What is this martingale?

Boxers

Boxers

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Just watching the puissance on tv and a man on a chestnut (swiss i think) has a martingale that is filled in, i mean the two straps that go from the neck strap up to the reins, are fixed together with a sheet of leather in between.

So what is this called and what is the purpose of the filled in bit?
 
Thats a bib martingale, it keeps the reins closer together, which can help with control and also stops a horse from getting it caught in its mouth if it tends to grab at the straps.
 
Bib martingale. Used when horses are prone to getting tangled up or bite the martingale straps. It also changes the action as cannot get the rings as wide, so action is more like an Irish maringale when turning.
 
Also tends to help keep reins over the neck when the horse has shipped his jockey! I don't think that is the aim in this instance though:D

I have never really thought about it before but does the weight of the bib (as opposed to the neglible weight of a conventional running martingale) also have an effect on the mouth?
 
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Does anyone know if you can just get the bib bit to attach to a breastplate (with normal and removable martingale straps)?

Peej is a git for snapping at his chest if he gets tired and we have become a bit unstuck a few times lol.

V x
 
Its weird that bib martingales seem to be the 'in' thing for show jumpers, they were all wearing them at olympia. They were originally a racing thing only, and worcestergirl I have never seen a breastplate option with them, maybe you need to invent it! ;)
 
I thought it was strange to see so many bib martingales - looks like they will be back in fashion now ;)

I have a bib martingale which I used on Billy as he is a little monkey and chews EVERYTHING (you can't take the reins over his head to lead him as he chews them, the bridle has to go on as the last part of tack when tacking up as otherwise he stands and chews the reins etc.) and a bib at least reduced the risk of him catching it in his mouth.
However as it was only a safety belt of tack I took it off as he didn't really need it and now use a breastplate instead for those oh **** moments ;)

ets you can buy a bib martingale attachment - http://www.tacksales.co.uk/running-martingale-attachment-with-bib.html?MMCF_Google_Base_Feed3
 
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