Horseware Saddlery
Bridles
Micklem bridles, reins, headcollars and saddle pads.
Horseware Bridles
Most riders buying a Horseware bridle are choosing between three things: a Micklem for a horse that objects to a conventional headpiece and noseband, a flash or cavesson bridle for everyday schooling and showing, or a grackle for jumping and cross-country. This collection holds 14 Horseware bridles, priced from £79.95 for the Horseware Pony Cavesson Bridle up to £190.95 for the Horseware Micklem Diamante Competition Bridle, with pony, cob and full-size fittings across the range.
In a hurry?
- Horse fusses about the bridle, head-shakes or leans: Horseware Micklem Multi Bridle, from £173.95 — converts between bitted, bitless and lunging setups.
- Best all-round competition Micklem: Horseware Micklem Competition Bridle, from £155.95.
- Everyday schooling on a budget: Horseware Cavesson Bridle, from £94.95.
- Dressage with a crank and flash: Horseware Dressage Flash Bridle, from £119.95.
- Jumping and cross-country: Horseware Figure 8 Grackle Bridle, from £129.95.
- Pony rider: Horseware Pony Cavesson Bridle, from £79.95, in Mini, Small Pony and Pony.
Which Horseware bridle should you choose?
| Bridle | Best for | Noseband style | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horseware Micklem Multi Bridle | Schooling, lunging, bitless work | Micklem anatomical, multi-configuration | £173.95 |
| Horseware Micklem Competition Bridle | Affiliated competition | Micklem anatomical | £155.95 |
| Horseware Micklem Deluxe Competition Bridle | Competition, softer leather finish | Micklem anatomical, padded | £177.95 |
| Horseware Micklem Diamante Competition Bridle | Dressage and showing sparkle | Micklem anatomical, diamante browband | £190.95 |
| Horseware Dressage Flash Bridle | Dressage and flatwork | Padded crank with flash | £119.95 |
| Horseware Diamante Flash Bridle | Dressage with a dressier look | Flash, diamante browband | £129.95 |
| Horseware Figure 8 Grackle Bridle | Jumping, eventing, cross-country | Crossed grackle with nose pad | £129.95 |
| Horseware Hunter Bridle | Showing and hunting | Traditional cavesson | £129.95 |
| Horseware Hunter Cavesson Bridle W/Reins | Showing, reins included | Traditional cavesson | £124.95 |
| Horseware Cavesson Bridle | Everyday schooling and hacking | Plain cavesson | £94.95 |
| Horseware Pony Flash Bridle | Pony club and lessons | Cavesson with flash | £89.95 |
| Horseware Pony Diamante Flash Bridle | Pony dressage and showing | Flash, diamante browband | £89.95 |
| Horseware Pony Cavesson Bridle | First bridle, everyday use | Plain cavesson | £79.95 |
| Horseware Pony Hunter Cavesson Bridle W/Reins | Pony showing, reins included | Traditional cavesson | £95.95 |
What actually makes a Micklem bridle different?
A conventional bridle runs its headpiece and noseband across whatever happens to be underneath. The Micklem shape is drawn around the horse's skull instead, so the straps are routed to sit clear of the thin facial bones, the ends of the cheek teeth and the main nerve lines down the face. The noseband fastens below the bit rather than clamping the jaw shut, and the design also takes the tongue and bars into account.
That is the reason it comes up so often for horses that head-shake, lean, gape, or simply never seem settled in the contact. It is not a fix for every problem — a persistent contact issue can be teeth, back, saddle fit or bit shape, so have your horse checked by a vet, dentist or saddle fitter alongside any tack change. What a Micklem does is remove pressure points as a variable.
Which Micklem is which?
The Horseware Micklem Multi Bridle (from £173.95) is the versatile one: it converts between a standard bitted bridle, a bitless setup and a lunging cavesson, which suits a horse in rehab or a rider who schools bitless and competes bitted. The Horseware Micklem Competition Bridle (from £155.95) is the straightforward competition version. The Horseware Micklem Deluxe Competition Bridle (from £177.95) steps up the leather and padding, and the Horseware Micklem Diamante Competition Bridle (from £190.95) adds a diamante browband for dressage and showing.
Flash, cavesson or grackle — which noseband do you need?
A plain cavesson is the classic choice and the one most show rings expect. The Horseware Cavesson Bridle (from £94.95) and Horseware Hunter Bridle (from £129.95) both use it, and the Horseware Hunter Cavesson Bridle W/Reins (from £124.95) arrives with matching reins so there is nothing else to buy.
A flash adds a thin strap under the bit to discourage a horse from crossing its jaw or drawing the bit through the mouth. The Horseware Dressage Flash Bridle (from £119.95) pairs a padded crank with a flash, and the Horseware Diamante Flash Bridle (from £129.95) does the same with a sparkling browband.
