Just for curiosities sake, I personally use a breastplate (with elastic inserts:eek::lol:) and a running martingale…
Lots of folk on this side of the pond seem to use standing martingales which I find terrifying but hey, to each their own!
I use a three-point breastplate that has a standing martingale attachment. When I am hunting my own horse, I use the attachment. When I am hunting the staff horse I ride, I do not.
My mare doesn’t really need a martingale, but I hunt in one in case she is startled by game and flings her head up while I am in half-seat…don’t want to have a broken nose miles from the trailers.
It’s interesting that you find standings scary–I feel the same way about running. 
[QUOTE=ecileh;8794262]
My mare doesn’t really need a martingale, but I hunt in one in case she is startled by game and flings her head up while I am in half-seat…don’t want to have a broken nose…:)[/QUOTE]
This is me, too. Mare, doesn’t really need martingale, use a standing JUST IN CASE-- to situationally save my own nose/face. I hack at home without one.
Also, we’re just starting out in the hunt field, so we’ll work with the equipment we have until we have more $$$ OR a real, pressing need for something different.SaveSave
On one horse I used a martingale because initially he was a terrible head tosser. When he was going second flight it was a standing. Then we graduated to a running when he started first flight. I only needed that for one year. Now he goes without either kind.
If a horse goes down in water (even shallow water) in a standing martingale or a tie down the results can be tragic. If you must use one, you aught to carry a knife to cut it free FAST if there is a mishap.
I like a 3 point breastplate, the strap over the withers doubles as an ‘Oh Sh!t’ strap.
I use a three point breastplate. On different horses I have used different martingales.
I grew up only using standing martingales, then I had a horse that would toss his head in just a certain way and would either break the nose band or the martingale. I switched to a running, which still kept him from smacking me in the face, but he couldn’t figure out how to break it.
I was eventually able to hunt him without one.
The current horse, I started in a running, but am now using a standing.
I use a brass clip on both types to attach the martingale to the breastplate.
I don’t need to use one at home or on group trail rides, just for the excitement of hunting.
For me the risk of a standing causing drowning or a severe fall is too great. Nobody’s that quick with a knife - especially if they have just fallen off!
A running works wonderfully, and has the added advantage of preventing the reins flying over the head in a fall.
For me the risk of a standing causing drowning or a severe fall is too great. Nobody’s that quick with a knife - especially if they have just fallen off!
A running works wonderfully, and has the added advantage of preventing the reins flying over the head in a fall.
I only hunt in a standing that attaches with a quick release snap at the chest. If I’m going into deep water I just reach down and unsnap it first, very easy to do and easy to reattach once I’m out of the water. I wouldn’t hunt in one that wasn’t quick release.
Just for the sake of curiosity, where do the folks who prefer running martingales hunt? Is your country open, for the most part?
We have a lot of brush and trees and our clinic always warns against them because it’s easier for them to get caught up while bushwhacking and/or easier for the horse to hang a leg if they are not adjusted properly.
We do not have any deep water crossings (streams only) and it never occurred to me that a standing could be problematic in that situation.
I use a 3 point breast collar and no martingale at all. The first season I hunted W he was a profound star-gazer and I used a “bungee” standing martingale on him. Then I learned that he (as a western trained cowpony/reiner) expected 0 contact. Once we established that, he no longer throws his head. I still get comments about every other hunt about why I ride with a looped rein, and how I need to keep a feel of my horse. But those who have hunted with us for a long time know that I stop with my seat, turn with my legs, and never run into anyone or any thing. W and I are both happy with the arrangement.
Foxglove
A regular three point breast plate, helps reduce saddle sliding while running up mountains. Also provides a great ‘oh s***’ handle, and you can hang a radio off it.
We only use martingale on horses that really need one.
I always put on either a 3-point breastplate or a breastcollar on every horse when we are hunting.
The use of martingale depends on the horse: some get a standing, some a running, and several nothing at all.
Standing martingale here. We don’t have deep water crossings, and the thought of my horse drowning had never occurred to me either.
When I whip-in my mare needs a standing, she’s fussy with her head and will still pull with a running. With a standing she has figured out that she’s working against herself and isn’t fussy at all, it only took me 1 season to figure that out :no: . I use a traditional standing with a polo breastplate. When she is ridden in the field she does not go in a martingale, I just use a 3 point or a polo breastplate.
I’ve got a new prospect for this season. He’s 4 and very green, and naturally a very up horse. His previous owners (rodeo people) used to ride him in a standing but he got a little too used to that for balance so I’ve been riding him without one. I will try him without at the beginning of season but may resort to a running or standing depending on how he reacts. But I’ll go with the running first as I like those for greener horses. A more seasoned horse that has figured out how to pull against the bit to me does better in a standing. As far as breastplates go I use a polo, 3 point, or 5 way it just depends on the horse and the fit.
I hunt my forward, 14h pony in a standing attachment on a 3 point breastplate. Like ponyclub, I have a clip on the martingale that I hop off and release, especially at two particular creek crossings we have no choice to use. When the creeks are up, the water is deep enough to be right at boot level-I won’t cross that with her head tied down, even though the martingale isn’t tight.
Our country has steep foothills, narrow trails through thick undergrowth, and a few beautiful large bottomland fields. I choose to use the martingale because it allows me to use a little milder bit.
I hunt just about everything in a plain old 3 point breastplate. Some of the greener ones or the head-flingers go in a running martingale attachment. I grew up eventing where standing martingales are not allowed, so they freak me out a little bit. The running martingales have worked fine for me and have definitely prevented a broken nose or 2.
5 point breastplate with running martingale. I much prefer the 3 point breastplates but they’re as rare as hens teeth in New Zealand :no:
Three point breastplate with running attachment.
I remember as a kid in the show-hunter world I was told NEVER to jump in a running martingale as you could accidentally jab the horse in the mouth if your hands weren’t perfect or the rider lost balance.
Then I went into the eventer world, where I heard that you should NEVER go cross country in a standing martingale because the horse needed freedom of his head to balance in an emergency.
Then I went into the jumper world and was told to ALWAYS jump with some sort of martingale to avoid getting your nose broken.
Then I went into the foxhunter world and saw people with less educated hands (some, not all), doing much more dangerous things, with any sort of martingale (or none), and hardly ever any problems.
Personally, I prefer a running martingale, and would like to use one any horse that had a tendency to need it. When things get exciting in the field, many horses will toss their head and it can really help the rider get back in control at a critical moment; or can also make the ride much more pleasant on a horse that is rude with his head. Though, I would only use a running martingale with a snaffle bit. I really don’t like the idea of a standing martingale in rough country - I think the horse does need his head occasionally in an emergency. But I would use one if the horse really seemed to need a martingale and needs to use a Pelham/kimberwick/elevator/etc. bit.
I would definitely use a 3-point breastplate for attachment. It leaves the least room for the straps to get hung up on something. (And I secretly don’t mind the Oh Sh@# strap either.)
