Gorgeous George
Well-Known Member
As per title really, how do you check if a martingale is fitted correctly? Going to use one again for hacks as a just in case measure and so there is a neck strap there for me!
Correctly fitted martingale?
- Thread starter Gorgeous George
- Start date
piebaldsparkle
Well-Known Member
Fitting a Standing Martingale
Check the correct length after the martingale has been attached to the girth and the noseband. When the horse is standing with his head in the correct position, put your hand under the martingale and lift it up. As a rough guide it sbould just reach as far as the throat.The buckle of the neck-strap should be on the left side of the horse's neck. It should fit so that it will admit the width of a hand at the withers. To keep the girth-loop neat and safe, one runner should be positioned immediately behind the buckle and the other next to the girth.
Fitting a Running Martingale
As a rough guide, when the martingale is attached to the girth and both rings are taken to one side, the martingale should be long enough to reach to the horse's withers. If used with a double bridle, the rings should be on the curb (bit) rein. The reins should be threaded through the rings, so that the rings can run freely up and down the reins. The reins should be fitted with "stops" between the rings and the bit, to prevent the rings getting caught over the hook billets of the rein, or any part of the bit. The neck-strap should be fitted as for the standing martingale.
Check the correct length after the martingale has been attached to the girth and the noseband. When the horse is standing with his head in the correct position, put your hand under the martingale and lift it up. As a rough guide it sbould just reach as far as the throat.The buckle of the neck-strap should be on the left side of the horse's neck. It should fit so that it will admit the width of a hand at the withers. To keep the girth-loop neat and safe, one runner should be positioned immediately behind the buckle and the other next to the girth.
Fitting a Running Martingale
As a rough guide, when the martingale is attached to the girth and both rings are taken to one side, the martingale should be long enough to reach to the horse's withers. If used with a double bridle, the rings should be on the curb (bit) rein. The reins should be threaded through the rings, so that the rings can run freely up and down the reins. The reins should be fitted with "stops" between the rings and the bit, to prevent the rings getting caught over the hook billets of the rein, or any part of the bit. The neck-strap should be fitted as for the standing martingale.
dwi
Well-Known Member
I was told that when fitted to the girth the straps should reach up to the underside of the horse's head i.e. the same length as the underside of the horses neck.
piebaldsparkle
Well-Known Member
That's the other commonly used way. Think in reality it's about the same length.
