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Rambo (#18335)

Rambo® Micklem® Competition Bridle

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Overview

Why We Love This

The Rambo® Micklem® Competition Bridle is ergonomically designed from the inside out with your horse’s comfort in mind. Based on the shape and anatomy of the skull itself, this one-of-a-kind bridle is carefully crafted to avoid pressure on sensitive areas of your horse’s head such as the facial nerves, projected cheekbones, or the upper jaw molars. The noseband is specifically placed and shaped to avoid interfering with the horse’s breathing. Additionally, the wide, contoured crown alleviates pressure on the noseband while padding on the crown, browband, and noseband add to your horse’s comfort. Plus, the soft leather is vegetable-tanned and environmentally friendly.

The competition bridle features hand-finished leather that will look great in the show ring. Two sets of different sized pairs of bit straps are included to ensure an ideal fit. Additionally, tongue protection clips are included which can be used to lift the bit in the horse’s mouth to prevent undue or abrupt pressure from being applied to the bars or the tongue. This can be especially helpful when starting a young horse or for inexperienced riders. Finally, it even comes complete with rubber reins so you have everything you need to get started.

This bridle is approved for FEI competition.

Imported.

Please note: Horseware does not recommend using this bridle as a bitless bridle. If you’re looking for a Micklem bridle that can be converted into a bitless bridle, check out the Rambo Micklem Multibridle
 
Favorite Features:
  • Ergonomic design based on the shape and anatomy of the horse's skull
  • Helps avoid pressure on sensitive areas of the horse's head
  • Padded crown, browband, and noseband
  • Vegetable-tanned leather is soft and environmentally friendly
  • Hand-finished leather will look great in the show ring
  • Bit straps allow for an ideal fit
  • Tongue protection clips can help relieve undue pressure on the horse's tongue
  • Comes complete with rubber reins
Key Specifications
  • Material: Leather
  • Closure Style: Buckle
  • Style: Eventing
  • Reins Included: Yes
  • Padding: Yes
Ingredients
(Maintenance Dose = )
Ingredient Amount
Sizing
Available in sizes Pony, Cob, Horse, Large Horse

PONY
Bit-to-bit: 25"
Crownpiece: 14"
Cheekpieces: 6"

COB
Bit-to-bit: 27"
Crownpiece: 15"
Cheekpieces: 7"

HORSE
Bit-to-bit: 28.5"
Crownpiece: 15.5"
Cheekpieces: 7.5"

