Strop in a Martingale

dwi

dwi

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I'm trying Daisy in a martingale on my RIs advice because she is a bit of a giraffe and I was hoping it would help out hacking. She was really unimpressed yesterday and as soon as she realised that she couldn't stick her head in the air she threw her toys out of the pram. We had bucking fits, dropping the shoulder and trying to charge and trying to go behind the bit which she has never done before.

It was far more effort than hacking her normally is, she's basically very sweet, just a bit opinionated. I felt bad for the friend I was hacking out with because it can't be much fun when a nutty cob is trying to bomb past you.

Is this normal when you first put a martingale on a horse? Would you perservere and hope that she comes through it?
 
I wouldn't put one on personally. I had a pony who naturally held her head very high, I knew had I put her in a martingale she would have absolutely hated it! I think martingales can work against some horses because IMO (Im sure people will disagree) thats how the horse is comfortable going. So I think it just causes resistance. It's really up to you if you want to carry on with it. Do you actually need it? Sticking his head up like a giraffe isnt really a problem for hacking unless he is being strong with it.
 
Running Martingale. My friend fitted it for me because I'd be the first to admit what I don't know. She is very experienced, qualified groom and used to work in racing. I trust her that if she says she fitted it correctly for me then she did.

She fitted it with a hands width all the way round the neck and with the rings long enough to reach into the gullet. Not a great description but hopefully it makes sense
 
Maybe try and borrow a standing instead - it might be that your mare puts her head up to evade the bit and because the running martingale interferes with her mouth it makes her worse. I'd see if someone can lend you a standing to try out. Sounds like your friend fitted it correctly. The only other thing I can think of is have you had her teeth checked?
 
Don't go buy a standing mrtingale, just fit the running as a standing and put the two rings through the cavesson noseband, save you some money if it doesn't work
 
I had a horse which would put his head up high before a jump. My instructor suggested a running mart. We tried one on him. the first time my ex rode him in it he felt one pull on the mart as he raised his head. then threw his head down and back up so far it broke the mart and smashed my ex's cheek and eye socket. he was obviously reacting very badly to the restriction from the mart. Had never thrown his head before and it was such an obvious reaction to being restrained.
 
You could try lunging in a standing first to be on the safe side? I know my mare would be like this with a martingale on but if you get her used to it on the lunge at least you won't injure yourself!
 
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