Sadly the bridle I really wanted sold to someone else... But it really got me looking online for others!
With eventing season approaching fast I really need to pick up a few items, the biggest being a jump bridle!
I have really thought about a Micklem but has been turned off by all the comments on hard to fit and run small. Both of which will not work for his head. He has the drafty width to it but isnt long. After seeing a picture of it on Welsh Cob (Connor!) I started thinking about it again. Your guys thoughts on the whole idea of them and any one have one? Would you go this route instead of the figure 8? If you would go figure 8 which brand would you go to? I would LOVE a Vespucci but with new prices being up towards $300 I would have to wait to buy it for a couple months and just jump in my dressage bridle. Not the classiest thing, especially with our first recognized event at the end of June!
A bridle is definitely first on the list but along with that I hope to accumulate more stuff over the summer also! I would love to get him a pair of Back on Track hock boots and the mesh sheet, a white half pad for my jump saddle, fleece SJ girth, and XC boots (even the hairy guys need a little something!). Im sure there is more in there but that is the 'big' stuff. I LOVE shopping but I just want to be able to buy it all right now! Having no money is no fun for tack shopping!
I'm answering your fit question from my blog here. Connor is right on the line between cob-sized and horse-sized bridles in normal bridles, with the browband and throatlatch usually being too small on the cob bridles and everything else fitting well, while the noseband and cheekpieces are always too big on horse bridles. I got him the small horse sized Micklem, and the noseband is on the last hole, but not tight on the last hole. The side pieces are on the 2nd hole from the top, and the bit straps are on the very last hole. I can see fit being harder for Connor with a bit that has bigger rings than my full cheek snaffle, but I haven't tried anything else yet. Those darn illegal plastic bit clips solve that problem and look so easy to use, I wish they were legal! If you're on the fence or not sure about fit, everyone's least favorite equine supply company (Dover) does a Micklem trial program similar to trial saddles.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I was just thinking about ordering one from Smart Pak as they are super good about returns and refunds plus pay shipping to ship it back!
DeleteAlso always a good move! I'm currently waiting on a refund from them myself. I'm looking forward to see what you end up with!
DeleteSo a decent jump bridle is the Smartpak Plymouth, its cheap as far as bridle goes but I bought mine to replace a shitty schooling bridle and my trainer has thought on more then one occasion it was my show bridle lol. So its definitely show worthy.
ReplyDeleteLike L.Williams said, the SmartPak bridles are very good. That's where I'll be picking up my next schooling bridle when I'm not poor as dirt. As for the Micklem, I don't have any experience with it.
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