MSL- Equine

30/04/2026

🐎 Do you use a micklem or similar bridles?

Many people ask me about the 'micklem' or similar style of bridles that have an 'anatomical' shape.

First of all, I recognise that some horses 'go well' in these types of bridles, but i think that's a matter of opinion as it's likely that previous bridles have been so poorly fitted.

But here are some points about these bridles I'm sure you haven't previously thought about.

This is one of my clients I recently visited. They very kindly allowed me to demonstrate why I tend to find 9/10 micklem or similar bridles dont fit well or suit some horse's head shape.

With everything, the horse has to have the right head for the bridle. Not all bridles are a 'one style for all', much like our human clothing and horse rugs, etc.

So, on the left is an image of where the owner had fitted the bridle.
Points to make here
- The noseband is too low and presses on soft tissue of the nasal cavity and onto the fragile nasal bone
- The strap around the mouth, so many people say to me, 'it's not a flash'. No, it's a drop noseband. Especially fitted too low, which these often are, they act like a drop noseband, and you can over tighten them to forcefully close the mouth. The drop puts pressure onto the danger zone around the nasal areas! There's no arguing here. If people are inclined to do it up tight, this is what happens.
- The buckle is way too close to the TMJ and placed too high on the Trigeminal nerve before it branches and over the main nerve centre up there!

Photo 2 - I lifted it up on the cheek buckles (note that the throatlash strap is actually not done up and I am holding it back so it's not dangling as it was now too small to go around the horses jaw).
- The noseband is in a much better position on the nasal plane. However, the curve of the noseband is rubbing too close to the sharp cheek bones.
- The buckle is now riding the TMJ and the facial nerves
- The headpiece has become tighter to the poll and pressing into the poll, ear, and brow area.

Photo 3 I have dropped it so that the buckle is at eye level between where the Trigeminal Nerve branches. (Again, I'm holding the throatlash strap)
- The noseband is so low!
- The bit can not be lifted any higher in the mouth and is sitting very loosely. With the possibility of sawing in the mouth, hitting teeth, and being very uncomfortable for her.

Bless her she was so very patient with us while we faffed with her bridle.

It demonstrates why these bridles are very hard to adjust and position right on the majority of horses.

I often see other types of bits being used with these bridles too ie gags and pelhams. They are only designed to be used with snaffles. Anything else will negate the poll pressure and transfer 100% of the pressure onto the mouth.

02/07/2025

Regarding my recent post for high viz.
thank you to all who have replied, the response has been huge.
My post has been raised as a favour due to all horses and their riders safety being so important.
I have fed back the interest to my pilot neighbour and he is going to get their equestrian affairs coordinator to speak to me so that we can get back to you all.
Thank you for your interest and also your patience, we will be back to you soon.
Due to GDPR you need to know that I have a full time job, so enquiries will be passed onto someone within the MOD who has the role of looking after horse and rider safety. Thank you.

30/06/2025

FREE high viz for horse riding centres and yards.
Did you know that wearing high viz isn’t just about riding on the roads and dark nights but it’s also for being seen by aircraft 🚁 too.
Flight commanders often do their military practicing following roads or over large expanses of land or woodland and wearing high viz can mean a change of direction for their flying so not to alarm horses.
Safety is a priority and the BHS and MOD have come together to bring more awareness and a better understanding about being seen. If your yard is interested in receiving free tabards, mesh 1/4 sheets and hat bands in order to keep riders safe you can find out more by private messaging me where I will pass your details back via an army commander pilot who is working hard to create more awareness.
Please share my post and I shall be getting more information soon.

13/05/2025

So saddle fit is my area of knowledge however having worked alongside a great bit and bridle fitter I was lucky enough to learn that we have to unlearn things that we have presumed are good/correct……. Bitting is definitely an area we can improve horse welfare in, by just allowing an expert to fit a bit to the shape and confirmation (not just width and height which we also often get wrong without today’s knowledge) of your horse’s mouth.
Always get a fitter who see’s the horse ridden in disciplines you partake. A proper fitting should take as long as a proper saddle fit.

