Martingale...pls help with couple ?'s

[Gryhrs]

What is the point of a martingale and when is it indicated?

How do I fit to my horse? I use the big thick rubber reins, should I use 2 rein stops - one near the bit and another right before the thick part of the rein?

Finally.......it is safe to wear one xc, right?

Thanks

[Jazzy Lady]

Running martingales are legal for the jumping phases, standing martingales are not.

Use only one set of rein stops.

Generally, a properly fit martingale will have the end of the ring around at the horse's wither height when pulled straight up. Give or take, it depends on the horse.

Do you have a coach who can fit it for you? Or someone more experienced?

[Gryhrs]

Tks. Will the nubbly thick reins interfere with the martingale ring siding along the rein?

Pro will help fit...just not readily available.

[Wee Dee Trrr]

Your reins won't interfere with the running. Just make sure you have those rein stops on to keep the running away from your bit. A show can actually eliminate you for not having them. (happened to a friend of mine some years ago)

Runnings are a wonderful piece of equipment.

[purplnurpl]

running martingales are wonderful for those horses that pick your nose with their ears.

The only thing I don't like about them is they take quite a bit of lateral movement out of your rein.
The 'open rein' turn doesn't work very well because the rein feels sort of blocked.

You just have to weigh the goods and bads and go from there.

My big lumbering horse would not worky so welly with a martingale. I use a lot of open rein on him.
I rode a little horse that was like a scooter that could corner on a dime. The martingale was perfect for him.

[pattnic]

running martingales are wonderful for those horses that pick your nose with their ears.

:lol: Ahahaha! :lol:

[yellowbritches]

Just for the record, you CAN use two sets of rein stops. It isn't seen much, though I have seen it more in the UK and Europe. I have done it quite a bit in the past. It can be nice to stop how far they slide back on a short necked horse, and I had one who would get quite cranky if it slid "too far back", in his opinion. But one is totally adequate and fine.

[riderboy]

There is a picture of Lucinda Murray on the cover of a book called Visions of Eventing. She's doing her steeplechase at Badminton and one can clearly see two sets of rein stops on her reins-one for the bit and the other right at the start of the thick rubber stuff. Maybe it is more common in the UK. They do know a thing or two about Eventing.

[EventerAJ]

I only use a martingale if a horse really needs it. When jumping/xc, I'll add one if the horse raises its head so high that it drastically inverts its back and makes mouth-contact ineffective. Also, I'll use one on the flat to protect me from a committed head-thrower.

99% of the time, the martingale rings stay on the leather part of the reins, and aren't even bothered by the rubber. Unless you have some really, really long rubber parts and short leather.

Use the reinstops slid up near the bit attachment. It's BAD NEWS to have the rings caught on the bit hook/buckles...greatly limits the horse's head position and can cause panic or worse.

I like the rings, when pulled taut, to reach up to the horse's cheek, a couple inches below the ears (standing with head in normal position, hot up high or resting low). It's always safer to go a little long, than too short. A too-short martingale can restrict the horse's motion over fences, to the point where some will stop or run out.

Short martingales DO have their place...but never when jumping. On a horse that WILL hit my face, the "recreational head-flinger", on a strong-willed rehabbing racehorse, or other animal that I do not trust during a less-than-ideal situation, I will shorten up that martingale to give me more control. These horses are not jumping though, usually just jogging/galloping in an open field, where restricting their head/neck motion is less dangerous and quite often desired. ;)

[clm08]

:lol: Ahahaha! :lol:

This reminds me of a school horse I rode when I was a kid who also had the annoying habit of throwing his head up. He didn't have a martingale and once while schooling some jumps, I ended up with his ear in my mouth! :eek: That tought me to close my mouth when jumping :D

[sch1star]

once while schooling some jumps, I ended up with his ear in my mouth! :eek: That taught me to close my mouth when jumping :D

:):)

I had a horse jump my knee into some standards once...taught me to steer much straighter!

I like an unrestrictive running martingale on xc even on a horse who isn't head-high. It prevents the reins from going over the horse's head if you need to let go and then recover. Such as on a big drop into water where you whack and lose your leg...nope...no personal experience here!

