Running martingale, will this work?

[still standing]

My horse has started to throw her head up recently, admittedly because I have been a bit strong in hand asking for canter strike off, so my fault entirely. Although I am currently trying to keep hands soft and low using a loose neck strap, she is still doing it so I'm hoping the martingale will give her and me a bit of confidence to stop it happening again. But neither she nor I have ever used a martingale hence my asking on here if it could work & stop her throwing up her head?

I have a lot of experience so I'm not sure how this has developed but she is quite a sensitive mare. Teeth were done last week and done regularly and her bit is a loose ring French link snaffle, no flash attachment on bridle. I know I need to work on my contact and I do have regular lessons, but I'm hoping this will help in the short term.
Any suggestions about getting her used to having it on for the first time? Or do I just fit it (Correctly) and ride as usual?

 

[teddy_]

If your horse is not generally over-sensitive to changes in tack, I would just ensure the martingale is correctly fitted and crack on.

No idea whether it'll help your specific horse though . Have you sought advice from a professional who knows you and your horse? That could be worth doing before you buy any gadgets.

 

[stangs]

How long have you been using the neck strap? My first thought would be to stick with that.

 

[still standing]

I have regular lessons with a professional but she hasn't suggested a martingale, I was just wondering about it myself, if it might help.

I've only been using the neck strap for a couple of weeks but I find that it can be a little restricting at times, for myself! For example if I occasionally want to open the inside rein a bit when schooling. It is helping but I wondered if the martingale would be better.

 

[sbloom]

I would only use a running martingale for jumping for a horse that really needs it. In this case I'd be looking to the horse's balance, strength, and understanding of canter aids. Try a D to D strap, otherwise known as an "oh sh1t" strap, useful for riders of all sorts of abilities...stating "I have a lot of experience" might indicate a young rider who feels like they've been riding for EONS but actually hasn't that much experience of riding anything other than "made" horses. Sorry if I've got that wrong...I would chat with your trainer about why the head is being thrown around, think about the logic, and kindness, of the explanation and proposal of how you'd deal with it. Reactions like this are usually a physical or emotional issue with the horse, the latter usually being confusion.

If it's wholly about your riding it may be worth looking at off-horse conditioning such as that offered by Riding Reboot, Refined Riding and Activate Your Seat on FB, and biomechanics lessons on your horse so you can become completely independent of your hands.

 

[ihatework]

In that situation, if I were going to use a martingale it would be a standing rather than a running.

But best bet is to look at it holistically and work with your instructor

 

[still standing]

Thank you all for your replies.
I think a good point has been made that I really need to communicate better with my instructor to try and get to the bottom of WHY , as opposed to just trying to fix the problem.
I genuinely am quite experienced and have ridden at Elementary dressage but am definitely in the 'older rider' category now and perhaps my balance is not as good as it once was and my horse is also reacting to that.

So, lots of food for thought and things to work on, it has been helpful to have a fresh look at it. I will be speaking to my instructor tomorrow and can base my next lesson on some of your suggestions.

 

[ycbm]

If this is new behaviour, then I would first look to a physical reason in her as to why she might have started this.

If you are certain this has no root in discomfort in her body, and modifying your riding does not produce a result, then I would much prefer to use draw reins for this situation than a martingale. IMO martingales turn the neck upside down because they give them something to brace the underside neck muscle against. Draw reins don't do that.

I have to stress, the use of the draw reins is to prevent the horse from throwing its head up, not to pull it down.
.

 

[LEC]

I would use a Harbridge in this situation as a big fan. You can train the contact, knock the habit on the head in the transition and keep the neck out. I have used them a lot for transitions aids. Tend to only be needed 3 or 4 times.

Saying that I have one at the moment who flicks their head as a balance issue (they are big and weak) I have let it go while they get stronger but it annoys me now. They shorten their neck when they get unbalanced and flick the head. I have now popped her in draw reins which have worked surprisingly well. The extra weight of the draw reins and just feeling them has kept the neck out better and removed the head flick (and confirmed what I always thought it was - balance)

 

[Cortez]

If your horse is throwing up her head because you are catching her in the mouth in the canter transition, adding a running martingale, or any other piece of equipment that not only straps her down to prevent her being able to get away from the pain, but also increases it (because of the pully effect of the rings) is hardly the humane trainer's option. A standing martingale is another approach, now sadly completely out of fashion for some reason, but of course the best solution of all is to fix the problem, not evade it.

Without being able to see what's happening it's almost impossible to advise, but I will always go to training over gadget every time.

 

[teddy_]

I am a big fan of standing martingales as they don't interfere with the contact, agree with Cortez.

 

[still standing]

Had a 'planning' meeting and discussion with my instructor today and coincidentally she also suggested the temporary use of a standing martingale.
But in her opinion, I need to work on strengthening my core to regain a more independent seat again, which should then 'allow' better with my hands during the canter transitions.

The other thing she suggested, again temporary, was to lunge beforehand using a bungee but she knows I don't like those at all as I'm always concerned about the effect on my horse's mouth. OR, to lunge first using a standing martingale to get my horse used to it. Any opinions on those ideas please?
I'm planning to ride tomorrow so I will start by concentrating on my core for starters!

 

[Cortez]

Blimey, if you’re worried about a bungee’s effect on his mouth how on earth would you consider a running martingale? Look, just work on the problem (which I would hazard is you, your balance or whatever) and leave the gadgets alone. Your horse will thank you for it.

 

[still standing]

Yes, I agree my balance is definitely number 1 thing to work on... but in the meantime I don't want to keep avoiding going into canter!
Hence looking for a temporary fix to help me through those transitions, so that it doesn't become more of a problem in my head, as well as for my horse.

 

[Cortez]

Yes, I agree my balance is definitely number 1 thing to work on... but in the meantime I don't want to keep avoiding going into canter!
Hence looking for a temporary fix to help me through those transitions, so that it doesn't become more of a problem in my head, as well as for my horse.

Here’s what I do with a ‘grabby’ student: walk to canter transitions, and reins in one hand. But you’d need to be riding at a level to be in control of your seat and upper body to do it. I’d look at lunge lessons (on a proper lunge horse) for seat and balance too.

 

[sbloom]

There is no harm in not cantering for now, so often with horses we have to take a step backwards, fix the foundations, and move forwards afterwards. Straight lines, two point seat and one hand or a grab strap is the way you could possibly try canter, but why do it in the school until you're more confident that you'll be stable? This isn't a race.

The programmes I mentioned would help you, core strength for riding is so often not what people think it is, many instructors included. And I'd not use a gadget on the lunge, but if he chucks his head up on the lunge, then it's not you that's causing the issue (or at least not the sole cause).