Martingale

[EmbarrassingEllie]

Quick question if you all don't mind!

Has anyone ever heard of a martingale being used to help with straightness and balance for flatwork? This is from a bhs registered instructor, am willing to be told differently but I thought its function was to stop the horse from raising its head above a point of control

thanks for reading

 

[Silverspring]

Never heard of it but at a (total!) guess it might be that the instructor feels the martingale can assist your riding position? The martingale would stop a certain amount of rein movement on the riders part, you should ask how they think it will help, I always ask when an instructor tells me something I don't understand.

You are right in thinkgin the funtion of it is to stop the horse lifting it's head into a bolting position.

 

[EmbarrassingEllie]

thanks for replying, my horse was being ridden by someone else whilst I was pregnant and it has continued as I'm still not able to be completely dedicated, she doesn't need a martingale as she is well schooled and I have had a couple of lessons with my instructor and if anything I feel at the moment she is more inclined to tip onto her forehand but last night I saw a brief snippet of a lesson with the boy who is riding her and she was wearing a martingale for flatwork when I asked afterwards why I was told it was to help with balance etc, I'm going to try and speak to the instructor to find out why as it seems unnecessary to me. I can understand maybe for jumping.

 

[KatB]

A martingale should not help with rein movement etc if it fitted properly! If it is fitted properly it should never come into action unless the horses head is raised beyond the point of control. If your instructor is advising it will help with you horses balance and straightness I would be seriously questioning how she was fitting it and her knowledge i'm afraid!!

Far too many martingales are fitted too tight because people are clueless in using them. Please dont use one unless your horse is in the habit of throwing its head off and going!!

 

[EmbarrassingEllie]

She's not my instructor, I'm going to ask to watch the next lesson and question why (horsey is in martingale, not why i don't use her as an instructor). What i really dont understand is that they were practising for a dressage test