This video in not accurate regarding Running Martingales, please read: Running martingales are passive, they prevent the horse from raising the head to high, they do not lower the head, they do not force the head down etc. This video is not accurate. Running martingales are usually used on jumpers, or first rides under saddle to prevent the horse from throwing its head up, and so also discourages a horse from spooking/bucking as they can't invert their necks to where you have no control. It is not meant to redirect the reins as Kieran Evans states. When used correctly it does not engage until horses neck/head is raised well above normal carriage.
Thank you for your comment. Would you agree that running martingales are activated by the rider's hands and length of rein? In other words, when a horse raises its head above normal carriage, it is the rider's hands that activate the leverage through the rings of the martingale. I believe the video states that running martingales are used on jumpers as you say.
Standing martingales are passive aids, meaning that they are meant to take the rider out of the equation. It is designed for horses, such as yours, that maybe throw their head a bit, trying to evade the rider's hands. If you decide to try it, the length of the martingale piece from the noseband to the chest should not be so tight that you cannot move it up or down. There should a little slack to give the horse some room. You can play with the length depending upon the reaction of your horse.
@XxPonyPeepxX See the below response. It should not interfere with the horse's jump. As long as the standing martingale is not too short, is meant to minimize the horse throwing its head or evading the bit. The alternative is the running martingale which involves the rider directly.
Hi ponyjumper1000, Two things you can try. First, you can try a running martingale, but more importantly, you should also play with different bits to see if your horse is more responsive. What kind of bit are you using?
my horse has big sensativity issues and when i just he tends to be over reactive to my reins and jumps about and throws his head up in the air. just had a thought maybe i should try a standing martingale (just for training, cant compete in them in australia) just 2 try and get him more consistent in the head. its only jumping thats all but ive seen people jump in draw reins and that sort of thing. just worried cos he gets so reactive 2 anything that he will hit the martingale and flip out.
No, a running martingale is NOT designed to create leverage on the reins - it is designed to stop the horse evading the bit by raising it's head too high. If your martingale is creating leverage, it is too tight!
this is more of a yes and no situation, any tool used incorrectly can harm your horse. When using a running or standing martingale you have to use them as training aids rather than a permanent feature of your gear. Anyway back to the point, a standing martingale is to be used in lower range jumps only and in hunter classes where the form is key. the moment you go over one meter and your horse needs a bit more leverage I would advise that you not use it. r Rather go back to basics and make sure your horse is in proper form and not in need of it, before you hit the grades.
My horse gets really strong, even on the flat. FOr jumping I use a pelham (w/ both reins) and for flatting I use an eggbut french link snaffle. Should I try a running martingale on him?
Maybe try a kimberwick and throwing your weight back and engaging your core. I hate when my horse gets like this and it’s like every time I ride her bc im not very consistent unfortunately.
+Kieran Evans Thank you for your comment. The rider in that clip is the renowned Susie Hutchison, who has represented the U.S. in numerous Nations Cups, World Cup and World Championship events. I believe she won this class on Larissa 35, as well as many others at the 1.35 level in California. Therefore if the running martingale seemed long, there was probably a rationale behind the settings of the tack and equipment since it seemed to work for this horse. Ultimately, if success if measured in blue ribbons, then it looks like the tack worked as it was meant to.
+Kieran Evans The reins on the running martingale are designed to create leverage, particularly on strong horses who have a tendency to rise above the bit. This short clip did not illustrate what this horse did before she jumped into the line (around the corners of the ring), but even inside the line, you can see that she wanted to pull a little and rise above the bit, which was mitigated by the martingale. Many riders mistakingly use running martingales to try to pull their horse's heads down, when in fact the reins on the running martingale are designed to create a ceiling as to how high a horse should be permitted to rise above the bit (which is an evasion). I'm curious...how short do you think the reins on a running martingale should be?
+Equestrian Neightion pause the video at 0.44 seconds and you can see a running martingale actually providing downward leverage, maybe too much in this case!!! The running martingale pictured at the end is literally doing nothing, they are far too loose! The horse could lift it's head as high as it wanted and the rings of the running martingale would not be making the slightest bit of difference or contact, END OFF.
+Kieran Evans for starters the rings are supposed to be set at a taught height of just below the withers, they are still loose and free running another 8-10" above, in conclusion they are doing nothing.
I think it's really sad that people think you have to "force the horse to put down its head" if you know how to ride well and the horse is trained properly, you don't need ANY leverage, only asking the horse to move from behind. This is disappointing.
And how do you teach your horse to engage his back? Martingales should be seen as training aid it is to help keep his form and balance during jumping and not to "force the head down", hence the passive aids...
In short it just means the rider is not skilled enough to control a horse's head. Horses do what they do natural and what we ask of them it's nothing natural esp in the wild. Horses jump if they have NO OTHER CHOICE. Otherwise they are clearly made to/ forced and over time its wear and tear on their regiments and joints. Critical thinking.
