Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

In response to one ridecamper's sense that I am "so critical of other  
people's tack choices", I very carefully worded the original question  
so as to be educated about when such gear is helpful or even  
necessary.  I appreciate her answer!

Martingales are on my mind because I went to look at a beautiful 1/4  
Saddlebred 3/4 Arabian 5 yr. old who's being ridden in one.  He's a  
rescue, newly under saddle, very spooky and reactive, and the  
martingale was being used to prevent his throwing his head.  However,  
when I went to halt him, his foster mom yelled frantically, "don't  
touch his mouth", just as I realized his ears had pinned back.  I  
quickly let go (barely any pressure in the first place btw because I  
knew he was very green), and asked, "how do we stop!"  She said "ho"  
loudly and he screeched to a halt.

I went away with two thoughts: 1) I'd broken the John Lyons rule about  
not getting on anything you knew perfectly well was still out of  
control from the ground, and 2) a concern that the martingale was  
causing the thin snaffle to pull down on the bars instead of more  
benignly on the corners of his mouth.  I wondered if removing the  
martingale would have let the gelding relax about the bit.

So, I still don't really know if the martingale was causing the  
problem or helping the horse.  I've seen them used in every discipline  
but truly do not understand how they work or why they are necessary.

Any thoughts on using one on green vs. experienced horses??

Mary K.

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