Own up - who uses tack or equipment they don't actually need?

katie_southwest

katie_southwest

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I'll happily admit that iv always used a martingale on my mare.
Lately its occurred to me more and more out riding that although she will shake or toss her head if she has a strop, it's never actually high enough for it to come into action!!
So anyway this week I went and bought a hi vis neck band instead.
Outcome is that were even more pink than usual :) and I have something to grab still if I need to.
Plus one less piece of tack to clean/carry around :)
 
I actually don't, ride mine in a snaffle bridle, no flash, no martingale. I put a breastplate on for jumping for safety but that is the only change.

I guess you could call my bendy stirrups gadgets but they mean my knee doesn't hurt :)

I do have superfluous amounts of Hi Viz though :D
 
Ive got a pretty pointless cav noseband back on my bridle again, thats all really. He just has snaffle bridle and a saddle. Hes a nice easy uncomplicated boy though, so hes fine in that.
 
I'm very good :)

Horse used to jump in a gag - everyone said he didn't need it but in a snaffle I just couldn't take a check so we would always go through a fence at one point as he would just go faster and faster...but at the age of 14 he's finally chilled out enough and jumps nicely in a snaffle. He wears a martingale to jump, again he doesn't look like he needs it, but last time I jumped without his ears were up my nose so better safe than sorry.

My loony bins very hyper nuts welsh d x just wears a snaffle, no noseband or just a normal one. She wears an Irish martingale tho as she chucks her head up in a funny way and flips the reins over her head on one side if not! She used to be in a kimblewick and martingale and I had lots more control but then she got issues and my trainer reckons she fights the stronger bit more so I have to zoom around in a snaffle.(she used to have a very serious nappy/rearing issue)
 
I put a martingale on on Sunday - so I had a neck strap if required - does that count?
Snaffle bridle and basic saddle generally, although will start putting a neck strap on as a safety precaution.
 
I always put brushing boots on my mare and knee boots our on the road, although she's never brushed or even slipped. I'm just paranoid. She went out in brushing boots and overreach boots for a week when I got her :o
 
Does a browband count? or a saddlecloth? xD Now just use a bridle with no noseband & a snaffle, saddle, saddlecloth, and boots/bandages & overreach boots as Dan brushes due to being quite narrow & close, so I prefer to play safe :) Lunging is done with same legwear, and just a headcollar & lunge line. :)
 
I use a martingale when i hack out as its a great thing to hold when horse bucks. I also put it on when owner rides as he thinks it stops horse from shaking its head, i know its not true but I'm happy to lie to him if it gets him riding.
 
Nope. Not me.

Saddle, bridle that's it.

Lunge line, couple of driving harnesses and a bungee, that is the sum total of the equipment in my tackroom.
 
Oh no, no, no I am FAR to lazy to clean tack for no reason, when mine were in work, it was the bare minimum I could get away with! Neither had nosebands, they did have martingales mainly so I had something to hang on to when I first started riding them :)
 
No not even a bit!! bitless all the way!! Lol!!no martingale. I do put a Breast plate on but my horses can b temepermetal as i deal with horses with previous behavioral probs so it's for.my own reassurance. And when I had an indoor school to use I didn't use breast plate then.
I try and focus on schooling them so don't need extra bits of tack! I may use additonal training aids temporarily but generally not at all.
I definitely find less is more!! (And less to clean!!) Lol!
:-)
 
I got a whole new load of gear when I got pony. Including: a saddle that fits, a sweet iron loose ring snaffle with peanut (no more wilkie), chucked the martingale, chucked the flash, chucked the duvet thick numnah & got a normal one... I got 'rid' of stuff!
 
I use a martingale to hack and jump in for Saftey

For schooling he just has his noseband not flasy or that and a snaffle

Always have neck strap but he cando some pretty mean bucks when he chooses
 
Either rope halter and saddle or bridle with no noseband and saddle. I like keeping things simple :)

Can someone tell me why a martingale is going to keep you safe hacking/jumping?
 
