It says “dressage legal”, but I am not at all sure with the metal clip on the side.
It may be British Dressage legal (looks like a UK company). I agree it’s not likely US legal based on the clips and crown design.
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Ah yes sorry forgot to mention that, probably not. I believe Silver Crown is a French company so that would explain it
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My personal theory is that when flash nosebands became the thing, no one knew how to use them. Not much has changed. No one agrees which way they do up (flappy strap upwards or downwards) or how tight a flash should be (after all, got to stop the bit falling out of the mouth) or where the buckle rests on the face but definitely getting the flash to sit somewhere reasonable around the mouth involved yanking the Cavesson up higher on the face and tightening it to hold the flash in place. Then every picture in adverts, every image of high level riders across multiple disciplines shows the Cavesson and flash combination with the Cavesson high - so it becomes the new normal. Many combinations are so extreme they look like a Grackle.
I’m old enough to recall riders in baggy jods and knitted colours going round Badminton using just a snaffle so I’m allowed to be grumpy.
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The great irony being, if i have my history correct, is that the flash was introduced as an “easier to fit/adjust” alternative to a drop. I am open to correction if that is not the case, as the introduction was before my time. I do recall them becoming omnipresent ca. 2000, and considered among the collection of things “only used if needed” before that for the average amateur.
Overly tight flash nosebands are a personal peeve. Also adverts with mis-sized bits and poorly fit figure 8’s!
It doesn’t surprise me at all that the fairfax research cited above shows that flash nosebands are among the worst for facial nerve pressure.
I expect anatomical nosebands like the mickelm should be best thought of as an alternative to a flash, drop, or fig 8. One that is more difficult to mis-fit/mis-adjust maybe?? That would be a net + imo. Plain cavesson folks, keep on plain cavessoning, just check your fit, learn some anatomy, and probably let your noseband out a hole.
ETA: on the topic of drops and catalogue photos, here’s a great one! https://www.doversaddlery.com/waldhausen-marbella-bridle/p/X1-120186/
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My history story is that flash nosebands appeared in Europe where breeders and trainers are pushing young horses beyond their age ability in order to get high prices for the fanciest movers. The flash stops the horse from opening its mouth and expressing distress. Expensive = good = everyone thinks they need a flash on their horse too. Then every bridle offered for sale becomes a flash and the horse-world is habituated.
Not to say, before I get jumped on, that some horses may like them. Horses have ideas and opinions, too. But I suspect many, many horses would go very well without any noseband at all.
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It’s a choice one has to make. You can cowboy a horse into submission, constrain and ride into compliance. Or devote yourself to the frustrating puzzle of how to work with a horse that isn’t happily going in a bridle and a bit. I’ve started a lot of horses, and there are some that take to it like a duck to water, and some that are bit resistant for a while. Every so often there is one that just does not want a bit in his/her mouth. For those it’s worked for me to ride lightly, kindly (as in very quick forgiving hands at the slightest try) and in short sessions until they eventually come around. Then it’s praise, praise praise and riding becomes a rewarding experience for them.
I learned to go this way after struggling with a hot Morgan stallion. Following the advice of the trainer, i tried a flash, tried a martingale… He fought back like a marlin. Once i tried giving and unhooked all the paraphernalia -doing what felt right to me instead of that guy who wanted me to control the situation, i knew the path i needed to take. Has worked for me. I think mostly because it’s true to my nature. It’s natural for me to train gently and build slowly. When i see a horse all-trussed-up i feel sorry for the horse.
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When I bought my horse as a 3 1/2 y.o. and sent him to my trainer for starting, I sent him along with a plain old brown hunter bridle for the specific reason that I did not want him being ridden in a flash. When I bought his first dressage bridle, the first thing I did was remove the flash and tuck it away in my box of equipment that I never use. I figured that he wasn’t going to be using the flash when he eventually made it to FEI, so he wasn’t going to start out his riding career wearing one, either. He’s now 10, and to this day, he’s still never been ridden with a flash. I’m not saying that there aren’t some horses who might appreciate them, but I was determined that it would not be “the way” for my horse.
