Here is my 2nd Blog and continues where my happy mouth blog left off.  My Micklem bridle arrived today.  I had 1 1/2 hours from the time I got home to open the box, put it together, size it on my gelding and then trailer off for my Jumper lesson.  I read about other people having trouble putting the bridle together so I read up on how to and was ready.  At first the Bit straps threw me off so I popped the CD that comes with the bridle in to the pc and did a quick review.  Once I heard that you put the bit straps on to the bit first, a light came on in my head and I had it figured out.

Before I put the bit in, I wanted to see if it did fit my horse's head since I was worried I got a size too small.  At first I thought it was too small at the bit strap part.  But once I did put the bit in and tried it on my horse, the bit was dangling in his mouth so I had to actually tighten up the bit straps.  Bridle fits perfectly.  I generally use a horse size bridle on my guy but I got confused when I ordered the Micklem and picked the Small horse ( which is similar to cob size I later found out).  I am glad I got confused since I think the standard horse would have been a bit too big.

I used my happy mouth double joint snaffle and I will say that I am pleasantly fascinated by this bridle!  I am not sure if tonights ride was just a fluke or if the Micklem Bridle does make this much of a positive difference.  Generally, My OTTB is not the greatest at Right turns.  He likes to make them a bit wide, a bit of buldging of the left shoulder.  I am very aware to not pull on his face, he is a very light horse. Subtle finger pressure is all he needs!  Thus to bring him around I just try to close my fingers tighter on the reins. IF he is really buldging to the left, I give him more outside leg and open my right hand more.  He then is a bit crooked to the fence, jumps, but then some head flipping after.  But with the Micklem bridle tonight, he right turns were AMAZING. He was so light and responsive. No buldging, he came right around with my body and just the slight my closing of my fingers.  Zero head flipping,  We then did a broken line in the course.  Jumped one fence, had to head to the right to avoid one fence then a tighter turn to the left to the actual jump.  He was right there and straight on to the fence even after the tighter turns.  I ride in a group and after we did the course, several were saying that they wanted the Micklem Bridle!  My instructor and I were both like..HMMMM, that was very interesting! Could this bridle really make that much of a difference? 

I will keep riding with this bridle and my happy mouth bit. I do have an upcoming show so I am really interested in riding with it at the show.  So far, I am impressed!

Happy riding