The Micklem Bridle – what you need to know

‘Suitable for horses and riders at every level, from professionals to pleasure and pony riders, the Micklem bridle is loved by horses, loved by trainers and is the most comfortable, effective and flexible bridle ever designed.’

Designed ‘from the inside out’ the Micklem bridle is structured around the anatomy of the horse’s skull.  Traditional bridles can cause pressure on the five main sensitive areas of the horse’s head and the Micklem bridle aims to avoid these – making horses more comfortable and happier.   

The areas are:

1. Top and Bottom Jaw

When looking at the skull of any horse it is obvious that the top jaw is considerably wider than the lower jaw and it therefore protrudes.  Tight nosebands may cause discomfort to the sensitive tissue in the mouth. 

The Micklem bridle has a uniquely positioned noseband shape with diagonal side pieces avoiding the protruding molars but not placing any inward pressure.

2. Pressure on motor and sensory nerves

These nerves exit to the outside of the skull at a point just underneath the normal position of cavesson and flash nosebands.  Continual pressure in this area can cause discomfort as well as numbness to the nose and lips. 

The positioning and fitting of the Micklem bridle completely avoids the exit point of the facial nerves and any inward pressure in this area.

3. Poll pressure

The Micklem bridle has a widened, shaped and padded headpiece with no separate, potentially uncomfortable, noseband strip.

4. Pressure or discomfort on delicate and fragile nasal bones

These should never be subjected to the pressure of low fitting nosebands.  The Micklem bridle has the front piece sitting on the nose higher than a normal drop noseband.

5. Tongue/bars of mouth

When looking where the tongue and bit have to fit within the narrow lower jaw, it is obvious why so many horses object to strong pressure on the tongue and bars. 

On the Micklem bridle there is an optional tongue protection system that transfers any extra pressure on to the nose.

At RB Equestrian we keep the Micklem Competition Bridle in stock.

This version of the Micklem can only be used with a bit and is FEI approved. It:

• is available in black or chocolate brown (pretty much the colour of Cadbury’s Dairy Milk!)
• is available in pony, small horse (cob), standard horse (full) and large horse (extra full)
• comes without reins – meaning you can use your favourite pair
• comes with plastic bit clips (optional whether you use them or not)
• two pairs of bit straps, one shorter and one longer, meaning the bridle can be used with bits which have different length shanks