Horse getting hold of martingale strap

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Fools Motto

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Minor panic as for some unexplained reason 'my' racehorse to polo pony suddenly grabbed the martingale out on a ride today. We spun around quickly, panic'd a bit, I dropped the reins, leant forward and while talking to her got it out of her mouth. Luckily it isn't tight, but the owner wants her to wear it.
I then undid the reins and tied the ''now hangy bits'' so it wouldn't happen on the ride again.

Worried for future use of said article! Owner was with me at the time, and didn't seem at all concerned at our antics and actions. I know a bib martingale is the way to go if she should continue to wear one, but I highly doubt that would be on the agenda.

I think I'll just store it away for a while, until I get told she MUST have it...(she doesn't need it - just the neck strap is handy due to her hogged mane!, and there are plenty of those about!!!) do you agree?


How many horses do this? I've never personally experienced it before, but can easily see it happening.
 
A bib martingale may be the way to go if the horse is likely to do this again. May have been snapping at a fly and the martingale got in the way.

Its really scarey when things like that happen, years ago my pony got her Fulmer hooked into the ring of her martingale, I didn't have rein stops! Learnt a lesson in a hurry there.
 
Or an Irish martingale - my lad is a horror for grabbing hold of his reins or martingale, so swopped for an Irish and had no problems since.
 
Pj does this when its hot in the summer or he gets tired. It is frikkkkking irritating!!

Short reins and hands up is the only option and loads of leg to send him forward to prevent him doing it.

Oh and keeping the stops really far back on the reins.

(I wanted a bib martingale but couldn't find one with a breastplate attachment).


PS- I had forgotting about this silly game! with the hot spell no doubt I have the fun to come!! The first few time he went fully panicked loopy noe he just stands still)
 
Whenever I hear of horses grabbing the reins, I always think of this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-o8FowUBzk

And perhaps like Tnavas said, it was an accident? One of the ponies swung around to grab a fly (thank goodness no one was riding him!) and his top front teeth got stuck in the stirrup!! Poor thing fell over and had to be sat on before he could be rescued. No damage done to saddle or pony, very very lucky!

I don't have any tips I'm afraid!
 
OP please take it off and use a bib with plastic rings. Horses that do this are very dangerous.

A dear friend of mine had the most horrific accident. He was trying a horse which kept dipping behind the vertical and grabbing at the martingale.

This horse was being tried in the hunting field by a professional huntsman. The horse managed to get the ring of the martingale over his hook teeth, panicked, reared and fell over backwards on concrete.

Friends pelvis was smashed to nothing.

The other thing that is useful is to have 2 sets of stops on the reins that don't slip forward, so the martingale can be kept away from the jaw to a certain extent.

Personally I try to avoid martingales.
 
I used to ride a stallion when he was a youngster, when I started jumping him I put a martingale on, he thought it was great fun to snap back and try to get a hold of the martingale straps and then do one :p

youngsters and stallions do it a lot as they are naughty and like to nibble! :D

Bib martingale stopped the habit promptly, although the little lad was not impressed at having his fun ruined! ;)
 
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