Running Martingale anyone use - some tips!

[CobSunshine]

Afternoon,

i've been reccomended a running Martingale could help my 3 year old mare as she lifts her head very high.

Are these commonly used as a training aid for young horses? any downsides to them?

Thanks

 

[lauraandjack]

I think many people would put them on a youngster in the beginning - just in case! The neckstrap can also be handy...

The advantage is they have no effect until the horse raises the head above the level of control. The downside is that if you have a horse that is really determined to stick its head in the air it interferes with your rein contact.

As a fitting guide I seem to remember that the rings should almost be able to touch the throat if you pull them up without the reins attached.

 

[Tickles]

They are often used to both prevent a horse lifting its head too much (one of the more gentle gadgets for that purpose!) and they also help with softening any jiggly movements an inexperienced/unbalanced rider might be making on the reins slightly. The later reason is often why you see them in riding schools. Personally I'd say 3 is pretty young for any gadgets and try to get the horse working long and low by being relaxed rather than anything else. Plenty of time for muscle building etc w/out gadgets.

 

[xloopylozzax]

downside of a running martingale is that when it is in effect that it almost acts like a draw rein aswell.

for safety out hacking yes i would use them on a youngster, schooling its a no from me im afraid- i would be more concerned about the reason for her head been up so high than just strapping it down for now, it wont be a learnt habit this early on so should be easy to fix. Is she comfortable in her mouth? does the saddle fit or is it a "well it'll be ok while we arent doing a lot" fit?

 

[martyfisch]

They aren't really gadgets in my book, more of a piece of safety kit; it's reasurring thinking "pony can't get its head too high". If fitted loosely they shouldn't affect their way of going in any way shape or form until they throw their heads up beyond control and they also come in handy as something to grab onto if you find yourself being charged off with or bucked about. I was going to put mine back on because Madam has started to get stronger recently; I want it there partially because her head's creeping towards my face but mostly as something to grab that's not her mane - she doesn't like me pulling her hair in that way

 

[spotty_pony]

Could be useful. Another good training aid for a young horse with a high head carriage is the bungee.

 

[welshwizzard]

If a running martingale is fitted properly it shouldnt have an effect until the horse throws its head right up.The way i was taught to adjust it was to have the rings long enough to just reach below the withers,they do have plenty of adjustment so its easy to do ths unless you have one way too small.
No way does a running martingale act like drawreins.....maybe you're thinking of a market harborough?
standing martingales are another matter, theyre fixed and the horse can learn to lean on them.

 

[thatsmygirl]

They aren't really gadgets in my book, more of a piece of safety kit; it's reasurring thinking "pony can't get its head too high". If fitted loosely they shouldn't affect their way of going in any way shape or form until they throw their heads up beyond control and they also come in handy as something to grab onto if you find yourself being charged off with or bucked about. I was going to put mine back on because Madam has started to get stronger recently; I want it there partially because her head's creeping towards my face but mostly as something to grab that's not her mane - she doesn't like me pulling her hair in that way

Agree with this, I do not see a running martingale as a gadget.

 

[dressedkez]

downside of a running martingale is that when it is in effect that it almost acts like a draw rein aswell.

for safety out hacking yes i would use them on a youngster, schooling its a no from me im afraid- i would be more concerned about the reason for her head been up so high than just strapping it down for now, it wont be a learnt habit this early on so should be easy to fix. Is she comfortable in her mouth? does the saddle fit or is it a "well it'll be ok while we arent doing a lot" fit?

With respect - rubbish! Running martingales help to keep the head down, and are far more gentle and do not rely on a rider having particuarly good hands to work. They are not a gadget. We use a bib running martingale on all our horses to help them use themselves more when trotting up hills and cantering. Improves the top line no end. Also as many have said the nexk starp is very useful.....ALL horses shuld wear a neck strap all of the time - but of course we ALL tend to forget, unless a martingale is used.
The Standing martingale still has a place too - and does not interfere with the mouth at all.

 

[Rose Folly]

I use one for three reasons:

1. to help keep the saddle in place on a very fct cob who shies when cantering
2. to give me something to hold on to, should I need to, on the rare occasions that she bucks
3. to help prevent her getting her head too high - which she only does when edgy.

Overall, very useful.

 

[missyme10]

Every horse I have or get in the future will have an running martingale on.
I dont see them as gadgets or as something that is in anyway detrimental to my horses.

