Tack poll

who has the money??

  • Total voters
    0
Bea goes in a cavesson for dressage with on occassion a drop. Depends how she is going.

I hack her in a drop and martingale as she can spin at high speed and is rather spooky.

She is in a grackle and martingale for all jumping. She crosses her jaw without one and has a tendancy to shove her ears in my face whilst jumping.
 
I never use a martingale. However I use a cavesson, grackle and flash noseband!

cavesson just for general schooling at home a thats all he needs. Grackle for hacking to give me some extra control, also used for SJ away from home. Flash noseband at dressage to give me more control (would use grackle if they were legal!)
 
All three are ridden in cavesson nosebands with no martingale. I don't really like flash nosebands so can't see myself ever using one. Only use running martingales for xc (which we don't do very often!)
 
I use a martingale don't affect the horse in any way until they are needed so wheres the harm in that, also my horse is a headshaker so stops me from getting it in theface
 
I don't use a noseband with my bridle.
blush.gif
 
No and no.

I don't ever use anything unless its needed.

Ro if hacking her out on her own I have started to use a martingale because when she spooks she throws her head up, spins and sometimes put ina rear, so it give us a little more control for safety reasons.

Can't be bothered with all that faff unless the horse actually requires it. Drop nosebands and flash noses have been about for god knows how long, its strange how so many horses are now sporting them when 12 months ago they weren't, its good if you have found tried and tested and found that they do improves things, providing you have explored the cause of needing it in the first place rather than just because its the 'in thing'.
 
martingale or flashes
flashe is because she does smile and show her teeth.
martingale is because she is throwing her head up when i ask for canter and she has not been worked for a year. on saying that i had her teeth done and they where bad so now there done and she having few days off to heal. i will see how it goes then maybe the martingale can go! her last owner had her in flash i took it off till i got her teeth done . so now i will wait then test her out see if she does need it as knew she was not happy with it when i first started riding her so off it come. teeth done lets see how we get on.:0)
 
I have a flash on murphy as he has a habit of grabbing the bit and sticking his head all over.
Did have a martingale when I bought him which was attached to breast plate. But I dont use it just have the breast plate on.
 
I used a drop noseband & martingale on Sov for SJ & XC work to help with brakes, rather than put a more severe bit in her mouth - i alwyas used a simple snaffle, but schooled & mostly hacked in a cavesson.
Pip always jsut had a cavesson & never had a martingale on.
 
One of mine is in a simple snaffle bridle with a cavesson noseband and no martingale. The other one wears a running martingale and a flash noseband, because he needs the martingale and we use the flash to prevent him learning to evade the bit by opening his mouth.
smile.gif
 
sorry poopymoo wasnt getting at u i used the QR button when it was really aimed at the post about schooling horses so they will never need a martingale, my appoligies
smile.gif
 
On English tack. Yes absolutely.

Nothing to do with fads or fashions. I have used, and intend to carry on doing so, a martingale of one kind or another on a breast girth since I had my teeth knocked halfway down my throat by an over-enthusiastic racehorse on the gallops one day. As it was a rather unpleasant experience I have no intention of allowing to happen again if I can help it. I really can't see what the harm in having a running martingale on does, sod the purists, does it really matter what anyone else thinks day to day?

The horse may not need it but I go for the better safe than sorry route.
Anyway, sometimes the "Oh s**t" strap comes in very handy.
wink.gif


I was looking through a very old book recently, circa Princess Anne on Doublet, and was amused to see the number of top riders using snaffles, drops and martingales. Were riders stronger and better than nowadays, the horses better schooled or was it just a lack of choice I wonder?
 
My mares martingale comes on and off but the 'oh [****]' neck strap always stays!! not that I have used it for a long time but just in case!

If I don't think that she needs it then I take it off....until she realises that its no longer there and starts throwing her head about, its a must for jumping if you want to keep your teeth as she gets so excited.

She also uses a flash, gives me some extra braking. I do take them off every so often to see if they are helping and normally within a week they are back on!!
 
No martingale and no noseband for me.

Why do people use caverson nosebands if their horses don't need a noseband? don't see the point personally - just seems like more tack cleaning to me
smile.gif
 
For hacking I don't use either. For schooling I use just a flash, no martingale. For jumping i use both.
 
No martingale - I have trouble getting her head off the floor most days
smirk.gif
I am never afraid of using a neckstrap with any horse if I feel it even slightly necessary, but I don't jump so most of the horses I ride don't have martingales.
No flash - she is fussy in her mouth so I am addressing the issue by trying different bits (well, we're currently bitless) rather than tying her jaw together. She came with a flash and I took it straight off
wink.gif

In fact, most of the horses I worked with at one yard wore flashes - and I turned up and took them all off
shocked.gif
grin.gif
I have a bit of a "thing" against flashes! Though if they are actually needed then I would have no problem with using one
smile.gif
 
Mine didn't even have a noseband until I got sick of putting it on the bridle whenever we had a dressage test and taking it off again after.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I use neither, I have always been strong enough to keep my horse's from going above the vertical and if I wasn't I'd be schooling them til they stopped it rather than using a leather pully system.

