The Types Of Horse Martingales

A standing martingale is usually attached to the girth’s middle, passing up between the front legs of the pony and attaching to the lower part of the noseband. Among martingales, this version is the most restricting. A pony using a standing martingale is more likely to fall, if it unexpectedly loses its balance, because its freedom of movement is considerably restricted. Nevertheless this version of martingale, which applies pressure to the nose, gives the rider an improved way of control. Flat competitions do not allow martingales, though you can use them in jumping competitions and while playing polo.

Running martingale do not give the rider as much control as the standing versions, but because they aren’t fixed, they’re less constrictive. The rider can use them as a safer aid. The running martingale is fixed to the bottom of the girth and rises between the horses front legs, it splits into 2 straps with each rein passing through an end ring fixed to each of these straps.

The rider can control the scale of downward pressure he or she applies to the mouth thru the reins and the bit. The horse does not feel any pressure when it holds its head right. ‘rein stops’ are used to stop the running martingale’s rings from snagging on the horse’s bit.

All martingales must be handled with utmost care, particularly when initially introduced to a horse. You must take into account that horses have instincts that make them resist pressure and anything strange on their heads. They may even panic and violently throw their heads backwards against the pressure source; this can result in them falling over backwards.

The German martingale, also called Market Harborough, works much the same as a running martingale, but is generally not held to be legal, and thus is utilized in coaching only. It originates at the girth, goes up between the horse’s front legs and forks into two. These two straps go thru the bit rings before they are attached to other rings on reins that are specially suited. The German martingale permits bigger range compared to the running and the standing martingales.

Horses are Heather Tomspassion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100s of articles with other horse lovers www.horsehorses.net