Martingales for hunting

[Ashleigh02]

Hello. I’m taking my lad on an amble for the first time on Sunday but recently he’s started chucking his head up and bolting for the first 5 seconds of canter before I can get control again. I’m wanting to put a martingale on him but not sure which to use as I don’t want to restrict his jumping on the hunts/ambles/ XC. I have a 5 point and a running that I already have in my tack room to try but I just want peoples opinions first.

 

[Michen]

I am not a fan of running martingales given they just sock the horse in the mouth. I'd be putting a standing martingale on and hoping to break him of the habit.

I know people who do jump in them- correctly fitted. Another alternative may be a market harborough which I find a really useful bit of kit as a tempoary measure for a horse that's got a bit rude hunting

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I would forget spending money on a new martingale and get the vet. Chucking head up and bolting should pain.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Hello. I’m taking my lad on an amble for the first time on Sunday but recently he’s started chucking his head up and bolting for the first 5 seconds of canter before I can get control again. I’m wanting to put a martingale on him but not sure which to use as I don’t want to restrict his jumping on the hunts/ambles/ XC. I have a 5 point and a running that I already have in my tack room to try but I just want peoples opinions first.

Try a harbridge, very reasonably priced and is elastic to allows for movement in the head if he needed it ?

 

[spacefaer]

We always take young/green horses hunting in a standing martingale. It means if they get a bit over excited, they don't sock themselves in the mouth.

Worth investigating why you're getting an explosive transition though!

 

[rabatsa]

Standing martingale every time.

They do not restrict the head when fitted correctly. As the horse lowers and takes the nose forward to jump the martingale is also lowered and goes forward with the horse.

It is only when the nose aims for the sky that the martingale comes into play.

 

[Ashleigh02]

I would forget spending money on a new martingale and get the vet. Chucking head up and bolting should pain.

My old boy had pain and it’s a totally different reaction. His reaction was shake head and run away from pain where as my current horse is chucking up and bouncing forward because he is so excited to run. It’s not a major issue atm but I want to nip it in the bud before he does it constantly as he is quite strong anyway. So strong mixed with head up running is not good lol

 

[Ashleigh02]

We always take young/green horses hunting in a standing martingale. It means if they get a bit over excited, they don't sock themselves in the mouth.

Worth investigating why you're getting an explosive transition though!

It’s entirely my fault I took him out to babysit an explosive horse a few times and now he thinks we gallop up the field so he gets over excited for the first few strides. Then he calms down. I just want to stop before the habit is fully created with him

 

[LEC]

Try a harbridge, very reasonably priced and is elastic to allows for movement in the head if he needed it ?

I would NEVER use a harbridge unless in controlled circumstances. They are a brilliant bit of kit for short use and that’s it due to risk of panic and rearing. I don’t even ride them across concrete in them and only put them on in an arena, gradually increasing tension to where it needs to be.

 

[Leandy]

What you describe is not bolting. Never know why people are so keen to label their horses as bolting. Real bolting is a dangerous problem, not a bit of over excitement.

 

[Goldenstar]

Just use the running martingale keep it simple .
I don’t think it will have much effect on stopping what you describe though .

 

[tristar]

It’s entirely my fault I took him out to babysit an explosive horse a few times and now he thinks we gallop up the field so he gets over excited for the first few strides. Then he calms down. I just want to stop before the habit is fully created with him

that exactly what i would do, stop it now

 

[ycbm]

Try a harbridge, very reasonably priced and is elastic to allows for movement in the head if he needed it ?

No way! An over-excited horse flinging its head down and its front legs up at just the wrong time could get a leg caught and fall arse over tip.
.

 

[Carrottom]

I'm another who would go standing martingale (if I had one).

 

[BunnyDog]

No way! An over-excited horse flinging its head down and its front legs up at just the wrong time could get a leg caught and fall arse over tip.
.

I had to look up what a Harbridge is. One of the local steeplechasing barns seems to train all of theirs with these. I would never put one on for hunting. Just not the right space time for that. I mean lets be real, I wouldn't ride in one ever, lunge maybe, but most likely not.

Em

 

[Goldenstar]

Harbridges can be very dangerous if it goes wrong .

 

[Pippity]

No way! An over-excited horse flinging its head down and its front legs up at just the wrong time could get a leg caught and fall arse over tip.
.

My first share horse's owner wanted him ridden in a harbridge at all times. I hated it but not my horse, so I went ahead and did it. The horse's other sharer came home battered and bruised one day because the horse had done just that. Owner still insisted on a harbridge at all times.

 

[ycbm]

My first share horse's owner wanted him ridden in a harbridge at all times. I hated it but not my horse, so I went ahead and did it. The horse's other sharer came home battered and bruised one day because the horse had done just that. Owner still insisted on a harbridge at all times.

I had never really heard of them until this thread, i thought it was shorthand for a market harborough.. So I looked up a picture and was totally shocked that anyone would do any fast work in a free area using a device that creates uncontrolled loops in front of the legs when a horse drops its head. I would guess the only reason nobody has died is because they aren't used much outside of arenas.
.

 

[Goldenstar]

There’s is a little role for harbridges but they are dangerous you can’t get the pressure off them while you are on the horse .
If the horse panics well it does not bear thinking about , if we use one I walk beside the horse and it’s tightened very slowly .
If the horse should buck you will be pulling against the harbridge when you are trying to raise the horses head .
So what are they good at ? here’s my view not a lot in my opinion however they don’t use poll pressure and this makes them useful in some very limited less than perfect situations ,even on the lunge the worry that the horse gets a leg over them is considerable .

 

[Goldenstar]

If I ever use one I tie it to the girth use a leather boot lace , they break pretty easily under pressure . However that’s not great idea in a public ride type situation.

 

[Ashleigh02]

What you describe is not bolting. Never know why people are so keen to label their horses as bolting. Real bolting is a dangerous problem, not a bit of over excitement.

I know what "real bolting" is because he used to do that too. Before he gained my trust he would take off at the slightest thing like a branch moving or him breaking a stick when he stood on it. Only thing to stop him back then was ride it out or if i had space to circle him. the definition of bolting is moving at fast pace without control which is what he does for the first 5 seconds like i stated. But he no longer does the 5 seconds anymore either since having a martingale on and lots of transition work

 

[L&M]

I know what "real bolting" is because he used to do that too. Before he gained my trust he would take off at the slightest thing like a branch moving or him breaking a stick when he stood on it. Only thing to stop him back then was ride it out or if i had space to circle him. the definition of bolting is moving at fast pace without control which is what he does for the first 5 seconds like i stated. But he no longer does the 5 seconds anymore either since having a martingale on and lots of transition work

I would still call that being 'tanked off' with, rather than a pure blind bolt......

Anyhow, hope you find something that works but having hunted for many seasons, would also recommend a standing.

Have fun!