LARGE HORSE
Bit-to-bit: 30"
Crownpiece: 16"
Cheekpieces: 8"
What Customers Say:
Sizing Chart for Rambo® Micklem® Competition Bridle
Specifications
Material Leather
Closure Style Buckle
Style Eventing
Noseband Width 3/4"
Browband Width 3/4"
Reins Included Yes
Padding Yes
Customizable No
Special Features Micklem bridle is designed to avoid pressure points to comfortably fit the horse's head. Soft padding throughout the bridle. Stainless steel hardware.
Reviews
Rambo® Micklem® Competition Bridle is rated 4.5 out of 5 by 343.
Rated 3 out of 5 by from Not right for my horse I was very excited to try this bridle on my sensitive-faced WB after reading so many great reviews. Sadly he just didn't like the flash no matter how loose I secured it. I was also disappointed in the color... I ordered the Dark Havana, but it was a very odd grey-brown. It was also pretty stiff. Both of those may have been resolved with a good oiling, but since I decided to return it due to fit I didn't want to attempt to alter the color. I'm sure this is great for some horses, just didn't work for my guy.
Date published: 2021-01-28
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Love this bridle. I bought this product as a Christmas gift for my daughter and she loves it.
Date published: 2021-01-01
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Horses love it and so do I I agree with the reviewer who said it looks great in all 3 phases of eventing. Most importantly, all three horses I tried it with went more quietly and comfortably in it. I also like the rubber reins that came with it. My only suggestion would be to make the strap that goes behind the cheeks longer or removable with the option to swap for a longer one. It had to be on the last hole for an Arabian mare and for my amazing small Haffie even though all other sizing in the bridle worked well for them.
Date published: 2020-11-29
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Beautiful The weather looks much better than it does in the pictures. It is a beautiful quality bridal!
Date published: 2020-09-30
Rated 3 out of 5 by from Meh- not in love with this bridle Rambo is a brand I expect quality from- well this leather isn't high quality and the overall fit of this bridle is just ok. I really wanted to love this bridle as I do most if not all my other Rambo items, but I'm not sold on the fit and as stated the leather quality for the price. Maybe I expected too much from Horseware/Rambo :(
Date published: 2020-08-03
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Good Value I waited two years to buy this for my big horse. It fits him perfectly, and is good quality.
Date published: 2020-06-04
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Still unsure of this one! I think that I like this bridle! It’s very different, but seems to be comfortable for my horse and it actually looks good on him. The throat latch is a little snug but there’s lots of options to adjust. Disappointed that it’s made in India.
Date published: 2020-04-03
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Love this bridle! I love this bridle! I just rode with it on my very agitated OTTB, he has ulcers and constantly getting agitated, tossing his head, etc. But after I got this bridle he improved so much! He still has a little agitated here in there (prolly from the ulcers) but overall i saw a huge improvement. I am definintely going to purchase more Micklem products.
Date published: 2020-02-19
Rated 3 out of 5 by from Nicely designed, not so great quality I seldom purchase expensive bridles: to me a $200 bridle is expensive. But, I wanted something that would fit my horse better. I like the design of the bridle, and my horse seems comfortable in it once we got it adjusted correctly. However, I am less than pleased with the quality. I've honestly gotten better quality leather on some India-made pieces I've purchased for a fraction of the price. And that's sad. The leather is very thick and very stiff. I had great difficulty getting the ends of the straps through the keepers as the leather did not want to bend and in one case, was too thick to even fit in the keeper. The bit straps are a big wad on the side of my horse's face: I'm hopeful that with use it'll somehow look better, as is, not the best look for a 'competition bridle'. For $200, I expected a lot better quality and am disappointed that way. The design is great, though.
Date published: 2020-01-15
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Very nice bridle - mare loves it - weird fit AQHA So the quality is amazing - bridle was very nice and leather soft and pliant right out of the packaging. And honestly my mare really loved it. I am hesitant to believe "earth-shattering" reviews but overall this really made her almost immediately quieter and more comfortable. Is it a miracle? No. But this is the second horse in our barn with a Miklem who has experienced a much happier horse after changing over from conventional bridles to the Miklem. The only negative thing I have to say is that as the owner of an AQHA, they do have wider heads/jowls than your usual horse. My mare is 15.1 and her head length borders on cob/horse, nose size is definitely cob-sized, having a daintier head than your usual stock-type QH, and while the horse size bridle does fit her well in terms of length, the strap beneath the cheek (throat-latch) is too short. Maybe because Miklem didn't really anticipate a wider head because it tested on warmbloods/TBs that have narrower heads? Who knows? If I had bought large horse, she would be swimming in the bridle in terms of the length and noseband. Just wish Miklem had taken larger jowls into account!! But otherwise, a great bridle and one of the best pieces of equipment I have bought in a really long time.
