William Micklem: It's Simple. Let's redesign the horse's head

[Barbara_F]

I think someone here started a thread asking about the Micklem bridle a number of weeks ago, but I can't find it, so I'm posting this link in a new thread.

William Micklem just wrote a blog this morning explaining the theory behind the bridle design called "It's Simple. Let's redesign the horse's head."

I thought this was superbly written. Even if you are sticking with your own bridle, it will make you re-think the way you use it and the effect it has on the horse.

http://www.barnmice.com/profiles/blogs/its-simple-lets-redesign-the

[Dr. Doolittle]

This is all very interesting (and I am an open-minded person, who is all for the comfort of the horse--my mare has let me know that she does *not* like flash nosebands, thank you very much--and I have been happy to accomodate this preference ;)), but I was struck by one thing in his article: how does regular dental care (rasping off rough edges of teeth) SHORTEN the life of the horse?!?

This mystifies me...

[Wee Dee Trrr]

"A solution that avoids the current fashion for excessive rasping (floating) of the teeth, which actually shortens the life span of a horse."

Really? Am I the only one new to hearing this?

"A solution which avoids the numbing of the facial nerves caused by cranked up cavesson and flash nosebands. A solution which avoids the bruising of the tissue inside the mouth under the noseband. A solution which avoids fracturing the lower nose bones with tight dropped nosebands; and a solution which will prevent excessive pressure on the tongue and bars of the mouth."

I've never "cranked" my noseband. My noseband is a figure 8. I'm not seeing how this applies to people who actually know how tack is supposed to fit.

Sorry. The rest of the article was good.... I just found their flaws with traditional bridles a little silly.

[Barbara_F]

I was wondering about the teeth too. I will leave William a message on his blog and post his answer here. He's usually very quick to reply.

[caffeinated]

At first I wasn't sure what to think, but I have to admit that seeing it actually ON a horse's skull, it makes a lot of sense. I'm not one to crank nosebands, and I don't generally use flash attachments, so I don't *think* my horse is uncomfortable in that respect... but then again, he can't talk and tell me, either. There are plenty of things in life that don't look like they should be bothersome (bras, anyone?) but are.

Looking at that, I might actually be willing to give it a try, just to see.

(that said, I'm more of a hunter person, so I wouldn't really be able to show in it in that arena, not that I show often enough that I even should worry about it, heh)

[Black Points]

It looks very interesting but where does the bit go?

Mary

[frugalannie]

I actually tried a Micklem bridle on my mare who insists on sticking her tongue out. She actually improved during the first ride with it, and continued to improve in subsequent rides. She's been "on the couch" for her pregnancy, but I'm looking forward to trying it on her again when she goes back to work.

[eventer_mi]

I just bought a Micklem (yay tax return) and although I was skeptical and prepared to return it if I didn't like it, I am still using it a month later.

Oliver, my Trakehner, has always been a bit fussy about contact, and yes, he's had his teeth done by the best around here (So. Pines). He's also been one to try and scratch his head on his legs under saddle, so I thought - what the heck, it might be fun to try bitless every now and then, and it isn't all that expensive. I have found that while there is no immediate improvement, he's far more willing to be bridled, more willing to take the bit forward, and best of all, when I jump him and have to rebalance before the fence, he doesn't hollow and put his head up in the air anymore.

I have to say that what sold me was seeing it on a horse's skull, too. When you see it actually ON a horse, it defintely appears to be more comfortable. My husband likes it as it's VERY easy to bridle a horse with it - there are no straps to get sucked up into their mouths, etc. The bit goes on two little straps (not shown in the picture) that buckle to the rings, or you can use clips (for three ring bits, or very large D rings) to hang it from the rings.

I like it. I will most likely do stadium and xc in it - of course, you cannot show dressage in it.

[Barbara_F]

William's reply to me:

Barbara...the horse's teeth are not like our human sensitive version. Instead they are just like a lead pencil....the teeth gradually wear down as they eat food and push through from underneath until there is nothing left eventually with a very old horse. This is how it is possible to age horses looking at the teeth, as the shape and internal hollows change as the teeth wear down. If you over float the teeth you are wearing out this lead pencil and reducing the life span of a horse.

I used to look after Jook Hall's famous Lipizzaner stallion, Conversano Caprice, who won the Hamburg Dressage Derby 3 times. He had no molars and survived by sucking up liquid grass nuts. In nature of course he would not have survived. William

[Jeannette, formerly ponygyrl]

I spent a while looking at a Micklem bridle this weekend, off a horse, and was intrigued - but the quality didn't seem lovely. Not bad quality, mind you, but just kind of stiff, and the clips which held the bit were plastic, which isn't a substance I trust all that much....

It was a reasonable price - something lilke $115 at The Farmhouse in Landrum SC, so it could be an interesting experiment.

So what does Micklem say is the difference between "floating" and "excessive floating" ? Surely getting the outside uppers less sharp is acceptable to him??

[Cindyg]

I thought the "current fad" of equine dental care was precisely WHY we are seeing horses living into their 20s, 30s, and 40s these days. :confused:

[yellowbritches]

We have a Micklem bridle for the BFG and his broken jaw (he goes in the bitless configuration). It is a very neat concept and he is loving it (part of the reason he could be loving it is that because of the bitless bridle he can work! And a working BFG is a happy BFG). Jeanette, it IS stiff, but I think it is stiff for a reason. And you don't have to use the clips for the bit. There are some little leather straps that attach the bit to the bridle and act more like cheek pieces. The clips do serve some other purpose regarding the bit, but considering we haven't even tried it with a bit, I'm not exactly sure what that is all about.

I don't agree with some things in the article...I'm pretty sure proper teeth floating is a good thing and a properly fitted bridle on most horses is not the devil's work, but this bridle is a very cool concept and makes sense.

[Fitte]

I like it. I will most likely do stadium and xc in it - of course, you cannot show dressage in it.

I'm pretty sure it is USEF legal for dressage shows. Don't know about eventing dressage though....

[FairWeather]

I was wondering what Karen O'C had on her horses heads--it was one of these bridles.