Micklem Bridles

[cungryhow]

Has anyone got one? And has it made any difference ? I've just bought one for my 9 year old connemara mare who can be fussy in the contact. (teeth, saddle and back check up to date) I've not had a chance to try her in it yet due to the appalling weather. She is normally ridden in a cavesson and ns team up bit for flatwork and a grackle and martingale for more exciting stuff. I have a feeling I have fallen for the marketing but I liked the idea that it was designed around the horses head and has a built in noseband.

I have one.
I bought it for my gorgeous pony who is as fussy as they come when it comes to bits, I've tried different bits, different nosebands, nothing worked, he's just got a big fleshy tongue and is permanently uncomfortable.
For better contact I assume that you are using it with a bit? - which I've not tried.
I'm using it as a bitless bridle and it is great but probably best for hacking. He is comfortable even though the nose pressure can irritate him if he's being ridden by a novice as a result he tends to throw his head around, with a good seat and gentle hands he is happy. We have definitely have breaks but not much finesse, I wouldn't want it on for dressage or showjumping - anything where precision is necessary, I do feel I'd need to attach a bit for this. Hacking, basic schooling, jumping at home are all fine.

thanks for that, yes I am using it with her normal bit. She also has a fat tongue and a low palate. I have now tried it twice, once in the school last night where she settled down to some nice work and today hacking where she seemed happy. Really I would love it to make a difference out competing but I suspect this is just excitement and anxiousness and general personality, nothing to do with her bridle set up!

All said and done its a nice piece of kit, the browband and headpiece seem to fit around her ears far better than her normal bridle.

I have one but the nose is a bit tight for my cob. The size up will be too big everywhere else so I'm left with the choice of getting the size up and putting the bigger nose and on. Then maybe selling the sections I don't need. I love the idea and the way it fits on his face, it's just not quite right as it is and I don't think you can buy the sections on their own? Should contact them really and ask!

Agree the sizing seems to be a bit odd, I went for the small horse size as pony in normally in a cob bridle, the noseband attached to the headpiece is nearly at the top but everywhere else is practically on the last holes, agree that mix and match parts seems a good idea although it wouldn't help me as if I went up a size for the noseband the width would be more generous but the noseband itself would probably cover her nostrils!

cungryhow you could probably add holes to the length though, easier to shorten the length?
I can get it to fasten if I put it as low as I can on the last hole (which is probably lower than it should be on his face) but its really hard to fasten on the largest width hole and therefor squeezes his mouth and bit, it looks very uncomfortable and I wouldn't want to ride him with it like that.
when I've finally decided on which saddle I want I'm going to get the next size up and try putting the 2 together

I think it just suprised me a bit as I though the pony had a pretty regular shaped head, obviously not! We've got a bit of flexibility and like you say, I can shorten the length if required. I now have to try and sell the reins which came with it, I have gone over to bio-grips and the ones included with this feel massive and clunky! Good luck with you saddle quest Lovesswimming!

I'd love one. But sadly Micklem 'Pony' seems to be designed for 14hh or so. It was too big for 13hh New Forest and would swamp the section A. Its a shame because in terms of versatility they are excellent.
My friend has one for her warm blood. He loves it but it does have some sizing issues. Some of the straps could do with being longer.

A couple of weeks later and I am very pleased with it. Mare is steadier in the contact and according to our instructor produced our best canter work yet. Transitions also improved. I'm sold! Not yet jumped or been off roading so can't comment on that yet. Do agree that the sizing is odd though. On the Horseware promo video on Youtube it shows the bridle being worn by some small looking ponies.