Finally Frank has a bridle that fits. When I went to try Frank prior to purchase I was impressed  –   not just by Frank – but by the saddle he was wearing.  I had never sat in anything so comfortable or felt so secure.  I didn’t recognise the saddle logo and was still no wiser even after I was told it was a Prestige.  This saddle needs a blog post all of its own especially as it is now in New Zealand. WTF? So, new horse, new saddle – why not get a new bridle to match? When it arrived I was eager to try it on as Frank’s only bridle was falling apart due to Frank’s complete disregard for any tack, halters, lead ropes  – all of which he has snapped, cracked, pulled back, trodden on, caught on (anything/nothing) or demolished – I don’t know how he does it but everything gets broken. The Prestige bridle looked smart but was clearly way too big even after adjustment and moving up to the top holes all round.  As I turned to talk to someone in one swift move Frank managed to snap the bridle – rendering it impossible to return and, because of where it was broken, impossible to repair.  I don’t even know how he managed to do this and couldn’t work out how it had become caught. So, after hole punching I managed to get the bridle to fit – sort of –  only just managing to shorten the cheek straps but the nose band was always too low and too big – any flash straps always fitted too low on the soft part of his nose so they could not be used. So, two and a half years later of making do (and saving up for a new bridle) I have tried a Micklem bridle kindly loaned by Huw Thomas, saddler. Every part of this bridle has a clear purpose, every strap fits perfectly and it looks like it was made for Frank’s face.  Frank’s size is ‘small horse’ the ‘standard’ size was far too big even though Frank is 16.2 he has a small head and a fine nose. The leather is soft and is padded around the contoured headpiece and noseband.  I tried it on Frank in the school,  in a showjumping competition and out on a hack – yesterday in fact when it was a particularly windy day – the tail end of hurricane Ophelia   – and Frank was a bit fresh but I felt I had much more control and Frank did not rush off or get strong in canter  – he can sometimes get away from me (fortunately he always comes back but in the Micklem he didn’t even try). In the school there was less head shaking and less resistance – he seemed more comfortable.  There was also less overbending, he seemed to be more ‘through’ and riding up into the bridle.  In the showjumping arena he was calm and collected and felt easier to steer around the course.  I found his head carriage was less overbent and he was looking at the jumps on approach to the fence instead of checking to see if his penis was still there.  So far I have been happy with this bridle and have now ordered one in brown.  Frank hasn’t yet managed to break the one I have on loan.  I hope the new one arrives soon as I don’t want to go back  the old one.  Anyone want to buy a full size Prestige bridle which has a bit of leather missing?

• Uncategorized