ridecamp@endurance.net: [endurance] German martingale
[endurance] German martingale
MS LOUISE D BURTON (XXDU78A@prodigy.com)
Thu, 25 Apr 1996 23:41:19 EDT
Since there were several questions about this martingale, I'll try to explain...
Plain snaffle. Reins have rings on them for attachment of martingale so
you can make it tighter or looser. Another piece around the horse's neck
to keep martingale from getting too loose. Third piece attaches to girth
underneath and runs through the bit rings (from the inside out!) and
attaches to rings on reins. If you have the rings on the reins, you can
just use a rope (I've used baling twine before!) if you need to.
The advantages of this martingale are: Unlike a running martingale, you
can easily turn the horses head to the side (very important for runaways!)
Unlike a standard "tie down" the martingale is not used unless it is
needed. Read the excellent post on the pull example! A horse cannot fight
a German martingale. When you want to horse to stretch his nose out and
really move, his head is free. As you pull back, it tightens and pulls the
head down. It gives excellent control. I've even used it on rearers with
no problem because as you loosen the reins, the martingale doesn't work.
I made my first one out of two old pehlam reins..sewed rings on one, used
the other as the martingale. Jeffers and Chicks both sell them now. I use
a nylon one now.
Not all horses need a German martingale though! If your horse's head is
already low, it is "just a gadget" as my husband loves to say!
Louise Burton
FA AL BADI+ (who is not racing this year but gleefully breeding mares)
Oklahoma