I really want one of these
https://www.doversaddlery.com/schckeml-equitus-alpha-bridle/p/X1-120147/
OMG! I’m in love with that horse. Does it come with the bridle?
2 Likes
I have heard that either horses like them or they hate them. When I bought my guy he was in a Micklem, when I got him home I had him in a traditional bridle with a flash noseband. I now have him back in a Micklem. I didn’t notice a difference either way, just got it because that is what he was in and did fine so why change something… Though I do believe they do not put as many pressure point on the head like a normal bridle would.
I now have a plain brown for jumping and then I have a black one with fancy stitching for dressage.
I bought both of mine for under $150 used in excellent condition. eBay usually has them and i have seen A LOT on Facebook lately.
Edited to add that, many say the leather is not the best quality…maybe I do not know my leather that well but I don’t think it is bad. Also, both of mine are the same size and do fit differently as far as which holes on each side etc etc.
I think that unless you want the bridle for the design don’t get it. I have the multi bridle and the leather is ok but not great. It was hard to fit and the only reason I got it was for the bitless conversion. I have a HDR stress relief bridle that I’ve had for years and love it. The leather is good and it has nice padding for my sestive paint. I’ve also had $40 bridles that have been fine so I guess it really depend on what level you want the leather to be.
I started my mare in a Micklem and it seemed ok. I eventually switched to a regular cavesson and she was soooo much softer in the bridle. So she didn’t act like she hated it, but it wasn’t the right bridle for her.
I have the competition version with the fancy stitching and the leather is fine. The main problem you might encounter is that they either fit your horse or they don’t since there aren’t as many straps to adjust. On the other hand, if it fits there aren’t as many straps to adjust, which I like, and I also like the ergonomic aspect. My gelding goes exactly the same in his as he does in any other bridle, but he isn’t picky. I just have one on him because I was bored with my tack when I bought it, it’s easy to clean, and it looks cute on him.
Your horse will either have a Micklem head or not in terms of (a) fit and (b) whether one looks nice on him. I think they look great on refined heads and really terrible on more rectangular-shaped heads. The jowl strap was pretty tight when I bought mine, exacerbated by my Arab’s giant bulging forehead, but after a while it suppled and stretched a bit. I’ve had it for a few years and it’s held up quite well.