Date published: 2020-01-06
Rated 1 out of 5 by from Stiff leather and sizing is huge The leather was stiff and there was next to non existent padding. Even after oiling, stayed stiff and stood off my horses face as it never relaxed. My horse has a standard size head in everything I've ever fit him in. He's actually a bit broad in the forehead so typically warmblood size browbands fit him. This thing swallowed his head in the flash area, bit keeper, brow band and length as we ran out of adjustment. The throatlatch was tight super tight. Found a knockoff with better padding, better sizing, and much more supple leather for $80.
Date published: 2019-12-14
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Great bridle I highly recommend this bridle. Once the adjustments are done the fit is perfect.
Date published: 2019-12-06
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Amazing for fussy OTTB!!! I just got this bridle today and tried it on my 15.2h OTTB gelding. Full size, fits PERFECTLY. D ring snaffle fit with the bridle and wasn't weird with the fit. He’s always fussy, but today when I rode him in it, he was not fussy at all, super supple, soft, etc etc. While normally he isn’t. He loves it and so do I. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
Date published: 2019-10-20
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Nice My new horse's hair was rubbing off from her standard bridle and she seemed pained after the ride - she was borderline violent to get it off her. I'm so glad I tried the Micklem. No more hair loss, no more head tossing, and no more numb face. She has an ugly/difficult-to-fit shaped head, but the small horse size fits her. (Normally she goes in a cob.) The only drawback is that certain bits that work by poll pressure don't really work as well as on standard bridles due to the bit strap setup. Totally glad I spent the money and got this.
Date published: 2019-09-18
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Great bridle! Great bridle! Mg quarter horse loving it- fit is terrific and doesn't compress parts of his face. Great fit and working out well.
Date published: 2019-09-11
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Amazing bridle I bought this bridle because my draught is very strong I tried everything to stop pulling. Once I switched to this bridle it stopped. She didn’t tug or pull on me anymore. Fits nicely on her excessively large head
Date published: 2019-09-04
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Perfect fit!! We were having problems finding an appropriate sized bridle for our smaller pony that events. The Micklem fits perfectly, with plenty of adjustments to fit a regular snaffle or a bubble bit!!!
Date published: 2019-08-13
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Wonderful Bridle You will notice a difference in you horse the first time you put it on. They are more likely to cooperate with less pressure on the reins, head tossing or similar behaviors. I use both of the small straps for the bit, my horse likes the division of pressure between the nose band and directly on the mouth. In addition to dressage, I do a great deal of trial riding and the willingness to push into the bit makes for a much more pleasant ride, while building up the horses back and hindquarters on hills and and galloping through the meadows with a completely relaxed horse.
Date published: 2019-05-21
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Love it Bought for my horse because she always gets irritated with her bridle and tries to itch it off. Once I started using this bridle she no longer itches and it’s bough quality leather and looks amazing!
Date published: 2019-03-03
Rated 5 out of 5 by from This bridle has been a game changer I'm updating my initial review of the Micklem bridle. It's been a game changer for my stiff, bracey mare. The head tossing at the canter is all but gone. My trainer is amazed and is recommending this bridle to other clients.
Date published: 2019-02-28
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Good Deal I’ve only had a few rides in so I cannot speak about durability but seems well made. Not stuff but not super supple right out of the box. Easy to assemble (if you read it first :) and love the reins! My horse is very sensitive to bridles and this made a huge difference in a short time. Supports my mare well and allows for clear communication. Overall worth the price! (I fixed my assembling mistake after I took the photo)
Date published: 2018-10-04
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Not so bracey anymore I have a paint mare that is extremely bracey in her jaw, shoulders and poll. We have had a difficult time with canter under saddle. My trainer has ridden her in this bridle twice and is absolutely amazed at the difference. The first ride was a bit dicey...Cali couldn't find any thing to brace on and was a bit distressed. On the second day she was a bit more used to it and actually relaxed her shoulders and started stepping from behind. I'm excited to see if her progress continues. If you get one, ride your horse in it several times before you decide it doesn't work.
Date published: 2018-07-20
Rated 3 out of 5 by from Love the idea but the fit is awkward I tried this on a few different horses and on some it fit great but others who are in between sizes it was just impossible to adjust it. If I made it so the nose band sat at the right height (off sensitive cartilage) but not too tight in the bit, the bit would touch the strap that goes in front of it. Awkward and frustrating.