Snaffle bridle, cavesson nose band but it's not done up tight so just for show. Saddle.

New horse will be the same although I have seen some vids of her wearing a flash, I won't be intending to use one.
 
I always ride in a martingale and will continue to do so. It's well fitting so I don't see a need to take it off. She is well behaved but we mainly hack, so I like it on incase she gets too excited/strong/scared.
Apart from that she is snaffle mouthed, saddle, normal bog-standard looking bridle and a numnah! :D
 
TigerTail said:
Can someone tell me why a martingale is going to keep you safe hacking/jumping?
Click to expand...

Something to grip onto and to try and stop her rearing should she try to do so.

I really don't understand why theres some shame and stigma attatched to using something entirely pain free to help illiminate some dangers. :confused:
 
Actually a couple of these have reminded me OH asked me to put a neckstrap on his new horse and Id forgotten about it. I dont think any stirrup leather Ive got will fit so might have to look for a big breastplate or something.
 
When I was the actual 'yard' I would use extras for schooling exercises.

Now however, with the horses in just a field and having to carry everything there when I ride them. So, everything is in just a loose ring bridle and GP saddle currently!


[Or the cobs....in which I should use more equipment, as it's a headcollar lead rope and barebakc job!]
 
My boy is in a GP saddle and snaffle bridle with a cavesson noseband that's just for show really. I do use a martingale which he doesn't usually need but I'm still getting my confidence back after having a rearer, so I fully admit that the martingale is mostly for me :o
 
I'm too lazy to use any unnecessary stuff. I use a martingale mostly for the neckstrap.
I can't see the problem with using a running martingale just in case. If it is correctly fitted it won't interfere with a normal rein aid and if the horse puts it's head too high, then it makes the bit work in the correct direction.
I don't use boots unless absolutely necessary.
Mind you I do have a tack room full of stuff I neither need or use.:rolleyes:
 
Im guilty of this and admit I use a hunting breast plate with a running martingale attachment purely because I think it looks nicer than a bog standard martingale neck strap.

Surely I'm not the only one!
 
a saddle?
i dont NEED it - if fact didnt have one for 4 months - often ride without - but not many of the comps i go to accept bareback riders.... ;)
 
Oh I use everything! Bungees, draw reins, side reins, pelhams, doubles, martingales, standing martingales, flashes, grakles, drops, cheek peices, blinkers, fluffy nosebands, girth sleeves, cruppers, breastgirths, boots all round everywhere, more pads that you can shake a stick at etc ...

Nah I ride mostly in a snaffle but they are all schooled to the pelham for the show ring. My special boy gets ridden with all 4 brushing boots and overreach boots because he is just that - a bit spesh! I only pop a neck strack on the tb's if they are likely to be fresh or I am jumping - the natives have enough mane to hold onto and won't miss it if I accidentaly pull some out.
 
I usually use a running martingale on my 5 year old. I ust can't ride him without as i get a mental block and can't ride him if it isn't on. I ride him in a hackamore as he goes better without a bit and i also use a breastplate as his saddle slips a bit as he has big shoulders, will get him another saddle when he has finished growing, it does fit it just slips back a little.
My 3 year old goes without a martingale or noseband so just very basic tack. She will stay that way untill i need to change it, if i ever need to change it. She has a long mane so i don't really need a neckstrap as i can grap hold of some mane if i need to.
 
Nothing unnecessary here; hunter style snaffle bridle, general purpose saddle, cotton numnah and non elasticated girth. We wear lots of high viz out hacking - but not sure that counts?! If I am hacking in a bigger group or doing a faster hack, then I may swap his mullen mouth snaffle for a mullen mouth pelhsm with two reins, but that is it!
 
I used to... I had the bandages, 5
Point, flashes and grackles, you name it! Current horse goes out everyday in a snaffle bridle (cavesson nose band) stirrup leather round his neck and a saddle. With over reach boots occasionally :) I am reformed and I love it!!
 
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