I'm Using a F*cking Micklem
I've never been a huge fan of the Micklem for really shallow, insecure reasons.
I think they're hideous and gimmicky.
Bridles have existed for thousands of years. Mongolian horses didn't refuse to go into battle because their bridles were pressing on sensitive facial nerves. The Lipizzaners at the Spanish Riding School have been doing airs above the ground long before Horseware even existed as a company. I'm an irritating purist who doesn't think we need to reinvent the wheel. That's why I bought all my tack at the Amish place; quality at a great price and it's just tack. Nothing insane, no fads that'll be gone in a few months. Jeez, I'm boring myself just talking about it...
Runkle has been doing fantastically on the flat. We've graduated from the plastic bits finally and we're learning that the butt can be controlled and there are paces within gaits.
It's scintillating stuff.
And while he has been going well I've still been meaning to try him in a Micklem. My trainer rode him in one ages ago, and I rode him in a drop noseband the week before I broke my pinky, so it was worth revisiting. He's just that ever so tiny bit tense and resistant, especially through the poll. He loves tucking behind the bit when the going gets tough. It's his safe place.
I grumpily fussed with all the straps and made a big show of bitching about how difficult it was to fit on him.
Buuut it wasn't really difficult. As I did up buckles and shoved straps into keepers it was hard to fit wrong. It was impossible to over tighten the straps and the bridle almost melted into his face. Usually tightening the figure eight is like wrestling an eel but not the tightening the nose band on the stupid Micklem.
I mounted and we started walking around and he was pretty relaxed and moved off nicely into the trot when I asked. And when I say nicely I mean he just wasn't lolloping along like a lesson pony. He was stretching out from his tail to his nose.
Stupid Micklem.
He moved within the gaits much easier. I could push him forward in the trot without him breaking into the canter. The most shocking part was he bent to the left, INTO my right rein instead of cocking his shoulder to give me the middle finger.
Stupid. Micklem.
At the end of the ride he was so low and deep in the bridle he nearly kicked himself in the chin.
FINE.
I give up. I'll use the stupid bridle for a month. I was giving my anti-Micklem diatribe to someone just recently, but I ended it lamely with "the prince wants what the prince wants". Maybe he'll grow out of it though!
Or maybe I'll just get a new browband chain from Dark Jewel Designs to make myself feel better.
I think they're hideous and gimmicky.
Bridles have existed for thousands of years. Mongolian horses didn't refuse to go into battle because their bridles were pressing on sensitive facial nerves. The Lipizzaners at the Spanish Riding School have been doing airs above the ground long before Horseware even existed as a company. I'm an irritating purist who doesn't think we need to reinvent the wheel. That's why I bought all my tack at the Amish place; quality at a great price and it's just tack. Nothing insane, no fads that'll be gone in a few months. Jeez, I'm boring myself just talking about it...
 |
| not ergonomic. |
 |
| Me on a Mongolian horse. This was considered a 'fancy' bridle. |
It's scintillating stuff.
 |
| What a happy pony to be doing the dressages |
I grumpily fussed with all the straps and made a big show of bitching about how difficult it was to fit on him.
 |
| Have I mentioned he also forces me to use an ear bonnet. |
I mounted and we started walking around and he was pretty relaxed and moved off nicely into the trot when I asked. And when I say nicely I mean he just wasn't lolloping along like a lesson pony. He was stretching out from his tail to his nose.
Stupid Micklem.
He moved within the gaits much easier. I could push him forward in the trot without him breaking into the canter. The most shocking part was he bent to the left, INTO my right rein instead of cocking his shoulder to give me the middle finger.
Stupid. Micklem.
At the end of the ride he was so low and deep in the bridle he nearly kicked himself in the chin.
 |
| DAMMIT MICKLEM. |
I give up. I'll use the stupid bridle for a month. I was giving my anti-Micklem diatribe to someone just recently, but I ended it lamely with "the prince wants what the prince wants". Maybe he'll grow out of it though!
Or maybe I'll just get a new browband chain from Dark Jewel Designs to make myself feel better.
Browband! Browband! Browband! Stinker did the same thing to me with the saddle. I wanted wool flocking and he insisted that air was better so we have air. Who are we to tell the pretty pretty princes what they should wear?
ReplyDeletei mean at $15? thats a price i'd pay to feel better :P :P
Deletehonestly thats exactly it. he's the one jumping the jumps so if he wants it he can have it.
Funny the timing on this... I'm about to try a Micklem on Taran. He tends to grab the bit and chomp it every now and again. Trainer tightened his noseband and put on a flash, but I prefer not to clamp a horse's mouth shut if I can avoid it. I'm sort of dreading it but maybe it will work a miracle?
ReplyDeleteOh and for the record... nosebands are a fairly recent thing. Many of the bridles from the middle ages do not have nosebands. They seem to have gained popularity in the 18th century or so, although I don't really know why.
hah maybe i'll do some research on the history of the bridle.
Deletei agree - i think the horse SHOULD be allowed to have some play with the bit and I think it would just be really uncomfortable to have it strapped shut anyway.
figure it's always worth a shot. good luck!
Well dammit. But shiny browbands fix just about any woes ;)
ReplyDeleteahhh yes. shh the sparkly will heal us all.
DeleteI agree that they're pretty fucking ugly, but damn do I love mine.
ReplyDeletei'm realizing there are way more people than i thought who are on this track re: the micklem. i'm thinking of starting a support group. i did realize you don't have to see it at all from the saddle, it's just the two minutes you're walking to the mounting block anyway ;)
DeleteI've been wanting to try a Micklem for a while. I'm with you on the ugliness, but Nilla is just so obnoxious about going on the bit I figured I should try it. However, they're so freaking expensive for shitty leather, I haven't made the purchase yet.
ReplyDeleteoh man... nilla might love it. ive been stalking prices and found way better deals across the pond, particularly from naylors.com. theyre on sale and once you take VAT out, theyre a good $60 below US prices (even with shipping)
DeleteI know how you feel, I was relieved that Henry didn't like it!
ReplyDeleteyou used a ps of sweden high jump on him right? does it behave similarly to the micklem?
Deletenot dressage legal (yet) and i think it looks just as ridiculous but at least its fine quality.
Damn horses and their opinions! :P
ReplyDeleteunfortunately when you're 1200lbs your opinions have more weight (pun... intended??)
DeleteAgreed on the uggo factor but I also think PS of Sweden Bridles are ugly and everyone seems to love them lol
ReplyDeleteyeah im concerned about the PS of sweden because if he loves this he'd probably love that too... and my trainer was commenting on the stubben freedom bridle which is EVEN UGLIER
Deletei dont even know what's happening anymore :'(
I think that informational articles should be more like yours. By that I mean they should have character. Your article had character and is persuasive. Your views are very interesting. Saddle Mania gets you covered here, with an extensive range of saddles, all carved with love. With different saddles for sale, including English saddles, different roping saddles, Western saddles, Australian stock saddles, Spanish saddles, Portuguese horse saddles for sale, and a lot more, you are going to witness the best saddle shopping experience with us.
ReplyDelete