Rode without a martingale today

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lilyoftheincas

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Well I am very happy....rode the horse I usually ride without a running martingale for the first time ever today! All of the ponies at my RS wear them, whether or not they actually need them...:( but asked my instructor whether I could take it off the po to prepare for a dressage comp and she said yes!

She went really well, much better than she usually does with the martingale on! Does overbend a little due to previous training when not at the RS but barely did any without it on! Very pleased, will ask to keep it off in the future :D
 
That's brilliant! Reg stopped wearing one at the end of last year, and is now also out of his flash meaning he is in a plain caveeson noseband, happy mouth snaffle and a breast girth and neckstrap.

Lots of people use a martingale as a safety measure- it doesn't really do anything unless it needs to, so I can see why it'd be used in a RS though.
 
Lolo said:
Lots of people use a martingale as a safety measure- it doesn't really do anything unless it needs to, so I can see why it'd be used in a RS though.
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I think a lot of it is having a neck strap available without calling it a neck strap ;) :D Yes, a lot of riding schools and dealers yards put them on anything.

Well done OP, it's amazing how much tack is used when it really isn't necessary :)
 
rhino said:
I think a lot of it is having a neck strap available without calling it a neck strap ;) :D Yes, a lot of riding schools and dealers yards put them on anything.

Well done OP, it's amazing how much tack is used when it really isn't necessary :)
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Hate martingales! Especially running ones; they interfere with the contact a lot more than people realise, and most are fitted too short which means the reins act as a pulley. So few horses actually need a martingale, and yet they appear to be standard issue with so many horses.
 
Cortez said:
Hate martingales! Especially running ones; they interfere with the contact a lot more than people realise, and most are fitted too short which means the reins act as a pulley. So few horses actually need a martingale, and yet they appear to be standard issue with so many horses.
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No, I'm not a fan either. I don't think there's a single horse on my yard who wears one though, the benefits of having a classical instructor/yard owner. Ginger boy had one on for about 2 days as I didn't want to change his tack immediately, but it was clear he didn't need one so it got whipped off pretty quickly! :)
 
Thanks everyone! I don't think they're needed either, apart from, as you said, as a neck strap. Although I did ride at one place that just tied the leadropes around the ponies necks whilst hacking, which was a brilliant neck strap and could be used as a lead rope if needed :D
 
Cortez said:
Hate martingales! Especially running ones; they interfere with the contact a lot more than people realise, and most are fitted too short which means the reins act as a pulley. So few horses actually need a martingale, and yet they appear to be standard issue with so many horses.
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I think they have to be badly fitted for them to alter a way of going tremendously. I do think that in a RS where safety is paramount then it is important there is a back up plan for is a horse gets it's head up and goes on a jaunt, especially if it's got a novice rider on board.
 
Sorry, can't agree - running martingales "deaden" the contact at best. Not a massive problem if the horse is a hunter, racehorse or "just" jumping, but in all other forms of schooling, and especially breaking i think they are a disaster. I have been told i am very "brave" as none of my horses wear a martingale, hah!
 
Cortez said:
Sorry, can't agree - running martingales "deaden" the contact at best. Not a massive problem if the horse is a hunter, racehorse or "just" jumping, but in all other forms of schooling, and especially breaking i think they are a disaster. I have been told i am very "brave" as none of my horses wear a martingale, hah!
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Had similar comment in the warm up for a team chase "can't believe you team chase without a martingale" I was quite confused by the comment tbh! How will a martingale help my horse to go fast and jump big hedges?! :confused:;)

Neither of mine wear them, both are in snaffle bits and cavesson nosebands but are totally different horses. The TB does throw his head up when excited but don't think martingale would prevent or help this as he's fussy in his mouth. I just accept that he's a buzzy type and will sometimes be a bit annoying and chuck himself about :D


The ISH has been known to rear (bit of an understatement but has got much better ... touch wood!) Again, martingale wouldn't stop him doing this if he's put in a pressured situation, and I'd far rather have him able to balance if he is going to go up! I do put a grackle on for team chasing as we sit in 3rd place usually and he can take a bit of a hold - especially in the warm up. Tbh, I think I use this more for my peace of mind now as I don't like to change things that appear to be working .... maybe I'll try him without tomorrow!

My point, I suppose, is that whilst my 2 are completely different personalities, I ride both in "basic" tack

There seems to be a lot of reliance on "equipment" these days .... just my opinion of course ..... but I'm a fan of keeping things simple :)
 
Ive recently taken my tb out of his martingale for schooling too, so that I dont feel 'naked' when i have to take it off for dressage! He's going brilliantly without it-our contact is definitelyu a lot better without the martingale interfering with it. I still put it back on for hacking as he can be a bit sharp and tends to spin around when he see's a demon in the hedge etc...
 
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