Lot's of standing martingales and a lovely bit of rolkur.

[Charlie Bucket]

Me and a friend went to watch some local showjumping this morning - and were actually disgusted at the standard of riding and how 'strapped down' most of the horses were.

I would say about 80% of the adult riders were wearing standing martingales - a piece of equipment I haven't even seen in about 5 years. Is this a new trend?

And as for one rider, who is supposedly a 'highly reccomended' showjump trainer, wasn't content with using rolkur to warm up, she went as far as using it between fences in the ring. I couldn't believe my eyes. Sawing the reins until the horses chin was on his chest. Lovely horse too.

Toes down and feet rammed through the stirrups, no balanced seat. I have seen it all today!

Have to say the kids put the adults to shame.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Jumping in a standing martingale - my old instructor would have had a fit as that was a big no no in her eyes.

 

[Charlie Bucket]

This is what I have always been taught too Faracat. Perhaps methods have changed over the last few years?

 

[ZondaR]

Jumping in a standing martingale - my old instructor would have had a fit as that was a big no no in her eyes.

That's how I was raised too.

 

[Kokopelli]

Sadly quite common in sj, but I was rather shocked to see that sort of stuff going on in a dressage comp yesterday! Nothing like sawing your horses head down just before you start your test

Personally I would prefer to jump in a well fitted elasticated standing then a running. Running martingales have completely the wrong action I hate the way it works on the mouth. But then I would probably try and work out why my horse is trying to put head up rather than strap it down, normally because people use too much hand and not enough leg.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I have been told that it is common in the US hunter/jumper scene, so maybe it's crept over from there. I don't like it though.

 

[Batgirl]

I had a temporary livery at my yard tell me I was 'brave' for riding my 'big horse' without a martingale?? I have never used one before as I have no problem with my horses head carriage so tend to not add what I don't need. Found it quite strange to be considered 'brave'

 

[Shantara]

I must say, I used all the gadgets I had when I went on my little hunt on sat. I had a flash and a martingale and a gag on a strong setting. In my defence, it was my first go and I'd rather have an easy to stop horse, who was a bit strapped down, than a lunatic out of control thing with nothing on! He was a very good boy though, so if I ever do it again, I'll allow him a little more freedom, he earned it.

It shall all be coming off next time I ride, however! Back to our bitless/snaffle, nosebandless and no martingale!

My local is pretty good, but I have seen similar things to what you describe further a field.

 

[Charlie Bucket]

I must say, I used all the gadgets I had when I went on my little hunt on sat. I had a flash and a martingale and a gag on a strong setting. In my defence, it was my first go and I'd rather have an easy to stop horse, who was a bit strapped down, than a lunatic out of control thing with nothing on! He was a very good boy though, so if I ever do it again, I'll allow him a little more freedom, he earned it.

Completely different situation - your first hunt you deserve breaks!

These were well know local riders, jumping no more than 1.05m in and indoor arena. It just grates me.

Hope you enjoyed yourself Nah

 

[WelshD]

As a teen I had a cob who threw all sorts of weird and wonderful shapes over fences so after some trial and error ended up jumping him in a correctly fitted (ie not too tight) standing martingale and this made his head and neck far more steady, he went on to do very well after that

Agree that strapping a horses head down tightly isnt the way to do it though!

 

[Baggybreeches]

It is perfectly safe to jump in a correctly fitted standing martingale, and infinitely preferable (from the horse's point of view) to a standing martingale.
The standard of riding is sadly lacking in very many areas, I don't go to spectate at shows for that reason alone.

 

[Herpesas]

I was always taught you shouldn't jump in a standing martingale but that was before the elasticated standing became available. I hack (and therefore occasionally jump) my horse in a standing martingale because when he gets excited he has a habit of impersonating a giraffe and rearing/spinning. I too am one of those who infinitely prefers a well-fitted standing to a running martingale.

 

[Daytona]

Jumping in a Standard martingale is just soooooo wrong in my eyes. Never in a million years would I do that.

 

[Big Ben]

I'm of the old school as well, no jumping in a standing, we were allowed to pop over a small downed log, but that was it. I've been in a few arguments over that one, old habits and early training die hard.

