Standing Martingale alternative.

[birdof1977]

I've just take a HW cob on part loan, the owner used to ride her in a standing martingale as she is very strong. TBH I'm not a great fan of them, I had a horse fall over on me once (whilst I was riding) that was wearing a standing martingale because it couldn't get its balance properly after a slip. I've heard that this is a problem with them. I'm worried about this mare wearing one as she is quite skitty at the moment, the last girl who had her on loan was very green, and never hacked her out much because the mare used to 'mess about' whenever she left the yard. I've been assured by the owner that this is not her normal behaviour, but because she was allowed to get away with it before, she thinks she can now.
What I really want to know is apart from a running martingale, which I think wouldn't be much good on her, what other alternatives are there?

 

[Rowreach]

I use standing martingales quite often, in preference to running martingales, especially with young horses as they don't then interfere with the rein contact but stop them chucking their heads in the air.

As I'm sure you know, the trick is in the fitting - too loose and they are ineffectual, too tight and they are too restrictive and can cause the horse to rear or, as you described, be unable to use their necks properly to balance.

I get around the problem by using an elastic insert between the noseband and the martingale - a child's elastic belt is perfectly ok to use - which allows a bit of give in extremes, but allows the martingale to be short enough to be effective.

Hope this helps

 

[birdof1977]

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As I'm sure you know, the trick is in the fitting - too loose and they are ineffectual, too tight and they are too restrictive and can cause the horse to rear or, as you described, be unable to use their necks properly to balance.

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Now you mention the rearing, she was trying this with me earlier when we were out, i'll try loosening it a bit tommorow, she did feel really bunched up and tense today. Its hard trying to keep her at a walking pace at the moment, she's been turned away for the last 6 months, so i'm just trying to build her fitness levels up gradually, with walking and road work, but she constantly feels like she's ready to spring into a full pelt gallop. She's ridden in a jointed pelham because of her strength, but I'm gonna check that this has been fitted properly too, I think its a little too high, so not having the effect it should have.
Thanks for your help.

 

[Rowreach]

Is there any chance you can get hold of a combination martingale/breastplate? It sounds like she's being a bit of a challenge at the moment. I had one made up, a hunting breastplate with a running attachment, had an extra metal loop added to which I can attach a standing attachment as well.

It's a kind of belt and braces approach which works very well either with horses that are very big and strong and full of themselves, or ones that have learned to totally take the p***

I only use it as a temporary measure, and obviously only when I know that there are no underlying reasons why a horse is behaving like it is (back, teeth, tack fitting, the usual). Sometimes though it is the real answer as it instils manners where they are lacking!

pm me if you like

 

[birdof1977]

I did think about a breast plate. I think that she is generally being a bit of a moody b**ch at the mo. I think that she is also in season. She goes fine in the school, but as soon as you try to leave the yard, she starts rearing, spinning and trying to get back to the yard. I think that it is just a case of bad manners. She'll soon learn that I'm not as much of a push over as her last jockey. I'm sure i'll get there in the end, its still early day's with her.

Thanks for your suggestion's, I'll keep my eyes open for a cobination breast plate.