01/05/2025

I totally agree with Jec Aristotle Ballou, and have practiced my straightness technique and in hand work over the years using various brands. Working from the centre of the horse helps to actually create straightness without resistance or falling behind the vertical.
Once your horses can maintain balance throughout its transitions whilst being lunged with a cavesson I have normally felt improved balance and elastic contact when riding.

I wrote a blog post all about why I recommend a longe cavesson—and why it’s one of the most overlooked but important tools for groundwork.

If you’ve ever wondered what makes a cavesson different (or better) than a halter or bridle for longeing, this breaks it down.

✅ Clearer communication
✅ Proper alignment
✅ Better biomechanics

This is one of those small changes that can make a big difference for your horse.

💻 Read the full post — link is in the comments!

17/04/2025

This post backs is yet another example of a horse just trying to communicate. I have every respect for those who listen, and try to spread the message to be a proper horse person….. watch, feel and listen!

09/02/2025

I totally agree with this. Too many people have got used to believing everything comes from have a horse on the bit…. But if forced and not part of the horse’s natural rounding and softening from correct riding and being physically able to carry itself, then horse rider harmony is never going to be achieved.

🐴 Why Mindset Matters in Equestrian Coaching 🧠

Last night, as part of my continuing professional development, I attended the virtual Pony Club Conference. This year’s theme was The Fundamentals of Pony Club Coaching, and the speakers were incredibly knowledgeable, reinforcing the responsibility we have as coaches to educate the next generation of equestrians—always with horse welfare at the heart of everything we do ❤️.

It’s no secret that the equestrian industry is under increasing scrutiny when it comes to horse welfare. And rightly so. This should always be our priority. But with the sector now facing more external pressure than ever, the spotlight on how we train and educate riders has never been brighter. 🔦

A key takeaway from the conference was the need to look forward—to educate based on progress, not tradition. Pippa Funnell was particularly passionate about this, making it clear that too often, fundamental riding principles are missing. Watching her speak, it was obvious how strongly she felt about this, and I completely agree—it’s still a major issue in some areas of coaching.

She drove home the point that if we want to be empathetic, effective riders, we must master the basics—correct balance, core stability, and an understanding of the scales of training. 📏 She repeated, again and again, that true connection comes from the leg to the hand—not the other way around. Yet, how many times have you heard instructions like "jiggle the bit," "fiddle the bit," or "flex the jaw"? 🤔 I know I’ve heard them plenty of times around warm-up arenas! But nowhere in the FEI definition of contact does that appear—so I applaud her for making this a sticking point. 👏

Another key discussion was around teaching young riders to understand the horse’s mind—how they think, behave, and how trust is built. 🐎💭 All vital topics. But there was one crucial element missing…

💡 The rider’s mindset.

You can have all the technical skills, all the correct theory, but if a rider’s mindset isn’t in the right place, everything falls apart.

When we are stressed, overwhelmed, doubting ourselves, or fearful, it doesn’t just stay in our heads—it manifests physically. A tense mind creates a rigid body—tight shoulders, stiff arms, gripping legs. That elastic contact Pippa talked about? Gone—because tension has taken over. ❌ Fear prevents a rider from relaxing their arm, allowing the horse the freedom to open their neck over a jump (if they haven’t forgotten the course first! 😬). A lack of confidence creates hesitation, leading to inconsistent aids that confuse the horse. Frustration—whether from perceived failure, comparison, or self-doubt—can result in less sympathetic riding, despite our best intentions.

And this is why I trained as a mindset coach. 🌟

Over years of coaching, I saw these patterns time and time again. Riders want to do their best for their horses, but without addressing their own mental barriers, they will always struggle to deliver what they’re truly capable of.

Yes, riders need correct balance. ✅ Yes, they need the technical skills and the theory. 📚 But if their mindset isn’t working for them—if stress, fear, or frustration are in the way—then like a house of cards 🃏, everything will collapse.

If we truly care about riding in a way that puts the horse first, then we must also prioritise the rider’s mindset. Because when we do, everything else falls into place. 🤍🐎

💭 It would be fantastic to see this element included in next year’s conference. Horse welfare is paramount, and understanding how a rider’s mindset influences their body, their aids, and ultimately their horse’s way of going could make an incredible impact—not just for the rider, but for their horse too. 🙌