Jumping in a Market Harborough?

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gjenki

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Hello, I've just got a ex-race horse on loan and would like to start doing some jumping with him. The owner bought him wearing a market harborough and therefore has always ridden him in it (she's has never jumped him) but I was wondering since i'm going to be jumping if it would be better to take it off? He doesn't seem to throw his head up at all - in fact if anything his head is too low most of the time and i'm a very light-handed rider. Should I ditch it for a martingale or am I okay to stick with the MH? (my worry is the MH will restrict his movement)...he's not strong either btw :)
Advice please :)
 
You need to find out why the previous rider used it, was it for control or was it to make him work in an 'outline'.

They are BS legal so in theory would be ok to jump in if fitted correctly and needed for control. If it was to make him put his head in what they thought was an outline then ditch it and see what you have without it.
 
This is interesting. I never knew they were BS legal! I school my youngster in one because when I got him last year his muscles were very upside down and he would hollow his back to run off with you. For about 6 months we tried riding long and low and without any MH. Then had his back done... Although the muscle under his neck was decreasing he was developing one behind his jaw where he was fighting with us asking for a contact. I would like to try small grids in the MH to improve his shape and balence but always been worried it was hinder his movement. Hence I am too interested to hear if that would be ok? Or if anyone jumps in one?
In your situation I would ask why he is in the MH or use it jumping small for now and slowly introduce a martingale instead? But I would do this on the flat first...
 
I wish I knew why he had it on in the first place! His owner says she doesn't think he needs it on anyway and doesn't mind me taking it off - so like you say I could try doing some flat work first without it and see what happens :) could always just swap it for a running martingale as a 'just in case' measure.
Thanks everyone.
 
The rider hinders the horses movement, not the MH.
If a rider has a tendency to not release enough over a fence or sometimes gets left behind and hangs on the horses mouth then a MH is not a good idea for jumping.
 
I always jump in a market harborough so he cant fix his neck up before or after the jump, but if your doesnt do that you may as well take it off :)

This is us jumping in his market harborough, its the breastplate version...

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you can see it's hanging down so not restricting at all over the jumps, just make sure you have it on the losest setting! :D
 
Just have a play and a practice at home, he may not lift his head as he knows its there to stop him. Or may be totally unneeded. You can always pop it back on...
 
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