This video in not accurate regarding Running Martingales, please read:
Running martingales are passive, they prevent the horse from raising the head to high, they do not lower the head, they do not force the head down etc. This video is not accurate. Running martingales are usually used on jumpers, or first rides under saddle to prevent the horse from throwing its head up, and so also discourages a horse from spooking/bucking as they can't invert their necks to where you have no control. It is not meant to redirect the reins as Kieran Evans states. When used correctly it does not engage until horses neck/head is raised well above normal carriage.
Thank you for your comment. Would you agree that running martingales are activated by the rider's hands and length of rein? In other words, when a horse raises its head above normal carriage, it is the rider's hands that activate the leverage through the rings of the martingale. I believe the video states that running martingales are used on jumpers as you say.
Standing martingales are passive aids, meaning that they are meant to take the rider out of the equation. It is designed for horses, such as yours, that maybe throw their head a bit, trying to evade the rider's hands. If you decide to try it, the length of the martingale piece from the noseband to the chest should not be so tight that you cannot move it up or down. There should a little slack to give the horse some room. You can play with the length depending upon the reaction of your horse.
@XxPonyPeepxX See the below response. It should not interfere with the horse's jump. As long as the standing martingale is not too short, is meant to minimize the horse throwing its head or evading the bit. The alternative is the running martingale which involves the rider directly.
Hi ponyjumper1000,
Two things you can try. First, you can try a running martingale, but more importantly, you should also play with different bits to see if your horse is more responsive. What kind of bit are you using?
my horse has big sensativity issues and when i just he tends to be over reactive to my reins and jumps about and throws his head up in the air. just had a thought maybe i should try a standing martingale (just for training, cant compete in them in australia) just 2 try and get him more consistent in the head. its only jumping thats all but ive seen people jump in draw reins and that sort of thing. just worried cos he gets so reactive 2 anything that he will hit the martingale and flip out.
Are standing martingale attachments alowed in hunter shows?
No, a running martingale is NOT designed to create leverage on the reins - it is designed to stop the horse evading the bit by raising it's head too high. If your martingale is creating leverage, it is too tight!
Hey! I've heard that a standing martingale is not good to use for jumping and can hurt them or not let them use their head to jump, is this true?
this is more of a yes and no situation, any tool used incorrectly can harm your horse. When using a running or standing martingale you have to use them as training aids rather than a permanent feature of your gear. Anyway back to the point, a standing martingale is to be used in lower range jumps only and in hunter classes where the form is key. the moment you go over one meter and your horse needs a bit more leverage I would advise that you not use it. r
Rather go back to basics and make sure your horse is in proper form and not in need of it, before you hit the grades.
My horse gets really strong, even on the flat. FOr jumping I use a pelham (w/ both reins) and for flatting I use an eggbut french link snaffle. Should I try a running martingale on him?
Maybe try a kimberwick and throwing your weight back and engaging your core. I hate when my horse gets like this and it’s like every time I ride her bc im not very consistent unfortunately.
The running martingale in the last image on this video was doing absolutely nothing and not redirecting the reins, as it was too long!!
+Kieran Evans Thank you for your comment. The rider in that clip is the renowned Susie Hutchison, who has represented the U.S. in numerous Nations Cups, World Cup and World Championship events. I believe she won this class on Larissa 35, as well as many others at the 1.35 level in California. Therefore if the running martingale seemed long, there was probably a rationale behind the settings of the tack and equipment since it seemed to work for this horse. Ultimately, if success if measured in blue ribbons, then it looks like the tack worked as it was meant to.
+Equestrian Neightion it was obviously not needed then and was there simply for the look!!
+Kieran Evans The reins on the running martingale are designed to create leverage, particularly on strong horses who have a tendency to rise above the bit. This short clip did not illustrate what this horse did before she jumped into the line (around the corners of the ring), but even inside the line, you can see that she wanted to pull a little and rise above the bit, which was mitigated by the martingale. Many riders mistakingly use running martingales to try to pull their horse's heads down, when in fact the reins on the running martingale are designed to create a ceiling as to how high a horse should be permitted to rise above the bit (which is an evasion). I'm curious...how short do you think the reins on a running martingale should be?
+Equestrian Neightion pause the video at 0.44 seconds and you can see a running martingale actually providing downward leverage, maybe too much in this case!!! The running martingale pictured at the end is literally doing nothing, they are far too loose! The horse could lift it's head as high as it wanted and the rings of the running martingale would not be making the slightest bit of difference or contact, END OFF.
+Kieran Evans for starters the rings are supposed to be set at a taught height of just below the withers, they are still loose and free running another 8-10" above, in conclusion they are doing nothing.
Better to have that beautiful natural head drop
yes they are. Just not running martingales
I think it's really sad that people think you have to "force the horse to put down its head" if you know how to ride well and the horse is trained properly, you don't need ANY leverage, only asking the horse to move from behind. This is disappointing.
And how do you teach your horse to engage his back? Martingales should be seen as training aid it is to help keep his form and balance during jumping and not to "force the head down", hence the passive aids...
In short it just means the rider is not skilled enough to control a horse's head. Horses do what they do natural and what we ask of them it's nothing natural esp in the wild. Horses jump if they have NO OTHER CHOICE.
Otherwise they are clearly made to/ forced and over time its wear and tear on their regiments and joints.
Critical thinking.