[/ QUOTE ]
Hmmmm, so all the professional riders who use them should be schooling their horses properly instead of relying on the 'pulley' system? I'm loathe to point out that a martingale (standing OR running) is not supposed to be fitted so that you can lever a horse's head into the correct position. Perhaps you're getting them confused with draw reins (incorrectly used)?
I suppose you also believe any horse can go well in a snaffle and anyone who uses anything else is deficient in their schooling?
 
PF has a cavesson and running martingale. Martingale is on very loose, she could probably do without it, but I like having the breast plate to grab in an emergency. A can get very strong jumping, so he's in a flash and likes to chuck his head around when he's excited as well, so he's also in a martingale. No WAY am I strong enough to winch any horse's head into place (not that the martingale would be my choice of gadget to achieve such a thing), My schooling is clearly rubbish. I'll have to tell my boss to sack me.
 
[ QUOTE ]

Hmmmm, so all the professional riders who use them should be schooling their horses properly instead of relying on the 'pulley' system?


[/ QUOTE ]

Yes because most of the fourm users who are riding in martingales school to the same level as a professional rider and have the same training and experience...er no. What I am saying in the normal Jo Blogs of this world should be schooling rather than taking the short cut. Horse's go above the bit due excitement, lack of discipline and/or pain. Maybe people should address these issues before slapping on the extra piece of leather work. In saying that if WFP feels his horse needs a martingale then I'm not going to argue the point.

[ QUOTE ]
I'm loathe to point out that a martingale (standing OR running) is not supposed to be fitted so that you can lever a horse's head into the correct position.


[/ QUOTE ]

The martingale is fitted so if the horse's head is in the correct place it exerts no pressure on the rein, if the horse lifts it head above the stated height (depending on how short your martingale is) it will put downward pressure on the rein. The rein will become angled through the martingale and the ring will in effect become a pulley so the rider does not need use as much strength. I know you know this but you are taking my words out of context and yes the martingale does act as a pully.

[ QUOTE ]

I suppose you also believe any horse can go well in a snaffle and anyone who uses anything else is deficient in their schooling?

[/ QUOTE ]

You suppose wrong, I think bitting is like fitting a bra, one size/style most definitely does not fit all. I do not agree with the use of gags though if that's what you mean.

Phew that was long...
grin.gif
 
Using a martingale is NOT an indication of bad schooling any more than using spurs, or a schooling whip, or a flash, or a pelham, or indeed a gag is. Why would you assume that Joe Bloggs is using any of all of these because his/her schooling is rubbish and they need a short cut?
It really gets on my wick when people question the use of any piece of tack on someone else's horse without knowing any of the particulars of the situation (and I don't mean you in particular)
 
[ QUOTE ]
Using a martingale is NOT an indication of bad schooling any more than using spurs, or a schooling whip, or a flash, or a pelham, or indeed a gag is.

[/ QUOTE ]

Spurs - enhanced aid

Whip - controls quarters

Flash - hide evasion or unwillingness to submit

Pelham - enhances aid on mouth and encourage the correct position of the head

Gags - yuck is all I can say

So really flash and gag I would class in the same bin as martingale and I don't use them either.

I would never pick on anyone or question why they used specific tack (unless it didn't fit!) I was making a broad statement that IMO martingales are either not required or are used rather than just teaching a horse not to throw it's head as an evasion.
 
Errrm....as OP I wasnt intending a slagging match, I was simply noting the large amount of martingales/flashes etc on my yard (populated by Joe Bloggs, non-competitive riders)....and pondering if they were all needed ( as I know horses do need certain items of tack for whatever reason) OR if they were used/purchased because of fashion or lack of knowledge about the items intended function/purpose.

I have noticed also that plain nosebands are not as easily available as flashes/grackles etc etc.....not fibbing, take a look in any equestrian catalogue/tack shop......most have flashes fitted as standard and I must say, if I'm spending money I dont want to have to get the old scalpel out to trim off the flash attachment
 
I wasn't aware I was slagging.
I think it's pretty much common knowledge that people can and do use certain items of tack as 'accessories' rather than because they really need them. However, I think it's wrong to assume that one is using said item as an accessory because one isn't a 'proper' or competitive rider.
It's also true to say that the flash is easily the most widely available noseband.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Using a martingale is NOT an indication of bad schooling any more than using spurs, or a schooling whip, or a flash, or a pelham, or indeed a gag is.

[/ QUOTE ]

Spurs - enhanced aid

Whip - controls quarters

Flash - hide evasion or unwillingness to submit

Pelham - enhances aid on mouth and encourage the correct position of the head

Gags - yuck is all I can say

So really flash and gag I would class in the same bin as martingale and I don't use them either.

I would never pick on anyone or question why they used specific tack (unless it didn't fit!) I was making a broad statement that IMO martingales are either not required or are used rather than just teaching a horse not to throw it's head as an evasion.

[/ QUOTE ]

Or, you could look at it this way;

Spurs- jab horse to get it shifting, poke holes in sides, draw blood

Whip- beat seven types of sh!t out of horse

Flash- inexperienced rider, having difficulty controlling horse, alternative to more severe bit

Martingale- Excitable horse throws its head about from time to time. Rider would rather not have a broken nose or develop muscles like a shot-putter to force its head down (is that actually any better?)
OR inexperienced rider has better control of horse SHOULD it get excited/throw its head.

Pelham- Stops horse better than snaffle

Gag- Horse goes well in it- it happens...

This could go on for a while... Shall we just agree to disagree?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top