I see them as a bit of safty tack, and having them gives both myself and my daughter that bit of extra security because our horses cant toss their heads up high, and we can grab onto it if need be like a neck strap.
I just feel more secure with one and prefer to always ride with one x

 

[CobSunshine]

Thanks for advice.

I like the fact they don't come into use until the horse raises its head high otherwise it only benefits on the rein action for a novice like myself

 

[Jade17]

I have a running martingale on my boy when doing fast work out hacking as he gets excited if there is more than 2 of us, and for someone who hasn't ridden him before, as something for them to hold on to, Altho when jumping sometimes it is actually required. But I don't see them as a gadget, but still have a neck strap on if not using martingale!

As once informed - if William Fox-Pitt can go round burghley with a neck strap there's nothing stopping you from using one!

 

[Bowen4Horses]

Every horse I have or get in the future will have an running martingale on.
I dont see them as gadgets or as something that is in anyway detrimental to my horses.

I see them as a bit of safty tack, and having them gives both myself and my daughter that bit of extra security because our horses cant toss their heads up high, and we can grab onto it if need be like a neck strap.
I just feel more secure with one and prefer to always ride with one x

i find they can interfere with schooling... esp as many people have them a little too tight/small... so sometimes it interferes with the rein, eg if you need to open your hand out etc.

however, i do tend to ride in a hunting breastplate for the security of the neck strap... and will put running martingale attachment on, if needed. x

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I use one for three reasons:

1. to help keep the saddle in place on a very fct cob who shies when cantering
2. to give me something to hold on to, should I need to, on the rare occasions that she bucks
3. to help prevent her getting her head too high - which she only does when edgy.

Overall, very useful.

Surely you're thinking of a hunting breastplate with running martingale attachment, as a running martingale wont keep a saddle in place?

 

[CobSunshine]

has anyone got any pics of their running martingale in situ?any pics from whatever angle would be great.

Found it hard to adjust, correctly.

got it so the two rings reach near the top of the horses neck near the withers as per my tack book, but then the rings just didn't seem right when reins are through.

It didn't make it wasy as it could be lenghened from the bottom near girth, then the neck strap could be moved up and down the main split ring strap, and how far from the bit should the stoppers be?

I think the bib ones look easier to get set up right with just the single ring!

 

[Meowy Catkin]

You need to put one of these (martingale stop)

on the martingale to hold the neck strap and chest strap together. Like this

 

[KatB]

Anyone who says they help with their horses head carriage/stablise rein contact/build topline has them fitted incorrectly and shouldn't be using one!!!

A running martingale is there PURELY to STOP the head from going past the point of no control. Not to hold it's head in place! It shouldn;t have ANY effect on the contact except when the head is excessively high. It should be fitted so when you horse is stood normally, the rings should reach the horses throat. I see SO many fitted to tightly so they interfere with the contact all the time. This is WRONG, and is normally combined with the use of an elevator bit such as a dutch gag in my experience, which means the poor horse is being asked to lift its head, then get a weight on its mouth constantly from the martingale.

 

[Weezy]

A correctly fitted running martingale will not interfere with the way a horse goes unless he sticks his head right up in the air, and then they will save you from getting a bloody nose

I ride everything in one, whether they need it or not, one day they might, and I would prefer it to be there than to wish it had been. It is common sense to always have a neck strap handy too

 

[dalesslave]

running martingales are artificial aids and need to be very correctly fitted or they interfere when they shouldnt. your horse is only 3 maybe its trying to tell you something. if this is just while your are backing your 3 year old try and borrow a hunting breastplate as a safety "oh s$£!" handle it will be a lot more stable than a martingale neck strap or use an old stirrup leather they are a bit broader again than a martingale neck strap

 

[Steorra]

Hi. I'm sorry if I've got this wrong or come across as interfering...your horse, your business etc...BUT from your recent posts you have been trying out lots of different pieces of equipment on your 3 year old: a flash, a grackle, a martingale.

I'm not getting judgemental about using gadgets or otherwise, and I think all of these things can have their place. However, if you have a 3 year old who is throwing up his head, opening his mouth alot and crossing his jaw just in normal ridden work, I'm afraid something has gone wrong.

I don't mean this in a critical way, but you come across as quite an inexperienced rider to be riding such a young horse. I'm not saying it can't work, but I really think that the best 'gadget' you could have at the moment is a qualified, professional instructor who can advise you on how to solve your horse's issues and your own.