Date published: 2018-07-04
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Super comfy for horses, but short on adjustability I currently own two of these, and need a third one for the fussy one so she doesn't have to share her sister's. What I love about the bridle is that horses find it so comfortable! The usual "I must rub my face NOW" reaction to removing a regular bridle disappears entirely. The down sides to the bridle are these: the straps are not long enough all around (cheek, flash, bit hangers), the fixed keepers are placed too far apart and the leather bit straps are too bulky and stiff. My 17H Trak/draft cross is on the last holes all around on the Large Horse size. I use his old one on the youngster, who has a horse sized head, and it fits her pretty well. I am going to try the Horse size for the more delicate mare. I highly recommend for comfort. I would continue (yes, I've said this before) to encourage Rambo/Micklem to improve the good design according to the numerous recommendations about adjustability. Perhaps a "Draft" size is warranted to upsize the Large Horse size. The pebbled reins are very nice and comfortable in the hand.
Date published: 2018-06-30
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Superb bridle I haven't had a chance to put it on my 2 year old yet but he's had his smaller brother's Micklem on a few times. I have had a Micklem on my horses since the bridle first came out. I like how they fit the horses and how well the horses seem to like it. I still think they could use a nicer leather for the price.
Date published: 2018-06-05
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Amazing bridle The concept of this bridle is amazing and many horses at our barn have really taken to it. It is a really good alternative to some of the super expensive anatomical dressage bridles on the market, specially if you just want to try the concept without taking out a second mortgage on your house. The leather is quite reasonable quality and looked lovely after oiling it thoroughly once after it arrived. Just wish they made the connector between the rings for the "flash"/bottom strap to the noseband slightly better quality, as we have had a number of them break with use. They provide you with a second set of bit straps, what would really be needed is a nylon re-inforced strap to connect the little ring to the noseband. I have had my bridle for six months (admittedly in sticky and sweaty South Florida) and they are just starting to go, and my noseband is not done up super tight. Also some additional padding under the noseband would be great. Ordering a new one for shows and having the old one fixed for every day use.
Date published: 2018-05-05
Rated 3 out of 5 by from Good quality, fitting issues Overall this is a very good quality bridle. Lacks in adjustment for fit. My mare has a refined head but wears a full. Even with the shorter bridle straps it just didn't fit right. Price is a little high, paying for the R&D not looks.
Date published: 2018-03-12
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Love this bridle! I bought this over a month ago and am so happy I did. I am thrilled to be done with all the straps and buckles. The large fits my draft cross perfectly and he appears to be much more comfortable.
Date published: 2018-03-10
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Good design Horse goes well in this bridle. Comfortable design for the horse. If in doubt on size I suggest going up a size. The straps are short.
Date published: 2018-02-13
Rated 4 out of 5 by from ...except for the reins The bridle is a nice fit (cob) on my 14.1 Arab/QH. I've conditioned it and it's starting to soften up. It's very decent quality leather. The strap that goes under his jaw just barely fits as it's on the last hole. It's a good fit in that position though, and with time and use will probably stretch to the point where I could go up a hole (plus he's super furry right now). The reins, however, are not good at all if you like a soft, flexible feel--and for the reigns to move through your hands at times--or if you want enough length so that your horse can reach for the bit and stretch. The rubber part of the reins is too thick. And the junction where the leather ends and the rubber begins (near the buckle) is completely inflexible, so you have this weird bend and inability to hold the reigns correctly with your thumb. It's very odd. That junctions is exactly where I want flexibility. So I can't use them at all. I had to replace them, which is a shame since I paid for them. I guess if want to keep your reins short all the time, you'll be fine. Otherwise plan on replacing them.
Date published: 2018-01-30
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Q & A
Videos
Micklem Competition Bridle Review
Emily from SmartPak talks about why she thinks the Micklem Competition Bridle (http://bit.ly/13A6O96) is so smart. The smartest reason to get yours at SmartPak? Free Shipping Both Ways! At SmartPak.com, you'll get free shipping every day on all orders over $75 and free returns on all sized items. Just another way it pays to be $mart.
Fitting the Micklem Competition Bridle
Emily from SmartPak talks about how to fit the Micklem Competition Bridle (http://bit.ly/169P8BY) and why she thinks it is so smart. The smartest reason to get yours at SmartPak? Free Shipping Both Ways! At SmartPak.com, you'll get free shipping every day on all orders over $75 and free returns on all sized items. Just another way it pays to be $mart.

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