Re: Running Martingales

[Maggie Mieske <mmieske@netonecom.net>]

I guess I had never thought of the safety issue with martingales but I have to
agree with Heidi that they should be a training device until the horse gets the
message.  (Come on, Angie, it isn't really a "me, too" if I elaborate my
experience, is it?).
I used a martingale on my Arab to teach him some collection AND help keep his nose
out of the heavens!  He eventually settled down and then later (after we started
endurance and he gets impatient) started some head tossing.  I used a tie down for
a while which I know many frown upon but when I got the fat lip on my birthday
that hurt like bejabbers because his head and my mouth connected as I leaned into
a gallop...well, for awhile that was to save HIM from me killing him!  I put the
martingale back on him for awhile (a reminder), we have since switched to a
sidepull and so far I have not seen any sign of head tossing or nose in the air
stuff!  I hope he continues to appreciate the sidepull enough to keep his head
where it belongs... I think part of it was his dislike of the mechanical hackamore
I was using... I try not to use a bit because he had an old injury in the side of
his mouth....big scar there when I bought him which may be what contributes to
this problem.  Anyway, my sister used a martingale on her Walker for a few months
and the horse is now so used to riding collected, she doesn't need it
anymore...it's really pretty to see her move now.  Anyway, sort of my two cents
worth...martingales have a purpose and can be useful when used for the right
reasons.
Maggie

CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 1/9/99 3:02:44 AM Pacific Standard Time, Cyberpony@aol.com
> writes:
>
> << This is my theory on running martingales.  They are like seat belts and
> riding
>  helmets.  They don't do much until you need them.  But if you need them you
>  are glad that you have them in place.
>   >>
>
> Well, I e-mailed Sue privately, and said I wouldn't get into this discussion,
> but have you ever seen a horse get his martingale hung up on a tree limb?  I
> have.  Have you ever seen a rider get his own foot hung up in a martingale
> after a nasty spook?  I have.  Nope, these are not safety items, they are
> training crutches.  Yes, I have used one, and it was discarded as soon as the
> horse in question got the message--if memory serves me right, we used it for
> about 2 months.  The problem horse had learned the vice of sticking his nose
> straight in the air to intentionally avoid contact with the snaffle when he
> wanted to do something different.  The martingale taught him that that didn't
> work, and he quit it.  He went on to become one of the safest horses I have
> ever owned or ridden.  At the risk of being blunt, if you think a martingale
> is a safety instrument, I would highly suggest riding lessons--preferably
> dressage--for both you and your horse so that correct use of the hands becomes
> reflex, even when everything goes gunnybag.
>
> Heidi