These forums are a wonderful place and you can learn a lot on here (I have!) but they aren't a replacement for someone on the spot helping you to find the right way forward. I get the impression (again this is an assumption so I'm sorry if it's wrong) that you don't have anyone, because otherwise your instructor would be telling you what a flash is, or how to use a martingale, not HHOers.

Bringing a young horse on can be a wonderful experience, but please get some professional, experienced help. It is so much easier to train a horse correctly in the first place than to unpick mistakes made at the beginning. The fact that you are doing research and asking questions shows that you care about getting this right.

I wish you lots of luck with your horse, and for what it's worth I think that a running martingale is a good idea. If I've misjudged or spoken out of place then please accept my apologies and let me know.

 

[mcnaughty]

i find they can interfere with schooling... esp as many people have them a little too tight/small... so sometimes it interferes with the rein, eg if you need to open your hand out etc.

however, i do tend to ride in a hunting breastplate for the security of the neck strap... and will put running martingale attachment on, if needed. x

I waiting for someone to state the obvious. They do interfere with the rein action especially with youngster when you want to open out your hand. I personally would not put a running martingale on a horse just for the sake of it and would actually prefer (if needed) a standing martingale because of these very reasons.

 

[Rose Folly]

Hi Faracat, you may well be right about it now being called a hunting breastplaet. But mine is over 60 years old, and has always been called a running martingale. It has no 'breastplate attachment', just two thin straps to the D-rings on the saddle. Breastplates were rather frowned on in my day, though I'd rather like one!

 

[ridersince2002]

I use one on the pony i ride- shes crazyyyyyy! but i have jsut been told on here that i have it too tight (her owner is the one thats tightens it though 'YOUR MARTINGALE IS FAR TOO LOOSE! THATS WHY YOU HAVE NO CONTROLL' ) but the pony is very very argumentative so she just argues with it anyway. But without it i have a feeling i would be able to see her nose when on board sometimes as she just chucks her head up and keeps it up when i ask her to do something she doesnt want to do (i.e stand, walk, slow down ) but because shes got quite a large shoulder ( i think) the neckstrap seems to be quite far up her neck, but thats probably me doing it all wrong, but if i could reach it without putting my hands forward i would use it :S but for a 3 year old i would say try one of those (not very helpful- cant remember what its called) lunging aids that encourage her to work long and low or maybe school once or twice in draw reins- so she understands where her head should be?

 

[ladyt25]

I'm with mcnaughty - I don't use one on mine, in fact none of our horses are ridden in them. Many years ago I think we wore them as you sort of believed you were 'supposed' to but really how many horses actually need them and do they actually help? When we got my sister's horse (as a 4 year old) he could have a tendency to throw his head in the air and try spin if say he objected to something out on a hack. We tried a martingale and actually found this made the problem worse as he would then get additional pressure on his mouth (he is relatively sensitive mouthed). We found the standing martingale a lot more effective as it does not have any effect on the horses mouth at all and the issue soon stopped. He now does not wear any form of martingale (he's 10 now) and hasn't for years. in fact he has the simplest of bridles on, not even a nose band most of the time.

I often feel a lot of people like to put these items of tack on their horses for no real reason at all (like 5 point breast plates but don't get me started on that one!!!). Do they actually question why their horse is throwing it's head up in the first place??

If you need a martingale i would opt for a standing as opposed to a running.

 

[only_me]

I never used a running martingale on my last horse because A) he never needed one and B) I couldnt find one long enough!!

I didnt have him "on the bit/in an outline" though coming into a jump - I am a firm believer that a horse needs to use its neck to jump and therefore needs its head high enough to see the jump
He needed one long enough so it wouldnt interfere with his jumping - but when he jumped he used every ounce of body he could and really used his neck/shoulders etc. as well as back end so it would end up being far too long to have any real use.

If you are planning on using one on your youngster - please please use a bib martingale.

Youngsters can play with things, and if they grab hold of the martingale always JUMP OFF the horse - it can get caught in their teeth, panic and rear up and over on you

 

[CobSunshine]

The running martingale has stoppers on the rein so it can't get stuck in teeth.

I have to admit the bib martingales do look far simpler design wise with the reins running through a single circle?

In terms of standing martingales i've been advised to stay well away from these by local shop, as if horse falls in ditch etc they need to raise their head quite high to stand up again - the standing martingale prevents this, the running allows it as reins run through no problem. They said the standing could be very dangerous in many situations for the horse.

Steorra i'm putting the 3 year old out for the winter now, no training until next year. I'm concentrating on my bolshy 9 year old - but thats another topic