Tell me about Micklem bridles

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JillA

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Horse isn't very forward going and dislikes having his bridle on - he is getting fidgety when ridden too although he might just be unused to it after a winter off. He is more than happy with a contact. I bought him a very large browband a couple of years ago which helped but wondering if he will go better in a micklem and be happier to have it on. They are a lot of money though and you see them on ebay being sold because "horse didn't like it" - although I suppose that means I can sell it if he doesn't. Experiences please?
( I found out how to measure so will be sure to get the correct size if I do get one)
 
Think what you've put summarises them well, they're marmite bridles, some horses love them and some hate them!

Mine was a hater so I sold it on eBay and lost very little doing so.

Have so say though I was quite relieved that he didn't like it as the leather is not good quality at all for the price, I had one of the deluxe competition ones and the leather quality was what I would normally expect from an unbranded £30 odd bridle.
It wasn't a fake either, from a recognised stockist!
 
Absolutely marmite, but my horse is the other way he loves it.

Charlie was getting fussy to bridle and in the contact and would keep putting his tongue over the bit.

I took him to see his osteopath and found that he was reactive to the TMG(?) nerve in his face. I had thought of trying the Micklem and this visit confirmed it. Bought one and we have never looked back. Almost immediately he became softer through the contact and stiller in his mouth. No more head shaking when bridling. I did after about 6 months try him in a drop noseband but it became obvious he was a Micklem man and as soon as I changed back, happy boy again.

I hate with a passion the leather and the look of them. He is a big chap and a lovely wide cavesson looks great on him, but he prefers it so that is what I go with.
 
What is he in now?

A few have suggested it for mine but he doesn't have anything round his mouth and I don't see the point of them if he doesn't need the drop bit.
 
Slightlyconfused said:
What is he in now?
Click to expand...

Plain bridle, link eggbut snaffle and a cavesson noseband, as in the pic except for the browband. This is a horse who is fairly opinionated and lets you know if he isn't happy with something lol

headsept2008.jpg
 
I bought a micklem copy and my mare really liked it so I went and bought the micklem deluxe for her. She is a 14.2 Welsh cob with a fine head so I got the small horse and the leather looked ok. However it was way too small so exchanged it for a medium horse and didn't check the leather as the shop assistant was holding it. The leather is awful,cracked and hard so I oiled it with it making any difference. I phoned the shop who admitted the quality is very variable but would not exchange it as I had used it so please check carefully before buying.
 
see if you can find somewhere that does a trial service, same idea as bit banks
e.g.
https://www.forelockandload.com/products/micklem-bridle-hire
I am sure there are other places, nearer where you are
I've seen more horses get on with them than not (at a riding school) though if they are the sort that don't like change they might not take to it straight away. I really like the micklem with my horse.
 
Honestly if he is okay in this I would just work on his suppleness and balance more then look at the bitting arrangement before going for a micklem
 
I hired a Micklem from equestrianhire.co.uk and ended up keeping it because my mare went well in it. Unfortunately she pulled back while putting her bridle on the other day and stomped on it, pulling out the stitching on the rings that the bit straps attach to on both sides so we're back in a conventional bridle until I can get it restitched. You pay full price for the bridle from Equestrian Hire but get a refund minus £20 hire fee if you return the bridle clean, unoiled and undamaged within 2 weeks. If you them email details and pictures of your horse in his current bridle they'll work out what size you need too. http://equestrianhire.co.uk/hire-a-micklem-bridle.html
 
Have you noticed a difference in her since she want back to a normal bridle? I might ask around if anyone has one I can borrow to see if he is happier in it. Thanks for responses everyone
 
My standardbred has one. He started out in a conventional bridle without a noseband (as he has a lump on his jaw), but when the noseband was added it made him fidgety, so his trainer tried him in a Micklem and he was much more settled. He's the only horse on the yard that has been better in the Micklem then a conventional bridle, so it seems they aren't for everyone.

They can be picked up for £50 - £60 on eBay, so I guess you could always buy a secondhand one and re-sell it on eBay if it didn't suit.
 
I rode the diva in one last summer and although I felt she liked it at first, I went back to my normal bridle and she seems to be exactly the same in this so I've stuck with my normal one now.

The hooligan, however, thrives in it. He's gone from being reluctant to be bridled, to actually standing at the front and happily waiting to have it put on. He's also much quieter in the mouth.
 
My old ID needed extra extra large browbands and a shaped headpiece such that his ears weren't touched by anything. May be a cheaper option to try a different headpiece?
 
Slightlyconfused said:
A few have suggested it for mine but he doesn't have anything round his mouth and I don't see the point of them if he doesn't need the drop bit.
Click to expand...

I was always opposed to anything round their mouthes, stopped using flashes/Mexican nosebands years ago after I decided I didnt like them. However, I did buy a Micklem for one of mine who was sensitive in the mouth, although she doesnt need the drop in any sense that she opens her mouth I think she actually likes that it seems to help stabalise the bit and keep it stiller in her mouth. Mine seems to go better in it than a normal bridle (which she's started to shake her head in if I try her in one).
 
I think you can hire them from the Micklem site. I swapped my TB to a Micklem and he is very fussy. I ride him with and without a bit in it and wouldn't got back to a normal bridle. They seem very popular with TB's for some reason. With regard to the leather , I bought mine a couple of years ago and the leather was fine.
 
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