What is out there? I have not purchased a bridle in a while and think the new young horse could benefit from a Micklem type bridle. She has a smallish TB head, however, I do not like the leather quality on the Micklem itself. What are the other options? I am looking at the PS website - are these bridles nice and how do they run for size? There seems to be many versions none quite like the Micklem though, is there one that is a close 2nd? Other brands? Thanks!
The only bridle that I’ve thought comes close in terms of delivering quality and a “Micklem-esque” design is the Stubben Freedom bridle. It is expensive, but you will have a bridle that lasts forever. It is a funky looking bridle, though.
I’ve tried a few other brands. The PS of Swedens are cleverly made, but I don’t like the leather quality as much as I like Stubben’s. Once they are broken in they don’t seem to get the same glossy patina a well-oiled bridle does, and they can look dinghy even cleaned. Their quality control and stitching is decent and I like their various bridle options.
The Schockemohle brand has a few ergonomic variations, the Alpha, Beta and Delta - but the leather is cheap and quality control is very poor. Feels nice in your hands though. In the past I’ve worked at two different tack store chains, and Schockemohle bridles were consistently returned for falling apart with minimal use. I caved and bought the Beta, and had to send it back because it came with a defect right out the bag (leather padding wasn’t even stitched into the leather backing on the noseband…). This is consistent with Schockemohle’s poor quality control.
One thing to consider is that feeling good out of the bag is not synonymous with high quality. The buttersoft, supple leather right out of the bag is usually leather that delivers poorly in terms of longevity/daily use.
Why do you want a Micklem - or specifically, what part of Micklem’s design appeals to you?
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FYI - I bought the “high end” Micklem with English leather and absolutely hated it. The leather quality was only marginally better and the nose was oddly stiff.
I like the ergonomic fit around the molars and cheekbones, can see how this is beneficial. Also less opportunities to rub the sensitive TB skin with the overall less leather look. In a perfect world I would have a nice Sedgewick leather Micklem 
Does this exist? My favorite eventing bridles are my Five Star bridles, and I have a Huntley Equestrian bridle that is also stunning - the stitching is stunning. French leather is not preferred, it just stretches too much. Thanks for the heads up on the Rambo leather upgrade, I had a hunch it wasn’t fabulous.
I can’t swallow the look of the Stubben bridle, it is too much for me. IMO it looks even stranger in person, but I know some people love it.
PS has a couple that may work…I think the Pioneer (is this legal for USEA or USDF?) or High Jump are the closest, though the adjustability of the Nirak is appealing however it seems that one is not yet legal? Probably wont get the 4yo out competing until the end of the year and could always use another bridle for dressage, we will not be doing anything serious…
https://www.psofsweden.com/en/bridle_retailers/high-jump
https://www.psofsweden.com/en/bridle_retailers/nirak
https://www.psofsweden.com/en/bridle_retailers/bridle-pioneer-revolution
I have a Nirak and I’m pleased, and my mare goes quite well in it. I was told it was USEA/USEF legal for eventing when I bought it but someone clarified earlier that it isn’t. Which is a bit of a bummer, but I’m a LONG way from even being back to BN, so it is ok for the moment.
The bridle is lovely, though. I ordered directly from them. I had a terrible time with one of the US based retailers, and finally had to start a dispute through PayPal and get my money refunded.
Yes, I can’t find any additional information about USEA legality - do you have a publication? USEF clearly indicates these bridles are legal with a throatlatch, I wish USEA would adapt their rules to make it easier to follow, particularly as all these anatomical bridles come out. https://www.usef.org/forms-pubs/96D17lSsaCo/annex---bits-saddlery-equipment
Were you able to order different parts directly from them? I think I would need multiple sizes, its for a petite TB head, tiny nose, regular brow-band situation.
Yes! That was what I liked best. My mare’s head is oddly shaped, so being able to order her different sizes (the website has a good measuring guide) was the best part.
I saw here a couple of days ago that someone had confirmed that they weren’t Eventing legal. Though I do have the throatlatch for mine. PS sent that along separately, as it was backordered.
Have you tried a figure 8 noseband with ring sides? From a biomechanic standpoint the Micklem is a modified figure 8 with no throatlatch. You’ll have an easier time finding better leather quality that way.
There’s the collegiate comfitec bridle that would be similar. I think both bridles are in a similar price range. I have owned both, I hated the micklem and so did my mare. She goes really well in the collegiate and it’s leather is much nicer IMO.
I don’t know if this is applicable to your bridle, but I bought a Multi-Bridle many years ago when they first came out. I was kind of shocked at the poor quality of the leather and learned, after an accident, that my nose part had a plastic/nylon strip sewn between the leather strips.
Not sure about legality, but the Pioneer Revolution fits a bit more like a drop nose than a Micklem.
My TB likes it well enough, he used to go in a Multi-Bridle but it was too tight around his jowl. I don’t show so use it without the extra throatlatch. I like the way it clips on.
But @beowulf is right: the leather is not very high quality.
I LOVE my PS of Sweden bridles - they are so much more adjustable to fit than the Micklem, and better leather quality. Not the greatest leather, but better than Micklem. I have 4 different models. Currently the only 2 approved for EVENTING dressage is the Jump Off and the High Jump (a lot more of them are approved for USEF, so I think USEA may follow in due time). The Nirak is under review and is probably closest to the Micklem. If you can take precise measurements, the PS Of Sweden folks will help you size it appropriately and mix and match what you need - the sizing varies a little throughout the different models. My 16.2 narrow tb has gone in both a size 2 (on longest setting) and a size 3 (on shortest setting).
The new Montar anatomic bridles are made with Sedgwick ECO leather, whatever that means. https://justriding.com/collections/00-all-products/products/bridle-monarch-jumping-eco-leather
I have a PS of Sweden Pioneer and absolutely love it. The leather quality is lovely — the right balance of supple and longevity. And the black is a “soft” black the looks less harsh than many others on my liver chestnut mare.
Unfortunately, after using it for just over a year, I put her older Passier Ingrid Klimke bridle on her as an experiment for a new trainer and she told me very clearly that she prefers that with no flash strap. And IMO the leather on the Passsier is far inferior to the PS of Sweden. Sigh.
Haha, if you want to buy my Pioneer let me know! It is the size combination you are loooking for — smaller nose band and regular size crown piece. The BossyBridle fitted it to her and it’s a perfect fit.
