From my other post, I have been looking at some Micklem style bridles with better quality leather. Many of the options that I have been looking at (PS of Sweden and Schockmehole) are just modified figure eight bridles, which has now lead me down the path of looking at actual figure eight bridles. However, even though they are legal, I can’t say I have ever actually seen one at any of the shows that I have gone to. Is there a reason so few people use figure eight bridles in competition? I don’t want to get side way looks if I show up in one, but I am also starting to think that a figure eight might be “safer” than one of the funky new bridles where a well meaning steward could call into question the legality of it.
I’ve never seen one at a show or used one outside of going over fences
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Why do you want a fig8? Or a Micklem?
They apply similar pressure points, but they’re different. I would not buy a fig8 without trying it on your horse first. Some horses are very resistant of the noseband and the type of pressure it applies across the bridge of their nose.
That being said, it’s more common in “eventing dressage” but I have shown a horse in a figure 8 in real dressage. He was an eventer though.
I show on the ‘silver’ circuit in Ontario. I competed 1st level in 2015, 2nd level in 2016 and 3rd level in 2017 and until I got to 3rd level there were many people in my classes showing in figure-8’s. Most of them were from the eventing barns in the area that were trying to ‘up’ their dressage game!
What is your reason to wanting a figure eight?
Most dressage riders prefers the effect of a regular noseband and add a flash. It also mainly comes in brown since many jumpers are using these.
A figure-8 noseband has to be well fitted in order to keep the bit at the right place and have specific purposes.
I’ve used figure-8s in dressage. It’s legal. No one cares if that’s what the horse needs.
You see them a ton in the dressage phase of Eventing. That’s what my mare goes in 3 phases.
more “trend” than anything, but dressage riders tend to go for the stability of a caveson (crank or french).
Flashes were made so you can use a german martingale, you can’t on a fig 8.
I don’t know if your horse has a particular reason for having a fig 8, but for shows I would use a flash, since your post assumes you need this and work off a regular buckle (french) caveson.
Micklems are good, but get someone to help you fit the dang things! all those clips and straps 
Well long story short. I have a Micklem now, my horse likes it, but I am not a fan of the leather quality or the look on her giant head. I started looking at other Micklem style options such as the PS of Sweden Pioneer and High Jump, and the Schockmehole Equitus Alpha. All three of those bridles are basically modified figure eight bridles, which got me looking at actual figure eight bridles, many of which are much cheaper.
A noseband is required equipment. Some horses dislike regular cavesson. I knew one that would stop and rub his face on his knee and his junior rider couldn’t stop him. A figure eight noseband touches the horse’s face in different places and might avoid the irritation points. It worked well for the horse I knew.
They are probably less expensive too. 
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My dressage coach first suggested trying a figure 8 on my horse. She really seems to like it better than her old flash, and it fits her large jawbone much better. I got one in black, and use it for all 3 phases in eventing.
If she likes the Micklem why don’t you just stick with that? The leather gets better as you use/condition it, and the looks may grow on you. My dresssage trainer actually complains about the Micklem on my smaller horse, she says he doesn’t fill it out. But she likes it on my draft cross.
I like the looks of them (and they are easy to clean). But I’m an eventer, so…
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I showed dressage to second in a figure-8 bridle on a horse that had very fat cheeks: I didn’t want the noseband pulling the cheeks into her teeth. (this was before Micklems).
Good post.
I used a figure-8 on one horse after coach indicated it might discourage him from crossing his jaw, which was his preferred evasion tactic. I do see them around this area regularly in both eventing dressage and pure dressage.
that is why people might use a flash, too. same function.
I ride my eventer at 2cd level in a figure 8. He has a very busy mouth, and he is quieter and less busy in the figure 8 . He fought the flash and likes the figure 8 better. Hope to start 3rd level this year…
That is why I am looking at them too.
That’s good to hear!
I can’t use a flash because I have to put the noseband lower than it should be to get the flash to fit correctly.
? This doesnt make sense.
I think understand what she means. on a horse with a LONG face / big head, the space between the end of the cheekbone and mouth is longer than what suits a flash style. you can make it work, but you either have to have the caveson really low - which may interfere w/ bit rings or fleshy cheeks - or have the caveson at the correct height, but the flash will inevitably stretch the noseband down and create a pressure point on the the nasal bone. I may be doing a poor job of explaining this, but in my experience w/ a large faced-horse I found the the flash just wasn’t a good fit.
After experimenting with dropped nose bands and a micklem I finally opted to go for a plain caveson. Horse is happy and I found a nice black on on Smartpak - its a crank which wasn’t’ my first choice, but I didn’t find a wealth of options in black bridles that DON’T have the flash tab.
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