Martingales? help!

[bex1984]

I am totally confused about the difference between a standing martingale and a running martingale and I have no idea which one would be best for my new pony! He came with tack, and a martingale was included but it's old and pretty much unuseable so I've been riding in the school without one for the past week.

Pony has twice managed to get his head up far enough to evade the bit...the first time I was calm and managed to get his head back down, but today I was distracted and in a tizz anyway and we ended up trotting back to the gate (where he wanted to go basically).

I'm now thinking about using a martingale - my confidence is very delicate at the moment, and while I'm not into tack just for the sake of it I really need to show him who's boss and not give him any way to take advantage while we're still getting to know each other.

Which would be the best type of martingale for me to go for? Or do you think this would be really unnecessary? Is there a better way for me to keep control?

Thanks!

 

[Zebedee]

What kind of martingale did he come with? A standing martingale has one loop which goes up to the noseband, a running has two straps with rings on the end that the reins go through. A standing acts on the nose, a running acts on the corners of the mouth via the reins.
Both should be adjusted in such a way that they only act when the pony raises his head above the level at which you can maintain control.
Your best course of action at this stage would be to seek some assistance either from a more experienced friend, or perhaps arrange a lesson with an instructor to help with the fitting.
Your assessment of the situation would seem to be correct & a martingale will help to solve the problem in the short term, although the long term aim should be to improve the ponies schooling until one is no longer necessary!!!

 

[bex1984]

Thanks, I think it sounds like he came with a running martingale then...I can't remember exactly though because I took it straight off as it was so manky.

If I do get one I'm sure my long-suffering very experienced friend will be drafted in to help me fit it, bless her cotton socks!