quick views please

Tempi

Tempi

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I would just like peoples views on using a standing martingale on a horse that rears.

is this a good idea? has anyone had experience of using one on a rearer (i know Piaffe has with V, but am interested in other peoples views too).

Also this is a REALLY stupid question, but where do you attach it too on the bridle? See, i told you it was a stupid question!!
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One thing i dont want from anyone is views on horses that rear, im perfectly aware of the dangers.

Thankies
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Will only work to a certain degree

It attaches to a cavesson noseband

Polo ponies always wear them, but can still rear, as they are trained to stop, rear and spin round, being the quickest way to change direction.

However it is useful for the unexpected rearer than smacks you in the face - many noses have been saved from being broken by a standing martingale.
 
In that situation they are a very specialised piece of equipment. Think very carefully about how your horse will react, it can end up making a problem 10 times worse.
Only you can make the decision as the regular rider, other people opinions dont mean a jot unless they have ridden the horse in all situations.
As a guide, last 5 years ive probably ridden 15 habitual rearers - I considered a standing for 3, and only used it on 1.
 
Not sure i would to be honest, just incase it made the problems 10 times worse and the horse started to fight against it!!

I think it may depend on the horse though, i know Senza would battle me til the death but my last horse would of given up as it would be too much effort.
 
I used one on my 5 yr old who discovered that he could half rear to avoid the contact when he was going through his horrible brat phase. It was almost immediately effective. But having said that, they can be dangerous as they can make some horses panic and feel too constricted. Keep it loose so it only can be felt when he comes right above the bit.

Yes, it attaches to the cavesson.
 
onto the noseband.
It won't stop them rearing but may stop them smacking you in the face.
Not always the ideal solution , I think it comes down to how balanced and how high up your horse goes when he rears, there is the danger it might make him more likely to come over on you.
 
Personally I cant see how a standing martingale would help stop a rearer.

Like B&J says it might stop him throwing his head into your face but nothing else. If you dont like him lifting his head i would stick a running martingale on him so you feel a little more in control and that he has the freedom and doesnt feel that his last resort is to come up over the top of you.

I would seek expert advice if his habit is becoming dangerous, just make sure its just being stubbon/napping rather than pain related.

Remember youve done loads of good work with him recently maybe hes changing shape and somethings pinching? hes quite a sensitive soul isnt he.
 
I put one on my old pony who was a habitual rearer and have to say I would never do it again. She still reared, decided to put up a fight as she didnt like being restricted and lost her balance. You attach it to the noseband.
 
What about something slightly less restrictive like a harbridge? Goes from girth to bit rings but is elasticated so there is a bit of give there?

Otherwise we tried this little trick with one of our mares - worked her on the ground with a richard maxwell pressure halter so it comes in to play if they resist or rear and they learn to move away from the pressure. Then put it on with your bridle, with lead rein attached but over the neck and if the horse starts to go up, use the rope and bring the pressure in to play and the horse should, from the ground work experience, come down and move away from the pressure in which case you release the hold on the rope.

The mare was having a real nappy and half rearing phase and it worked a treat and after a few goes, stopped it completely.
 
Personally i wouldn't use a standing martingale i would use a harbridge.

Someone put a link up a while ago for a website that was selling new gadgets for vices, except the 'anti-rearer' gadget was in fact the same as a harbridge.
 
Isn't it funny about different methods. I would personally definitely not use a harbridge!! If I had to choose between the two would probably opt for a loose standing.
 
I would never ride a horse that rears in a standing martingale, as it effects their balance when they go up. My mare can rear and will go up vertical, but is very sure footed with it, I then took her to a showjumping clinic at Broome's and they decided that I should ride her in a standing (as should half the horses in the clinic), but the first thing he asked before he did it was did she rear as they don't like to ride horses that rear in them as it's dangerous, but they decided to give it a try with her anyway, and all I can say it the most scariest experience ever when they rear in them if the go up high, as they can't balance themselves in them as their head and neck is restricted, and every time she went up she nearly fell over, so the standing was taken off straight away.
 
again, all very interesting. Im probably not going to use anything on him, but i just wanted to here peoples different views!

Oh, and hes not in any pain btw, its shear nappy behaviour as 99% of time hes a total angel to ride! The other 1% hes on his back legs!

He is however getting his teeth done on 16th, back on 28th and a new saddle before the end of the month!!
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if he gives you a slight warning he's going up, try and turn a tight circle before he manages to get his front feet off the ground.
 
Personally PG, I wouldnt use anything on him if you can avoid it. You're a capable rider and if he's giving you a warning you can circle him.

Ive worked with a lot of habitual rearers over the years and I always avoid using anything on them. Horses usually know exactly how far they can go and where they need to be to balance themselves (as self preservation kicks in) and interfering with this in any way can then cause huge problems.

He'll just be trying it on with you
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yup, he dosent want to work. like i said im not going into reasons. i know physically he is perfectly fine, and like i also said i dont want peoples views on my horse.
 
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yup, he dosent want to work. like i said im not going into reasons. i know physically he is perfectly fine, and like i also said i dont want peoples views on my horse.

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Chance of routine perhaps??
 
nothing at all has changed in his rountine. hes just trying me. He basically napped very badly wen i first got him, but hasnt dont it for about a month, now hes started again, but stands straight up instead.

My trainer is well aware of what is going on and i have regular lessons (im putting a vid up tonight of part of my lesson from sunday). Like i said, 99% hes fab and hes perfect to handle on the ground, the other 1% hes a git to ride! But its when he thinks hes finished, for example after ive given him a short walk break. And no i dont work him into the ground!
 
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Mine used to get worse after walk breaks too. Nightmare horses!

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HAHA snoops just goes, OH GREAT we're off again lol
Winston tries to walk around directly to the gates then says *yep im done, can we go back to the stable now please*
 
ah, i see!! i thought you meant had i changed it!

No he dosent need a change, seriously! My trainer (Andrew Gould) has said what i do with him is fine, as ive also questioned this. he gets hacked once a week (as i cant hack in the evenings), pessoa'd once a week, jumped once a week and gets pole work a couple of times a week. I really vary everything as i am mega paranoid about horses getting bored!!
 
he reacently have 5days off, and he gets a day off a week too, plus turnout of 8hours a day with his 'mates'.

i do see where you are coming from, and thank you for you advice!

im afraid its just his age, and something which im sure he will have forgotten about in a couple of weeks time!
 
I would PM Cheeky Girl - her horse has been getting better and CG is now much better able to deal with her rearing through some of the tips that Fearless Horse training has given her. Maybe they can work for your horse? I saw Charm last week and she was really well behaved in what was a very stressful situation.
 
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