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those flash nose straps can make nice ‘house’ dog collars…just sayin 
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I have bought six flash straps in my life, and I cut each and every one down so it is short enough to use as a slightly longer bit strap for my Micklem bridle (I punch more holes and buy keepers for the ends). I NEED these longer bit straps from the flash straps so I can turn my Micklem bridle into a comfortable double bridle for the horses I ride (I attach the curb to the D on the cheekpiece of the Micklem bridle.) I have also needed them for some horses who pointedly “told” me that the bit straps that come with the Micklem are just too short for comfort when using a snaffle bit.
I keep one or two around for an emergency strap for keeping a bundle of something together since they are strong enough to take strain.
I will have to remember their alternate use as an emergency dog collar if I ever own a dog again or if I need to catch a loose dog.
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uh…I am pretty sure that converting a Micklem to a double is not what was intended by the Micklem design. If I understand you correctly, you are hanging a curb bit from the throatlatch D ring? The only other option is to hang both bits from the same bit attachment, which would have to be incredibly uncomfortable for the horse. Hanging the curb from the throatlatch D would hang it too low on the horse’s jaw.
Why on Earth would you do this when you could just take the noseband off a regular bridle if it bothers you so much?
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i have one i’m using to connect backcinch to girth on one of my mules’ saddles
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I agree that the Micklem bridle was not made for being a double bridle. However the horses managed to convince me that the cheek pieces, with the slightly raised bit connection to the cheek piece, is more comfortable for the horses because it does not rub on the edges of their premolars. I had regular bridles I could have just slapped a bradoon hanger on under the crown piece like I used to do. However I get MUCH BETTER RESULTS from my made up double bridle than I used to with the more conventional double bridle, the horses relax because the bridle is not hurting their sensitive facial nerves. When I originally did this I was in a much poorer stage of my life, and I did what I could with what I already had to keep the horses more comfortable.
Except for six months with one mare (we needed a standing martingale at first, she came to me ruined) and the first two months at my present lesson stable, I have not used a cavesson on a bridle for over 40 years. When the horses finally convinced me to take the cavesson off they became lighter in hand, more willing to establish contact, and more willing to put up with my often less than perfect hands.
Look people, I have an incurable neurological disease that affects every damn nervous and muscle system in my body. At the same time riding horses is just about the best physical therapy I can get for my MS (went from an electric wheelchair, to two canes, to being able to walk short distances over uneven ground without canes because I started riding horses again and I found a GOOD riding teacher.)
My riding teacher gives me private lessons. She makes me defend every single “new” idea I come up with. When I proposed the double bridle I had several reasons, the main one being that a person with MS looses operating nerves. Since the human brain can come up with alternate nerve paths IF THERE IS A DEMAND FOR ONE, and one of the simplest ways to cause a new demand for nerve paths riding a horse was using a double bridle. We discussed every aspect, the bridle (she approved of me changing my Micklem to a double bridle after seeing me ride with a conventional double bridle a few years earlier), the bits (I asked her permission to change to the titanium bits), the reins, how I hold the reins, how I give my hand aids (always with effective well timed leg aids), the curb chain, the lip strap, the brow band, our eternal debate about nose bands, etc., etc., etc… We came to an agreement on how I would be using the reins with both the bradoon and Weymouth curb. We discussed every single aspect of using a double bridle, me from experience (by then I had introduced and used a double bridle on at least 4 horses) and her from her concern about the comfort and well being of her precious lesson horses (she loves them all.)
AND I told her that if the day ever came that she thought I was abusing HER horses with the double bridle to TELL ME and I would stop using it completely. I set up the same thing with the other stable where I ride, and I am riding that woman’s heart horse for the ages.
I use a separate bradoon strap for the bradoon.
I hook the curb bit to the little D’s on the cheekpiece (NOT the throatlatch) because I want the padding on the crown piece to alleviate any poll pressure.
