Standing Martingales

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vivhewe

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Can you even get them any more? I can't find any locally, I'm having to look online. Is there a reason they are becoming rarer other than running martingales seem to be more fashionable?
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I've also seen online some jumping standing martingales, which have an elastic insert in which stretches when the horse jumps. Has anyone any experience of them?
 
I wouldn't use a standing martingale for jumping, but I have not seen the elastic ones so can't comment on them.

A good saddlers should have them, I bought one a few years ago, for a head flinger upper. He hates running martingales due to the extra pressure they put on the reins and then mouth, but was settled in a standing. Wasn't in it for long, just needed it so I could see past his ears before he learnt that head down is a better position
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I'm hoping once I get to the point of jumping again the martingale will be long gone
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I have a running martingale at the minute, I think it's unneccesary faff and intereferes with my contact. I just want a standing martingale there as a back up really until I get my pony back into work again - new years resolution that cold weather isn't an excuse for not riding! I'm going to get a sheepskin seat saver too so I have no excuses
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The standing really did help on mine, and I can't have had it on for longer than six months or so (my memory is rubbish!)

But cold weather is a valid excuse for not going competing - thats what I say to myself anyway - to cold to hang around all day at bloomin' BSJa anyway!
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I hate running marts- I jump mine in a elasticated standing. Mine was added to by saddler but eBay, Whitaker and Stephens make them (last 2 just make the attachments)
Mine is a head up and go type, but has hit the standing a few times and settles, he jumps exactly the same with it and is an unorthodox jumper so clearly not restricted!
I dislike runnings due to the action on the mouth you have no influence on, yet are a part of and the horse who truely needs a mart. often learns to distrust the contact when it becomes altered due to the martingales action upon the reins x
 
If you only need it temporarily, make your running into a standing, its what we used to do with naughty ponies in the RS's or out hunting. Just take both rings to the noseband instead of putting the reins through them.
 
This thread has made me think. My girl has a running, but reading pritstick's post has made me think I'll try a standing for a while as Diz does not like it when she flicks her head up (being young and nosey) - she gets a jab in the mouth from the running martingale and then spends the next few minutes sulking about it. I know they can be jumped in from my reading (and from dim and dusty memories), but it's so long since I have seen a standing martingale in the flesh! I've done as CrazyMare says and used a running as a standing.

I think some more reading is required (for me).

I hope this makes sense, I'm hot and tired
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Our Welsh D has a short, thick, upright neck and is better in a standing martingale than running. Hers has a sturdy elastic insert, as used by a lot of showjumping ponies, mainly because we couldn't find one without elastic on the day we wanted it. We got it from the saddlers at a show centre in Essex.

In the 1960s, say, most hunters were in standing martingales - look through some old copies of H&H! Flash nosebands were invented purely as a more tidy option than using a drop noseband PLUS a cavesson to attach the martingale. By the time my eldest started Pony Club in the early 90s, they didn't allow standing martingales cross country (not sure if that was just branch policy though).

You can get standing martingale attachments for a hunting breastplate too, try eBay.
 
I've noticed alot of subscribers to my hunt still use standing martingales.

We used to use them playing horseball
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Well a modified running
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They're still pretty standard in North America (many people put them on young horses routinely) and almost obligatory in show hunter classes, which go up to 4'. You see them less often on jumpers but they are legal, at least at the lower levels. I have to say, I've never seen a fall or a restricted jump resulting from a CORRECTLY ADJUSTED standing.

Like most things, they have their place. I do like the fact that, used properly, they are completely neutral until needed which is not true of runnings as there is always some downward pressure on the rein simply due to the weight on the martingale. I also, personally, don't like the feel or the rings moving on the reins so do not use them as standard. Again, they have their place, especially on jumping horses.
 
i haveno problenm with using staning martingales they have a distinct action which is clear to the horse. i almost never use running ones because to be short enough to do thejob they interfere with the contact as tarr said.
Vivhewe if you want an elasticated standing PM me i think a friend of mine has one who is getting rid of all her horse stuff. i have ben writng the lists so i know it is not expensive and aslo quite useable if a bit worn x
 
I jump my horse in an elasticated standing. Mine is from Stephens I believe. It works brilliantly, completely agree with the above posters that the action of a standing martingale is preferred to a running and horses jump fine in them -after all, BSJA allow them (though I don't believe FEI do - but that is not a huge worry for me...)
 
I believe that correctly fitted standing martingales are truly one of the most useful piece of kit to have for a youngster. Tarquin was sensitive with his mouth when I broke him in, but being half Welsh he liked to carry his head high and on occaision run off. I didn't want to use a running as I thought the action wouldn't suit him at all. He is ace in a standing as its action is totally seperate to what I do on top. When I was little we used standings a lot and never used flash nosebands or dutch gags. Also a problem with the running is that most you see are incorrectly fitted and people seem to not realise that you should have a rein stop either side of the rings or they slip about too much and the action is false.
 
I much prefer standing martingales, they are more effective. Running martingales are ensure that the activity/action of the reins come from an consistent direction rather than stopping the horse raising his head beyond the point of control. A horse who raises his head suddenly will pull the reins through your hands making the martingale ineffective.

Like many things it can become a 'fashion' assessory. I have noticed that dutch gags were popular for a few years and now it is pelhams, same with flash nosebands.

When I was first hacking my horse following stable rest for a tendon injury, he was a little erm fiesty and I had an old running which I attached to his cavesson noseband instead of the reins and it worked a treat, adjusting it to fit as a standing naturally.

As long as the standing is correctly fitted, there is no reason not to jump in one as it prevents head elevation rather than downward stretching.
 
:confused:Hey all,

Now i have a normal bridle with a really think noseband, which has a flash also. I have found myself in need of using a standing martingale. I have brought the John Whitaker attachment as this has an elastic part which seems much more forgiving. However i now know that i actually need the whitaker running to go with it!

But my now question is how the blasted do i attach it to the nose band??? All the pictures i ve looked at have the buckle on the neck end and the clip on the nose band??? But where does it go!!!!!!! I dont want to end up forking out for a brand new whitaker bridle just for sake of the attchment. Can any one help me???

A very confussed lady!
 
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