Two Micklem Bridles?

1/25/2014

Yep. I went from eyeballing the bridle skeptically for nearly a year to owning two of them in less than two months.

Speedy's Micklem arrived the other day. Fitting the bridle the second time was much faster and easier than the first one. This one arrived a bit stiffer than Sydney's did, but it could simply be that I've conditioned the heck out of Sydney's which has made it quite soft and pliable.

Speedy's has gone through "softening boot camp," and it's rounding up quite well, but it still needs some use along with regular conditioning to really soften up.

Who doesn't love a Dover bag?

Here is how the Micklem comes packaged.

Sydney wears the Standard Horse size, and Speedy wears the Small Horse size.

L to R: bit clips, browband and bit hangers, rubber reins, headstall

Fits well.

I really have two of them. Sydney's is on the left, Speedy's is on the right.

I've hacked Speedy in the Micklem twice, but I can't say whether he was softer or more relaxed in it. I didn't really buy it expecting any change in his way of going. I really just like the ease of cleaning this bridle, and truth be told, it looks more comfortable for the horse. I should be able to put in a good schooling ride today. I'll let you know how Speedy does in it.

Judy

1/25/2014 12:33:45 am

That really is a beautiful bridle! I thought it was pretty funny that the packaging reads "rambo" Micklem! That leads me to believe great things will be accomplished with it's use!

Bakersfield Dressage link

1/25/2014 02:15:45 pm

I know, huh?! I find it kind of funny, too. Rambo products are quite well known.:0)

Amanda

1/25/2014 12:49:56 am

WHERE'S THE BLING?!?!?!

1/25/2014 02:14:46 pm

It's coming!

Alanna

1/25/2014 05:18:07 am

I just purchased one! I'm looking forward to trying it on Roz.

1/25/2014 02:17:10 pm

I sure hope it works for you guys. I love it for Sydney, and I already like it for Speedy even though I haven't been able to give it a good schooling ride yet. It's definitely an easy bridle to clean and care for though. :0)

Kylie link

1/25/2014 06:02:50 am

I have to say that after using this bridle the last few weeks on my DWB, he's much quicker to soften and he seems to go much better in it. Your octopus analogy is spot on. I feel like I have full contact with not just his mouth, but his whole frontend. He's definitely much lighter in all gaits.
Even at a full out spook (he's a bolt, spin, ask questions later kind of guy) it's much easier to work through / control the antics. I'm wondering now why I didn't try this sooner. We're still not perfect, and it's not a "magic / solve all your issues / now you're ready for PSG tests" kind of bridle, but I think we took a major step forward in our communication.
Thanks again for writing about it!

1/25/2014 02:22:39 pm

Yah! That's been my experience as well, not a magic bullet, but definitely an improvement.

After using it on Sydney, I just fell in love with the design. He seemed so much more comfortable in it that it seemed only fair to get one for Speedy, too. I don't know that it will have as dramatic of an effect on Speedy, but it makes me feel better to know that's he's in (what appears to be anyway) a more comfortable bridle.

I know that he's not a fan of the flash and caveson. The Micklem's jaw strap and flash seem to be much kinder than a traditional bridle's parts are. Thanks for sharing your own experience, Kylie! :0)

Tori link

1/28/2014 02:34:49 am

They really are becoming more and more popular, horses will be much happier for it!

1/28/2014 09:44:42 am

I know Sydney goes better in his, and Speedy didn't mind it, but once I get a good schooling ride on him, I suspect he'll appreciate the absence of the noseband in favor of the jaw strap.

Marni link

3/20/2015 05:50:05 am

Can you tell me what is stamped on the bridle for "Small horse"? Is it SH or C for Cob?

Thank you.

3/21/2015 11:30:04 pm

Not to gum up the works, but it's stamped with "SC" - Small Cob???? I am pretty sure that it was sold as small horse, but I can't remember. In my opinion, the head stalls for both Micklems (I have the small horse and Horse sizes) run a bit big but the jaw strap and flash are a bit small. After a year's wear however, both of the straps stretched out just fine.

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Not-So-Speedy Dressage