I also use not normal reins for a double bridle I need to use web reins with “rainbow” rein stops for the bradoon and longer notched reins for the Weymouth curb so I have a chance at keeping the reins at a constant length. Are you going to get after me for that too since it is not “normal”?
I tell my riding teachers to tell me EVERY TIME the horse gapes, every time the horse goes behind the vertical (I can usually catch this myself), and every single time the horse looks distressed with the way I ride them.
It is my own opinion if I cannot convince the horse to keep his mouth closed without a nose band I have no business riding a sensitive horse since all the nose band would do would be to hide MY physical deficiencies to the detriment of the horse I ride. It took me about two months to convince my riding teacher that this was the right thing for me to do for the sake of her horses and she has never told me to put a nose band back on my bridle because she likes the results.
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I believe they changed that rule.
This has been a great thread, based on the reviews here I’m going to try the Passier Spirit with the expanded freedom cheekpiece, I’ll report back after I get it from Fundis. I was also really tempted by the Passier Starlight, but wasn’t sure if the large patent noseband might be a little overwhelming. I have a homebred Oldenburg mare who is a tough fit, she has a lovely head but the upper part of her head is warmblood sized, and the bottom is closer to cob. She also has very large sensitive ears and it’s been hard to find a bridle that doesn’t put pressure on them. So far I’ve tried the Henry James 3d (lovely padding but crown piece is too wide and hits the back of her ears and has caused small rubs over her poll), Eponia (best shape so far but leather stretched and faded fairly quickly), Acavallo (beautiful leather and padding, but not enough ear room). I borrowed a Schokenmoehle to try and wasn’t impressed with leather quality or crownpiece design. I have a Passier Fortuna for my other sensitive mare and that works beautifully for her and the leather quality is excellent, I’m hoping the Passier Spirit is decent quality since I know it’s their budget line.
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All Dates » Home (centaurbiomechanics.co.uk)
Improving Bridle Fit: from an Evidence Based and Practical Perspective with Dr. Russell MacKechnie-Guire and Diana Fisher (Download Course Guide)
Sorry if already been shared but I saw this last night at a friend’s house. Very interesting if you truly are interested in bridle fitting
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Not at all fancy or very anatomical, but I decided to try a Horse Clermont because it’s $110 and the crownpiece looked like a good shape for my guy. The browband and crownpiece were a better fit for him than the Halter Ego that cost twice as much:
Unfortunately, even considering the price point, the leather is absolute crap and some of the keepers are weird sizes (which, admittedly, happened with the Halter Ego too). The fit is odd too. The flash is super long (though I prob won’t use it anyway and can cut it down), the cheekpieces and noseband hanger straps are pretty short, and the throatlatch is in between. This is a horse size, which has been the right size for him in every other brand. I wonder if a warmblood would be a better fit, though I like how the horse-sized crownpiece fits around his ears. Their size chart is mystifying so it’s hard to tell.
I hate patent but could have gotten over it for the price, except that the patent noseband arrived dented and crinkled:
So, I think I am returning it though I am a little torn because it could be a good interim solution until he “earns” a Fairfax or something. Two things I question are the width of the crownpiece right at the poll, and the way the noseband hanger straps criss-cross under the cheekpieces. I wouldn’t have chosen those crystals for the browband either but on a chestnut they actually aren’t too gaudy.
Anyone have thoughts on fit and appearance of this one?
Sorry if this is a stupid question, but could you not swap the cheekpiece/noseband hangers so the noseband is on the front part of the crownpiece?
I’ve heard good things about the Premier Equine bridles and the crownpiece shape looks kinda similar? Their size chart is extremely unhelpful though.
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I bought the Horze Sion bridle as my jump bridle. It fit my mare so well that I kept it, even though the leather was stiff and crinkly-looking. When the second keeper broke and stitching around the throatlatch buckle frayed, I emailed Horze customer service with 2 photos. Even though it was a month past their returns date, they offered me a free shipping label and quickly refunded my money, so hats off to their customer service!
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It seems to only come in brown? That’s a shame.