For schooling a head-flipper, this is probably a personal choice but I prefer a standing martingale since it hits them in the nose, not in the mouth. I have a pony with a head flipping habit - does it hanging out, in turnout etc. Rode him twice on the flat in a standing and he never flipped again. Just decided he didn't like the bonk and I felt quite removed from the whole thing :D

[starkissed]

if you have never used one and if your horse hasnt had one on for a while or ever, please be careful. They can be very dangerous and really really easily can lead to a horse rearing/flipping. They are SORT of like draw reins in my opinion and if you have hard hands they don't forgive unless you drop the reins.

I don't use them. I use standings when schooling/hacking and don't use anything during events.

[Gryhrs]

Thanks all. My horse is not a head tosser or high headed so I don't know if a martingale makes sense. I heard or read that a martingale helps with "brakes" - and this was the reason I was considering trying one. I know my horse was worn with a martingale with his previous owner so my horse is used to wearing one.

Does anyone think the "helps with brakes" is true or a correct use of a martingale?

[flyingchange]

If a horse evades the bridle by throwing his head up above the bit, the running martingale will help you - as far as brakes go. Just eliminates that "window" of opportunity that he may have to bully you/evade you by not allowing him to come above the bit. And therefore allows you to use the bit for whatever purpose - hopefully just an aid for a half halt, however large or small that "aid" might need to be ... ;)

As far as fitting - it does depend on the horse. But in general yes, you want the rings to go up to around the mid- to upper-portion of his cheeks, or right around his throatlatch. If the rings are too long, it will not be effective. Lucinda Green adjusted mine for me last spring - my rings were way too long and not helping me.

[clm08]

As eventerAJ said, if the horse inverts to evade the bit, it can help with brakes.

If a running martingale is at the correct length, I cannot see how it will cause the horse to rear. Unlike draw reins, which pull the heads horse down the more you pull on the reins, the running martingale only keeps the head from going higher than the maximum extended length of the martingale, even if you pull the reins very short. Don't know how to explain it better, but my horse wears one for XC and SJ and never felt too restricted. It just doesn't allow him to invert and evade the bit as said before.

[saje]

A martingale only helps with brakes if your horse resists the "whoa" by throwing his head up above the bit. Doesn't do much of anything for the one that leans or tucks his chin or just palin ol' tunes you out.

Real brakes come from miles of flatwork and rebalancing exercises, and good manners and discipline in general. And *possibly* a change of bit, though not necessarily a harsher bit.

[purplnurpl]

As eventerAJ said, if the horse inverts to evade the bit, it can help with brakes.

If a running martingale is at the correct length, I cannot see how it will cause the horse to rear. Unlike draw reins, which pull the heads horse down the more you pull on the reins, the running martingale only keeps the head from going higher than the maximum extended length of the martingale, even if you pull the reins very short. Don't know how to explain it better, but my horse wears one for XC and SJ and never felt too restricted. It just doesn't allow him to invert and evade the bit as said before.

I had a friend who horse that is a total jack a$$. She half halted in a turn to a XC fence and when he went to throw his head up in the air he hit the martingale. Pissed him off so much that he stood up in protest and obviously didn't make it over the fence.
He is not a very nice guy though and personally I wouldn't ride a horse that was so objective anyhow. JMHO. shrug.

But if you are on a horse that belongs in the action there should not be a problem. lol.

[EventerAJ]

A horse who experiences a claustrophobic reaction could always react unpredictably. Hopefully your horse will learn about the martingale by hitting it a time or two when it "doesn't matter," not two strides away from a jump. He should accept his boundaries and understand the limiting device before placing yourself in a "do-or-die" situation.


Can a running martingale give you brakes? Sure! If it's super short, like a racing fork... so short that it is NOT safe for jumping. Why do you think horses wear them at the track? ;) I learned this myself on the racing projects I work on the farm, galloping in the field. That short little martingale helps give you some leverage when they want to pull and take off (esp if they tend to do it head-high!). If they learn to tuck the nose and run, though, you're screwed. :p

The objectives, though, are different. With the racehorses, it's more about settling into a controlled canter/gallop; the tight martingale allows you to quiet your hands, less fussing so the horse relax into rhythm. I might have a timeframe in which to get the horse fit for the track, and I have to spend that time cantering/galloping, not doing endless circles and transitions. ;) Ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

On anything else? No way! I want obedience, I want balance, I want the horse to have freedom to save himself (and me!). If he won't slow down and respect a proper half-halt, that's a training problem, not an equipment problem. I'll take as long as necessary to fix that problem appropriately (transitions!), before testing it out on xc.