A grackle, or figure-eight, crosses over the nose so the straps sit above and below the bit while leaving the nostrils clear. That makes the Horseware Figure 8 Grackle Bridle (from £129.95) the pick for jumping and cross-country, where a horse needs full airflow at speed.
What size Horseware bridle do you need?
Horseware splits its bridles into a pony range and a horse range, so start by picking the right family before you pick a size.
- Pony range — Mini, Small Pony and Pony. Used on the Horseware Pony Cavesson Bridle, Horseware Pony Flash Bridle, Horseware Pony Diamante Flash Bridle and Horseware Pony Hunter Cavesson Bridle W/Reins.
- Horse range — Cob, Full and X-Full, depending on the model. Used on the Horseware Cavesson Bridle, Horseware Dressage Flash Bridle, Horseware Diamante Flash Bridle, Horseware Hunter Bridle, Horseware Figure 8 Grackle Bridle and Horseware Hunter Cavesson Bridle W/Reins. Note that the Horseware Hunter Bridle and the Horseware Figure 8 Grackle Bridle are also made in a Pony size.
- Micklem sizing — Pony, Cob, Super Cob, Full and X-Full across all four Micklem models. Super Cob is the useful in-between size for a chunky cob head that swims in Full but strains a Cob.
If your horse sits between two sizes, measure the browband first: a browband that pinches the base of the ears is the fastest way to make an otherwise well-fitting bridle uncomfortable. Not sure which way to go? Get in touch and our team will help you match a size to your horse's measurements.
Colour and leather choices
Most models come in black or brown. The Micklem models come in black and a dark havana brown, except the Horseware Micklem Diamante Competition Bridle, which is black only. The Horseware Hunter Bridle is offered in havana brown, and the Horseware Diamante Flash Bridle adds black with black, pink or silver crystal browbands. The Horseware Pony Diamante Flash Bridle comes in black with a pink browband. Black is the safer bet for dressage; brown tends to be the traditional choice for showing, hunting and cross-country.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Micklem bridle worth the extra money?
If your horse is comfortable and settled in a conventional bridle, a standard cavesson or flash will serve you perfectly well — the Horseware Cavesson Bridle starts at £94.95. The Micklem earns its price (from £155.95) with horses that fuss, head-shake, gape or resist the contact, because its straps are routed away from the sensitive facial bones and nerve lines. It supports comfort rather than curing a problem, so rule out teeth, saddle fit and back pain with your vet or dentist first.
Can you use a Micklem Multi Bridle bitless?
Yes. The Horseware Micklem Multi Bridle (from £173.95) is the model built for it — it converts between a bitted bridle, a bitless configuration and a lunging cavesson using the same headpiece. That makes it a sensible single purchase if you school bitless, bring a horse back into work, or want to lunge without swapping tack. Check your discipline's rules before competing bitless, as many affiliated classes do not permit it.
What is the difference between a flash and a grackle noseband?
A flash is a cavesson with a thin extra strap that fastens below the bit, discouraging the horse from crossing its jaw. A grackle, or figure-eight, crosses diagonally over the nose so the pressure is spread higher and lower while the nostrils stay clear. Flash bridles such as the Horseware Dressage Flash Bridle (from £119.95) suit dressage and flatwork; the Horseware Figure 8 Grackle Bridle (from £129.95) suits jumping and cross-country where airflow matters at speed.
Which Horseware bridles come with reins included?
Two of them. The Horseware Hunter Cavesson Bridle W/Reins (from £124.95) comes with matching reins in brown for horse sizes, and the Horseware Pony Hunter Cavesson Bridle W/Reins (from £95.95) does the same for ponies. Every other bridle in this collection is supplied without reins, so budget for a set separately if you need them.
What size should I order for a cob?
Cob is the standard fitting across the horse-size bridles here. If your cob has a broad, heavy head that a normal Cob bridle strains at the browband and noseband, the Micklem models offer a Super Cob size that sits between Cob and Full. Measure the browband and noseband on a bridle that currently fits and compare before ordering; if you are unsure, get in touch and our team will help.
How do I look after a leather Horseware bridle?
Wipe the bridle down with a damp cloth after every ride to lift sweat and grease, which are what actually rot the stitching. Give it a proper strip-down clean with saddle soap every few weeks, then condition lightly — over-oiling softens leather until it stretches. Dry it away from direct heat, and check the billets, buckle holes and stitching around the bit rings each time you clean, because that is where wear shows first.
Free UK delivery over £50 · 90-day returns · Expert help
Last reviewed 2026-07-24 by the Just Horse Riders team.