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Thanks for the info. I have been asking, asking and asking about the
adjustments on Running Martingales. No one could give me a reason why they
pick their paticular adjustment, English or Western. Whether it be right or
wrong.......
After I try this adjustment, hope you don't mind (may have some questions)
oops QUESTION (In your opinion, are there any type of bits that should not
be used with a running martingale. We have changed from a full cheek
snaffle to a mullin mouth raining bit with curb. This is keeping me from
riding the rains and using them for my balance and security. To my
amassment, Bob backs up now.......
Would like to add a newbes Tiedown Experience. Mr. Bob is going on 4 now
and we are just starting to work together. Uses a TD for safety I
thought. My riding experience is 20 +years but you have to understand that
was on flat land no hills and water, not many trees. So the first time
trail riding (with experienced educated riders in this area) Down hill
was fine. Up hill..O my heavens. Got to the crest and thought my horse was
going to loose it. My only instinct was to lean over the front of Bob
almost to his ears and this allowed him to grab on with his front feet and
push with the back. (a newbes explanation) It took me about a week to
figure out why this happened.TIEDOWN, He couldn't reach his head forward to
break the crest of the hill.
Now I panic when it comes to hills up or down. Some one on the Icelandic
list said to note the angle of the trees growing out of the hills and use
that as a reference point. This visual gives me an Idea of steepness and
may be gives me the angle my body should be in when going down hill. Would
it be accurate to say:
Hold on with your knees or shift your weight to the sterups when attempting
hills. (Think I mean don't sit down on the horse. Don't have the lingo
right yet)
Would it also be correct to say: Don 't engage your bit going up hill, but
it is ok to slow the horse going down hill.
Remember: My horse has no hill experience too. (Bob and I need to help each
other)
Well, Between Hills and cantering around corners, this will keep me busy
for a while. Till the snow flys.
P.S. I wish some one would have pulled me aside and said: "Have you ever
been on this trail? You might want to take your tie down off. There are a
few steep hills here. And remember we are going across water"
Or "Listen you idiot, there are hills and water on this trail ride. Take
your tie down off."
Yup, that would have been OK too. Ya can't care take every one. Take a
chance Your .02 is a cheep way of preventing may be one dumb accident.
Thanks Again
Sigrid
>
> That said, I will say that there's a possible exception to the rule.
> The horse that's a bad head tosser or slinger. I wouldn't use a
> standing martingale ever, then I got a mare that had a marvelous
> ground covering walk. I found that if forced to walk slowly for miles
> with other much slower horses that this good horse would vent her
> frustration eventually with hard head tosses jerking my arms and
> aggravating my carpal tunnel syndrome wrists. I finally relented and
> if I knew that a particular ride with slower friends would set me up
> for this agony I put on a standing martingale adjusted fairly long and
> after giving herself a couple of bumps in the nose she would settle
> down.
>
> I will however use a running martingale adjusted properly. By
> properly, I mean that the martingale is long enough to have no affect
> as long as the horses mouth-rein-hands are in a normal straight line
> with the bit resting on the bars of the mouth. If however the horse
> raises it's head high or the rider raises their hands to much, the bit
> now moves to the corners of the horses mouth, off the bars and looses
> effectiveness. This is when a properly adjusted running M. will keep
> the bit on the bars, keeping the contact needed for the bit to be
> effective in stopping a bolting horse or protecting the horse from the
> novice or flustered rider who has raised their hands too high. Many
> horses when bolting or spooked or just evading control will throw
> their head high, take control because the bit is out of place and go
> their own way. No, it's no substitute for training, thats an ongoing
> process but even the best trained horse can spook, bolt and just plain
> get carried away when surrounded by a galloping pack. Nature tends to
> prevail and I personally like to survive. I consider the running
> martingale a prevention devise sort of like an air bag in a car. You
> probably won't need it most of the time but when you do need it and
> you don't have it, it's too late. So when riding in certain conditions
> I include it as a safety prevention.
>
> Bonnie Snodgrass
The Space Cadet
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