out there on the market. I did not get the reins, but then I am extremely picky over my reins so by the sounds of it if they are short - they would have been put in a box and unused... I like extra long reins that are flexible and fairly narrow with fine rubber grip on one side... won't ride in anything else.

We have spent the last two days schooling, day 1 without bit clips, day 2 I spent the first five-10 mins in the clips and quickly realised that he went better without the clips... but I think the versatility of the bridle is super, and again - the difference it makes is significant.
 
gryff said:
Apparently, they are bringing out an English leather version in the autumn. I think I read that it will retail at about £200, but I think it will be worth it as the quality of the leather is the only thing that let's them down.
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I agree, I think that what some forget is that the price tag is also reflective of the design and its features. If they do bring in an EL version, I would certainly buy one and keep one for daily use and one for competition... I would happily pay £200 for the transformation in the beast... of course, we still have to go and test drive it at a SJ competition but I feel positive about this!

Our new jumping bit has arrived to trial too... its all go in Beast land!

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rachk89 said:
I have been kind of tempted to try one of these even though i think deep down they are maybe not as helpful as they say. But my horse is being an ass and used to hate me putting on his bridle at all still does at times but not as bad. His attitude has worsened since i got the padded bridle but not straight away so i think in all honesty i am making excuses and just want a reason for why he is an ass when really it's probably my riding causing it no doubt.

Just he never used to be this rude to ride even a professional finds him rude. Think it's worth trialling one? Can you even use one for dressage competitions? He used to be lovely and safe and this year he has just been a pain but he is 7 now.
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Yep they are DL and YES! I wholeheartedly reccomend you try one, you can either purchase one or trial one, I decided to purchase as they tend to hold their value well so if it did not help I would have just re-sold it.

I was sceptical like you, I believed it might make a bit of a difference but am blown away by just how much of a difference it has made.
 
brighteyes said:
I ride with a (cavesson) noseband so loose it is almost untidy, as it was a point of resistance. Is this an option with a Micklem? I'm a 'less is more' person.
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Im not sure, I would say probably not - although I am 2 days into using mine so others are probably better placed to comment. The micklem does up in a drop fashion in front of the bit rings not behind, it therefore must fit snug - not tight but snug with no daylight.

I would add though that the beast never had a tight cavesson, but in the micklem goes so much better - the bridle itself is designed to avoid all the pressure points, the noseband holds the bit in a much better position for the horse. With this type of design I would not consider using the noseband loosely but he seems so much happier in it - i don't give it a second thought
 
brighteyes said:
I ride with a (cavesson) noseband so loose it is almost untidy, as it was a point of resistance. Is this an option with a Micklem? I'm a 'less is more' person.
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I have the drop strap done up loosely on mine, as like you I'm a 'less is more' person. Set up for lunging as pictured here, it probably needs to be not too flappy, but for ridden work it could be looser again. ETA With a multibridle you can lunge with or without a bit.



I started with Micklems as lunging bridles, as I had a horse who wouldn't tolerate a conventional lunge cavesson with metal rings on the nose. He was transformed in the Micklem.

I've now got three multibridles, and the leather is ok in all of them.
 
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Glad you've had a positive reaction :) I bought one a few years ago when they were fairly new and it literally saved my horses life, i thought we'd come to the end of the road as i couldn't find anything else to try, it did enough to break some bad habits and we never looked back, shes now ridden in a more conventional bridle. The leather on mine is very poor it cracked and continued cracking for several months but seems a lot better now its a few years old with various degrees of love and use! I expect the leather has been improved in recent times as it was a major complaint in the beginning!

My advise would be to NOT try the bit and the bridle in conjunction when you start out try the bridle with his usual bit, and then try the bit with a standard bridle before trying them together otherwise you will not truly know which has the greatest effect. I have also found that bits with a leverage don't have the same level of effect when used in the micklem as the bridle is a lot more stable the pressure is distributed differently.

Good Luck!
 
Queenbee said:
Yep they are DL and YES! I wholeheartedly reccomend you try one, you can either purchase one or trial one, I decided to purchase as they tend to hold their value well so if it did not help I would have just re-sold it.

I was sceptical like you, I believed it might make a bit of a difference but am blown away by just how much of a difference it has made.
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I think i will try it. Today he did well but he was itching his head a lot and not really paying much attention. It might help him hopefully.
 
I have been looking online and someone is selling cheaper versions of the micklem on ebay. Anyone bought one of these? Are they exactly the same or better to pay the full price? They look the same but that doesn't mean anything.
 
Borrowed a Micklem just recently as my mare has a habit of slowly leaning down and lengthening the reins. The more you rider her forward the more she then starts to fiddle with the bit. Anyway only had one try in it but the first 10-15 mins she walked round with her head much higher than usual. I'm not one for keeping to tight a hold on my reins and as we were warming up I certainly didn't try and force it but hoped she'd naturally soften.
Not entirely sure she did. Think we ended up after 30 mins where I normally am after 10.
Rome wasn't build in a day, I suppose!
 
I am a great fan of the Miclem Bridle , It just fits a horses head so well. I just wish there were a cacerson version.
 
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