Martingales....worthy of a debate?

[Natch]

I have never had the desire to use one, always working with youngish horses and would prefer to school them out of the problem than use it. I see them as a gadget with limited use. F gets a ridiculously high stargazey head sometimes when on a fun ride but nothing that doesn't soon come down and it doesn't stop my breaks, so I don't feel the need for one.

The riding school i learnt at always had them all in running martingales, I think half the time for a neck strap rather than pony's need. I just think it interferes with your contact.

I don't jump apart from popping logs and tiny X poles, so accept I can't really comment on eventers or showjumpers who use them.

 

[AnnaandStella]

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Standing martingales generally shouldn't be used for jumping.

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I disagree. A correctly fitted standing martingale doesn't interfere with a horse's jump. In fact, I think standing martingales are kinder than running martingales as they don't act on the mouth.

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I think the problem is that correctly fitted part! as Zalacca said:
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I'm not sure abt standing martingales tho - I've seen so many horses ridden in them that have ended up with huge muscles under the neck and back problems where they haven't been able to flex properly... Probably because they haven't been fitted properly.

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Rode Stella without a martingale for a while but ended up with ears in my eyes too many times so opted for a loose running martingale as I don't use a noseband.

 

[PapaFrita]

I expect too many people use them as a way of keeping the head down (in an outline sort of thing) instead of stopping it going too far UP. I can't ride Antifaz in a running martingale because he's so fussy in his mouth and on top of all that he has a whole load of 'issues' from when he was over jumped and pushed too far as a baby so I have to be very very gentle with him.
He has a lovely neck

 

[Mid]

I used to ride a pony who had a running martingale. he was a lovely thing, very talented, but would get a bit excited and rear (only tiny) if you tried to hold him back when jumping ect. the martingale stopped him doing it. i know he wasn't dangerous before, but it could of gotten worse, and the martingale meant that anyone could ride him..

 

[Flame_]

Love 'em!!! Praise the Lord for martingales. Feel naked without my trusty martingale. Evil dressage rule making people for making people take them off. Why do they assume that just because you are attempting dressage you have a reasonable degree of control of your horse?

 

[bensababy]

Hate them,my pony had a habit of chewing his (very naughty pony!) i had him outside the ring waiting to go in and do a clear round and the little b****** got it stuck in his gob and threw himself on the floor in blind panic...needless to say i didnt use one after that.

 

[dieseldog]

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Sorry to be ridiculously thick, but what does a standing martingale look like as I don't think I have ever seen one in use..?

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Here is a standing Martingale being used very badly show jumping, it is so restrictive - this horse has quite happily jumped and won 1.30s in her standing