IT'S SIMPLE - LET'S REDESIGN THE HORSE'S HEAD

There is no doubt about it...we need to put our top equestrian brains together and come up with a new design for the horse's head with six main aims:

THE DESIGN BRIEF

1 We need to desensitise the area around the poll.
2 Make the top jaw narrower or the bottom jaw wider so they are both the same width.
3 Move the exit point for the motor and sensory nerves that is just under the cavesson noseband.
4 Fuse and strengthen the delicate ends of the bones at the bottom of the nose where a dropped noseband is usually fitted.
5 (a) Widen the bars of the mouth which are currently shaped like a knife.
5(b) Change the shape of the lower jaw in order to create more room for the tongue.

With the power of Charles Darwin's expertise on natural selection and using selective breeding it must be possible to do all of the above in the next million years.

AN ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION

However in the short term I know there is an alternative solution that delivers what every rider wants...a more comfortable horse and improved results. A solution that avoids the current fashion for excessive rasping (floating) of the teeth, which actually shortens the life span of a horse. 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.

The solution is the Micklem bridle. I am embarrassed in some ways to promote it because it is my invention, but if I put my trainer's hat on I know it is simply fantastic and I need to shout this story from the roof tops because so many horses immediately go better in a Micklem bridle. It also is a way of reducing your costs because it also makes a superb lunge cavesson or bitless bridle. I have to pinch myself in the morning because it is difficult to believe that I have achieved a solution for all these bridle and noseband problems....but it's true and it will probably be the most significant achievement of my life.

DESIGNED FROM THE INSIDE OUT

With the saying 'a good idea has to give way to a better idea' echoing in my head I set out about 15 years ago with a clean sheet to see if I could come up with an improved design of bridle and noseband. The present version has now been used, tested and refined for the last eleven years. My start point was the skull of the horse, (see photos attached) which means that the The Micklem bridle is truly designed from the inside out, from the shape of the skull itself …in order to avoid pressure on the six areas which consistently cause discomfort with traditional headwear.

FIRSTLY discomfort on the poll with all the weight going on one narrow noseband strap.... This is why we have a widened and padded headpiece with no separate uncomfortable noseband strap.

SECONDLY, when looking at the skull of any horse it is obvious that the top jaw is considerably wider than the lower jaw and therefore protrudes…..this means that tight, cranked up cavesson nosebands and traditional lunge cavessons can cause huge discomfort and damage to the sensitive tissue inside the mouth, as this tissue becomes sandwiched between the outer edge of the upper jaw teeth on one side and the noseband pressing inwards on the other.... This is why we have a drop nose band shape with unique diagonal side pieces avoiding the protruding molars and without any inward pressure.

THIRDLY it is also easy to see how traditional tight flash nosebands and lunge cavessons put pressure on the main motor and sensory nerves, that exit to the outside of the skull at a point just underneath the normal position of the cavesson noseband. Apart from the discomfort this causes the horse it can also numb the nose and lips, and is often the reason horses rub their heads on a foreleg after work. Continual pressure in his area can also damage blood vessels and other tissue, leading to the creation of enlargements due to fibrous tissue.... This is why the positioning and fitting of the Micklem Multibridle completely avoids the exit point of the facial nerves and any inward pressure in this area.

FOURTHLY, when looking at the skull it is easy to see how delicate and fragile the bones are at the end of the nose, which should never be subjected to the pressure of low fitting nosebands .... This is why we have the front nose piece sitting on the nose higher than a normal dropped noseband

FIFTHLY and most importantly, when looking where the tongue and bit have to fit, at the narrow lower jaw…. and the bars of the mouth which are shaped like a knife, it is obvious why so many horses understandably object to strong pressure on the tongue and bars.... This is why we have both a tongue protection system, that takes any extra pressure on the nose, and bitless bridle options that are truly effective and wonderfully comfortable.

The photograph attached shows the skull, the different width of the jaws, the exit point of the nerves and the delicate nose bones. It also shows how the basic Micklem bridle fits. Next time I will explain about the different applications.

WITH GOD ON OUR SIDE?

The bottom line is that God did not make a horse to be ridden...they just happen to be suitable for this purpose...and God did not design their head with bridles and nosebands in mind. Therefore for me it is a no brainer - instead of just accepting the limitations of modern bridle wear we have to seek new solutions and be brave enough to be different. Let's not just follow the fashion of the day. The results will reward your bravery. Happy Days. William


William Micklem


Views: 3019

Comment

You need to be a member of Barnmice Equestrian Social Community to add comments!

Join Barnmice Equestrian Social Community

Comment by Alice Kremers on April 6, 2009 at 12:02pm
Horses know us, with all of our respective disabilities (hearing loss, balance problems, emotional variances, etc.) far better than we sometimes know ourselves. Truly, they are God's gift to us. If there are mysteries in this world, the horse will lead us through them!

