Running vs standing martingale

C

Chestnut mare

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As some of you kno I'm having trouble with my pony when we canter she sets her neck up in the air and I have no control.
A martingale has been suggested..... So my question is standing vs running for this problem.
Thank you :D.
 
I would try the running one first as I would rather not use a standing martingale unless it's really needed. You could also try a market harborough (again I prefer this to a standing martingale).
 
Standing as there is no interference with the mouth or the rein aids.

If the horse fights it he is only fighting himself, not tugging at your hands or on his mouth.

If you intend to jump make sure that it is long enough and that it has an elastic insert, and maybe jump first time with him on the lunge or with your instructor present to be safe.

I know a few horses much happier in a standing martingale than a running one, and they are much more definite in preventing the horse getting its head up at all rather than just redirecting the rein aid while the horse's head is above the bit like a running does.
 
poppymoo said:
A properly fitted standing marntigale is not restrictive at all.....unless the horse chucks its head up....
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... or slips over.

I was watching a girl riding on grass (slightly damp) and her horse slipped, tried to balance himself by sticking his head out, couldn't and went over nearly sqashing the girl. They were both fine (girl a bit bruised) but I'm sure that he'd have managed to stay up if his head was free.
 
Depends how bad she is doing it and why as to which would suit your mare better.

If it's just pig ignorance at times and a case of more schooling and nothing phyically wrong with her (back problems for example) then I'd opt for a standing, if it's just odd times they do it because your horse tends to have a naturally high head carrige anyway when excited etc then I'd go for a running.


If she's got quite a senstive mouth and doesn't like too much pressure then I'd opt for a standing because a running will act on the bit but in a different way to the action of the reins if you are slowing down (if she's not got a soft responsive mouth) where as a simple standing martingale with just give direct pressure on the the nose, they can be used for jumping but your horse must be able to bascule correctly over a fence so care needs to taken when using them for jumping, specially if they are not used to them.

A running martingale only temps the head down really, if it's fitted correctly (not too small) it won't stop a horse flinging it's head up, they there just to encourge them back to down due to downwards pressure they create when they take effect.
 
Faracat said:
... or slips over.

I was watching a girl riding on grass (slightly damp) and her horse slipped, tried to balance himself by sticking his head out, couldn't and went over nearly sqashing the girl. They were both fine (girl a bit bruised) but I'm sure that he'd have managed to stay up if his head was free.
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As I said.....'properly' fitted...most people have them way too tight......
 
poppymoo said:
As I said.....'properly' fitted...most people have them way too tight......
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I've thought long and hard and I'm sure that it wasn't fitted too tight, just doing it's job of restricting the horse's head. ;)

BTW, I'd always thought that this was why you shouldn't use a SM when jumping. It's not that they cannot jump in them, it's just that they can cause problems if something goes wrong (eg, horse crashes into the jump or collapses on landing).
 
Standing. They aren't hard to fit and they won't restrict when jumping. I hack, hunt, and SJ several horses in standings without any problems. It was a leading light in the dressage world that suggested one for my horse and I would never go back to wearing a running. The standing won't restrict when schooling and will only come into play when she throws her head up.
In my experience running are a waste of time. Or if you have good hands and quick reactions or an experienced person to help, how about draw reins? Although be careful as some horses can have a paddy if put in them.
 
In that case definintely the standing. It will actually STOP her from getting her head up, whereas a running will just put pressure on her mouth if she sticks her head up. If she is prone to ignore you when excited I don't think a running will do much good as all it does is change the angle of the pressure you put on when asking her to stop/slow down.
 
KristmasKatt said:
In that case definintely the standing. It will actually STOP her from getting her head up, whereas a running will just put pressure on her mouth if she sticks her head up. If she is prone to ignore you when excited I don't think a running will do much good as all it does is change the angle of the pressure you put on when asking her to stop/slow down.
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Yeah I understand what you are saying if I pull on the reins she will pull more. So a running martingale will not have much effect.
Do they resist much when it is first used?
Thanks for all your replies :D
 
A standing martingale all the way, I used one on T a lot when I first broke him in as he was very sensitive in the mouth but would stick his head in the air and run off. Even now if he is in a resistant mood a standing works far better without annoying him. I made one to begin with as it is really hard to get a standing martingale attachment for a hunting breastplate. I got leather side rein with elastic insert (to make it softer) and ran it through a neck strap for a standard running martingale. I have since leant it to a lot of people with similar problems to yours.
 
Faracat said:
I've thought long and hard and I'm sure that it wasn't fitted too tight, just doing it's job of restricting the horse's head. ;)

BTW, I'd always thought that this was why you shouldn't use a SM when jumping. It's not that they cannot jump in them, it's just that they can cause problems if something goes wrong (eg, horse crashes into the jump or collapses on landing).
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I guess then its one of those horrible things that can happen....hope horse and rider were OK ....scary stuff.:(
 
OP, if you choose to go with a standing, it can be useful to use a sheepskin nose pad, it will cushion the nose band and obviously encourge a lower head carriage in any case.
 
Kenzo said:
OP, if you choose to go with a standing, it can be useful to use a sheepskin nose pad, it will cushion the nose band and obviously encourge a lower head carriage in any case.
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Or if you go the polo way - use a thin rawhide noseband to make leaning against the standing martingale uncomfortable!!
 
If the mare is flinging her head up because she wants to go faster than allowed then IMO putting on a standing martingale could lead you into all sorts of problems if she throws a tantrum, i would try first with a running martingale because you, as the rider, can release the pressure if you feel she is getting over the top and likely to put you or her in danger, with the standing martingale you have no choice in releasing her head to calm the situation. :)
 
My horse was putting his head up to evade the contact. Tried a running martingale with him and all he did was pull his head forwards to get enough rein to then throw it up! With the standing, he stopped trying to throw his head up after a few uses. I've kept it on for 3 months and am now starting to ride without it and he still doesn't throw his head up. Its also enabled me to school him more effectively. I use an elasticated one for jumping in, and yes they are BS legal. I never would have thought of using a standing martingale before someone suggested it to me, but it was really effective.
 
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