I have been using my Micklem bridle for roughly 2 weeks now, and we just finished up a jumper show today.  Other riders and trainers did notice the bridle and asked me about it, did it make a difference?  I am still in the 'testing' phase but did admit that my TB is going much better in the Micklem.  A few people did mention that they know my horse has been a bit of a head tosser before the fences and after at previous shows so they were interested in seeing us go today since several of them have thought about purchasing the Micklem as well.  

So off we go to warm up.  This is where my show nerves can kick in thus radiating to my horse and then the pattern of head flipping begins.  Though not today.  He was very relaxed, jumped good even though I got a bit forward on him over the first warm up fence but no head flipping after.  We did the first course and he was very good.  One head flip before a fence but that was my fault - again, show nerves.  I pushed him for more pace, then changed my mind before the fence and grabbed at him a bit.  But even with my error, no fussy over the jump, he kept straight on over the fence, then no head flipping after, rather a nice right turn! Right turns have been problematic in the past but not today. Only slight problem was that the course was on grass and was getting slick after 2 days of horse show with the jumps in the same spots and I do not have studded shoes thus we could not do the faster turns today.

We rode in 2 more classes and no head tossing.  In fact, he was so relaxed and responsive that, by our last class, I was quite relaxed and my hands were extra soft and he was jumping on a loose rein.  I just pointed him to the fence and that was all, closed my fingers to turn.  In fact, from fence 4 to 5, the distance was quite far and we had to canter to the other side of the arena, that I sort of forgot what we were doing!  He canter was wonderful with those long OTTB strides and zero head flip!  If the past, when go out and canter for a long distance, he would randomly flip his head. Not today, just a wonderful relaxed but jumper pace canter.  I got sort of lost in it and then remembered we had to jump another fence!

So I am still impressed.  I am thinking about buying the standard horse size now.  I accidently ordered the wrong size, a small horse, but it fits with everthing on the 2nd or 3rd longest holes.  I also like straps a bit loose so a standard horse size would give me a few more holes for adjustment.  On the current bridle 'settings' my horse happily ate the grass on the field between classes so I know that the small horse is fine and not too tight!  But I would like to put the end of the straps more into the keepers for a more 'finished' look for the show ring, thus 1 size larger would make that possible. 

Our next show is in a sand arena so there will be the real test for turning and if his right turns are as much improved as I think they are with the Micklem.

Happy riding!