What brought me to this site is my interest in keeping the horse comfortable. When I am out saddle fitting, I am often called upon to check bridle fit as well and have seen all types of configurations from Spanish serretas to western hackamores. The little things make a difference -- if the browbands are too short (the most common problem, in my opinion) it pulls the crownpiece toward the back of the ear (ouch!) -- When I'm volunteering as a bit/tack checker at shows, I'm not hesitant to point out that their crank or flash or dropped noseband is too tight. I've even seen bloody cheeks and lips at shows. Now, what's the point? What does this teach the horse? If the horse wants to open his/her mouth, wouldn't that suggest another problem that clamping the jaw shut wouldn't possibly alleviate?
Pardon my vent...just a seeker here! Alice
Comment by Barnmice Admin on April 6, 2009 at 11:58am
Hi William,
What is the organization? Can Barnmice help them?
Comment by William Micklem on April 6, 2009 at 11:46am
What an extraordinary friend the horse has been to the human race Alice.... I work with an organisation that uses the horse to help those with serious mental and physical difficulties. It is a joy for us all....

Where in this wide world can man find, nobility without pride,
Friendship without envy, beauty without vanity?
Here.....where grace is laced by muscle, and strength by gentleness confined.
He serves without servility, he has fought without enmity;
There is nothing so powerful, nothing less violent;
Nothing so quick, nothing more patient.
All our past has been borne on his back,
All our history is his industry;
We are his heirs, he our inheritance.

Ladies and Gentlemen - The Horse!

Ronald Duncan
Comment by Alice Kremers on April 6, 2009 at 11:34am
"WITH GOD ON OUR SIDE?

The bottom line is that God did not make a horse to be ridden...they just happen to be suitable for this purpose...and God did not design their head with bridles and nosebands in mind. Therefore for me it is a no brainer - instead of just accepting the limitations of modern bridle wear we have to seek new solutions and be brave enough to be different. Let's not just follow the fashion of the day. The results will reward your bravery. Happy Days. William"

Being a saddle fitter, I've come to realize how absurd the whole idea of sitting on a horse's back is. But, there it is. I will undoubtedly leave this world still wondering about the nature of the horse; that they would let us climb on their backs, insert metal in their mouths, load them into tin cans and take them away from their homes. We owe it to these marvelous creatures to logically intuit their needs for their well being. Thank you, William, for bringing the notion of devine intervention into our sport -- and bless all the horses that have come our way. Alice
Comment by William Micklem on April 5, 2009 at 6:08am
Yes Black is on the way! Great that people want it in both colours. William
Comment by Chris - resident queen of shops on April 5, 2009 at 5:14am
Hi William, Will you please ask Horseware to make one in black! From chatting to retailers they are keen to have it in 2 colours as well.
Comment by William Micklem on April 5, 2009 at 4:57am
Thanks for the questions Geoffrey...pictures coming next week on my blog or look at my web site www.WilliamMicklem.com or the web site of the distributors Horseware Ireland....www.Horseware.com. Will come back to you re Australian distribution...you should make Horseware an offer. Thanks again. William
Comment by Geoffrey Pannell on April 5, 2009 at 4:45am
Hi William , Can you post a pic of one with the bit attached? I think I can see were it would go , but a pic will help.How does a boy from OZ get one . Do you have a distributer in Australia?
Comment by William Micklem on April 5, 2009 at 3:47am
Good Barbara...but what height is the front piece of your drop noseband? They are notoriously difficult to fit well.

Two key points....1 - The front piece should be a good hands breadth ABOVE the nostrils....alternatively feel with your fingers up the soft tissue channel either side of the sensitive nose bones. The noseband should sit ABOVE where the channel ends. This is where the Micklem bridle sits...so have another look at the photograph with my last blog.

2 - Then the side rings of the drop noseband need to be an inch to two inches in front of the mouthpiece of the bit....then when the back strap is done up flush with the skin it will fit in a slightly curving line under the bit. The mouth is able to open, but when this happens the bit is slightly raised in he mouth which aids as a prevention to stop the tongue being put over the bit and encourages the horse to close the mouth.

This is so much better than just having a low fitting tight drop noseband (nothing less than cruelty as he ends of the nose bones become fractured) and more effective than a loose drop noseband. However the cheek straps of the drop noseband will have to cross over the protruding cheek bones to fit like this....as does the Mexican grackle which many now use instead of the cavesson or flash. This can cause rubbing. The advantage of the Micklem bridle is that it can stay behind the cheek bones..have another look at the photograph. Small differences can make big changes in behaviour.

Thank you for your enquiring mind Barbara...you are a great example to us. William
Comment by Barbara F. on April 4, 2009 at 8:04pm
Thanks William, Great advice as always! I use a very loose drop noseband, and I will have my vet assess Donnie's teeth carefully before floating.

The Rider Marketplace

International Horse News

Click Here for Barnmice Horse News

© 2024   Created by Barnmice Admin.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service