Not that I jump any longer but why is a running so wrong for jumping, it was the martingale of choice whe we were having competitions outside the ark with Noah for a judge

 

[BBP]

US hunters are often jumped in a standing. We always did when I was out there. Never once caused an issue. I never saw a horse.in a running. I don't think many people here know how.to fit them though, in all the catalogues advertising them they are way too short.

 

[Goldenstar]

A well fitted standing martingale can be very useful but jumping a round of fences in them is very different.
I don't think I have ever been to a SJ show where 80% of horses are wearing them it must be a local hot spot !

 

[nikicb]

A well fitted standing martingale can be very useful but jumping a round of fences in them is very different.
I don't think I have ever been to a SJ show where 80% of horses are wearing them it must be a local hot spot !

Maybe the local SJ celeb uses one so everyone else has followed suit?

 

[RayJaguarStorm]

I probably count as a youngster around here And happily admit to being one of those trend people... best dressed spoilt horses going... But!

Here comes the rage...

I HATE STANDING MARTINGALES! Passionate hate for them, always used wrong, NOT meant to be jumped in butpeople are so STUPID that they jump in them anyways... Doesn't give enough for the horse to jump properly, when used all the time ends up altering the horses jump. Does my head in. How do people expect their horse to use its back, neck and shoulders when it can't physically move its head?! I'd be shot down before any of my horses or those I ride had a standing on

I refuse to watch/subscribe to American youtubers who jump in standing martingales I know... I'm bad...

I've also been known to have a good old rant at people on the yard for sawing away on some poor horses mouth My yard owner's very proud of me for screaming at some of the riding school clients for pulling about on their mouth, especially when she's already tried to tell them off

 

[Goldenstar]

Maybe the local SJ celeb uses one so everyone else has followed suit?

Good point that might be it .

 

[Herpesas]

How do people expect their horse to use its back, neck and shoulders when it can't physically move its head?!

I don't, but then my standing martingale is correctly fitted.

 

[marmalade76]

How do people expect their horse to use its back, neck and shoulders when it can't physically move its head?!

I obviously know nothing of your horse, but when mine jumps, he puts his head forward and down. Quite how a correctly fitted standing martingale would prevent him from doing this is beyond me.

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, me thinks.

 

[Auslander]

I've also been known to have a good old rant at people on the yard for sawing away on some poor horses mouth My yard owner's very proud of me for screaming at some of the riding school clients for pulling about on their mouth, especially when she's already tried to tell them off

Are you teaching these riding school clients?

 

[mandwhy]

Can someone tell me the difference between a standing and running then? Is a running when the reins pass through freely?

 

[Herpesas]

Running has two lines with rings on the end which the reins pass through, the standing martingale is one line which you fasten the cavesson part of the noseband through.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

standing

running

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

Someone on my Facebook is at a big competition yard and they have posted a picture of their horse with some contraption strapping its head down. Not even sure what it is and even my yo didn't know.

 

[Charlie Bucket]

Maybe the local SJ celeb uses one so everyone else has followed suit?

I am afraid to say, it did appear that way

I am not against standing martingales - personally I wouldn't jump in one but that is me. Only one of which I noticed today was elasticated. I was just shocked to see the amount of people wearing them, when like I said, I haven't seen one being used, in any discipline, for years.

Local SJ celeb was also the idiot rolkuring her horse. Says it all really doesn't it. What hope do aspiring kids have when they look up to people like that.

 

[mandwhy]

Thanks Faracat and Herpesas I don't think I've ever seen a standing before! Seen lots of running ones mind.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

A standing is a good bit of kit.

The reason I was taught not to use them for jumping however, was that if something goes wrong and the horse needs to really stretch out it's head and neck to keep it's balance (peck on landing I suppose) a standing would be too restrictive and could cause the horse to fall.

 

[Lolo]

Like all tack, when correctly used a standing martingale is a good 'tool' to have available. Like all tack, if correctly fitted it should only aid you in what you want to achieve.

I think people who can't keep their hands still are doing far more damage than those in tack which fits. Watched a local dressage comp, and my sister and I were left wondering how people expected a horse to relax and soften if it was scared of the contact?