Breastplates or martingales

Breastplate ccasionally. Stops the saddle sliding back and give something to hold onto. Never use a martingale as none of my horses have a high head carraige so don't need one.
 
Neither at present. Use a breastplate for hunting or xc for extra saddle security & as a just in case.
Have used standing martingales a handful of times as a temporary measure on horses who had a habit of getting their ears dangerously close to riders face. Both serve different purposes so not an either or question for me.
 
Well, a running martingale is to prevent the horse whacking you on the nose if it has a tendency to carry it's head high or tosses it's head about.

A bib martingale is similar to the above, but can also prevent horses self harming if they snatch at their chests when girthing up.

A standing martingale fixes the head down but also prevents the horse putting it's head out so the idea is that it can't run off. If that is what it does to run off. You should not jump in a standing mart.

An Irish martingale joins the reins together under the chin. Used when hunting for the rider who is likely to go head first over a hedge leaving the horse on the other side. The reins should stay around the horses neck.

A breastplate is made of plain leather or has elastic/fabric inserts and is designed to keep the saddle from sliding back and to stabilise the sideways movement of the saddle which is great on youngsters when you don't want to jack the girth up too much in the first few days of saddling.

I occasionally use a breastplate.
 
Depends whether I want to hold my saddle in place or my horse's head...... they are totally different items for different purposes.

And it doesn't have to be an either or, you can get a hunting breastplate, which is a breastplate with a martingale attachment (standing or running) which enables you to use a martingale and breastplate.
 
I'm using a hunting breastplate on TB with a running martingale attatchment. He needs the martingale because when he loses the plot I would otherwise end up with his ears in my mouth. When he was just out of racing, the went through the skinny phase I felt better with a breastplate for peace of mind! And finally the hunting breastplate rather than the breastgirth style gives a nice neckstrap to grab if needed!!
 
A correctly fitted standing does not prevent the horse moving its head either up or out, neither does it fix the head in place or prevent running off. It just puts pressure on the nose if the head gets above a ridiculous height. Has no effect on normal head movement or even reasonable height head tossing. Incorrectly fitted, like anything else they will have a negative effect. But unlike running martingales the riders hands have no effect.
 
none - saddle secure over any height i want to jump (small compared to many on here ;)) and she doesnt need a martigale of any sort

not keen on running martingales - would use a standing as a temporary measure if needed - but ideally i'd not use either.

breastplate - again (much to my eventer RI's disgust - she's forever telling me to use one but as my saddle doesnt move i see no need?!) i'd only use if needed - ie difficult shaped back and saddle slipped - i'd not use one as standard kit as many people do.

to the person above who says you cant jump in a standing - not true i'm afraid - a correctly fitted standing will not hinder jumping - i've hunted a whole season in the US jumping way bigger than i do now - and every horse over there used a standing (as nearly every horse over here uses a running) and not once did the standing interfere etc.

just becuase it is not common practice in the UK does not mean that we set the rules for what is and isnt right/correct ;)
 
I use a hunting breastplate which had a running martingale attachment when going XC/hunt rides etc... Will wear that or running martingale when jumping.

For dressage or flatwork - no. However, sometimes when it is on the bridle I use everyday, I can be lazy and not bother to take on/off unless using my dressage saddle for flatwork.

My horses are well schooled and to be honest I don't need the martingale attachment 99% of the time so I think it is a little unfair for folks to say horses who wear them need reschooled!

I have been advised, it is safer to go XC with a breastplate rather than a martingale.

However, even if you didn't need a martingale or breastplate, I would still put an old stirrup leather round the neck on youngsters.
 
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If you *need* it for flatwork, it suggests that your horse is not accepting the contact. I see lots of people riding dressage in them and it's obvious that the horse isn't in the contact and isn't through his back. The martingale might stop him from throwing his head, but it doesn't make him any more relaxed or through.

I can accept that people might legitimately find a use for it jumping, as even well schooled horses can get a bit fizzy over fences.
 
I don't really use either, although sister's pony sometimes wears a hunting breastplate for xc or fast hacks. I like have a neckstrap on everything though!
 
But when you are faced with the problem of reschooling a horse on the flat, a well fitted standing can be very useful to keep its head out of your face as a short term measure whilst you school it. But agree when I've used one its not under the illusion the horse accepts the contact with one, just that I can see where I'm going while I get it to work properly through riding.
 
Caol Ila said:
If you *need* it for flatwork, it suggests that your horse is not accepting the contact. I see lots of people riding dressage in them and it's obvious that the horse isn't in the contact and isn't through his back. The martingale might stop him from throwing his head, but it doesn't make him any more relaxed or through.

I can accept that people might legitimately find a use for it jumping, as even well schooled horses can get a bit fizzy over fences.
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If you see people doing dressage in a martingale then they ought to be disqualified, martingales, of any type, are not permitted.

I agree though that with a non-novice rider a mature well schooled horse shouldn't need a martingale for flat work.

My young horse wears a standing to hack, she went through a phase of chucking her head, popped a standing on to nip it in the bud and prevent injuries. A standing has no effect while the horse's head is in the correct position so no worries about it having a negative effect.

I'm not a fan of running martingales and wouldn't use one routinely for flat work. I particularly hate to see them used with gag type bits.

To me a breastplate used for anything other than fast work or jumping suggests an ill-fitting saddle or an unbalanced rider.....
 
littlelegs said:
But when you are faced with the problem of reschooling a horse on the flat, a well fitted standing can be very useful to keep its head out of your face as a short term measure whilst you school it. But agree when I've used one its not under the illusion the horse accepts the contact with one, just that I can see where I'm going while I get it to work properly through riding.
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A standing would have to be very very short to give even the illusion of the horse being on the bridle...... I think most people use them to avoid being smacked in the gob rather than because they are under any illusions that they may help with the contact. To be honest in the UK few people use standing martingales anyway, they have fallen right out of fashion.

(Littlelegs, I'm quoting because I agree with you, not having a go)
 
We use a hunting breastplate for dressage on young or inexperienced horses instead of a neckstrap, if you have to grab on it doesn't twist round like a neckstrap would. For SJ and XC we use a 5 point breastplate with a running martingale attached. Current mare has a lot of jump and really uses her neck and shoulders over a fence and although so far the saddle hasn't moved so I see it as an insurance policy!
 
Agreed kat. I think standings have a reputation for being harsh, possibly because all too often they are incorrectly fitted & for the wrong reasons, whereas some people incorrectly believe a running is milder.
 
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