Is it safe? I was flatting a horse today in a German martingale and then without thinking popped him over a few jumps. It wasn’t until after that I remembered about the German martingale! It was a pretty small jump, but I can’t shake the feeling that I put him and myself in danger!
A little background on the horse…he’s a 16 year old TB cross that has been out of work for 2 years. My sister and I are trying to get him back into decent shape and see what he remembers for a seller.
Pictures:
With your german, since it comes from between the legs instead of from the breastplate, it’s about as dangerous as jumping in draw reins I would think. If they connected tothe center of the chest on the breastplate it is a bit safer as the lines are more out of the way of the legs.
Being in the way of the legs is not the only problem…if the horse has a really bad fence and has to catch itself from falling, it needs full, free use of its neck. I would never jump in draw reins or a German martingale because they restrict the horse in case of an emergency.
That’s what I thought! I definitely won’t do it again. Thank you for the advice.
I say no, but plenty of BNT’s and others will disagree.
Depends on your riding strength and why the horse might benefit. But, in general? NO. Especially off a 2 year lay off? NO.
If top riders with legs of steel on extremely well trained horses that get luggy or strong and stop listening? I can see it. For the rest of us, not so much.
Arguments as to whether it’s a safe or useful piece of tack aside, I have only every seen German martingales that look like standing martingales that split (i.e. have a neck strap to keep them from dangling). Is it possible that yours is missing a piece?
There is something about that tack in the picture, that is not technically a German Martingale. This looks more like draw reins that are hooked to (or looped through) the girth between the legs, and then passed through the bit like draw reins, but instead of the rider holding the reins, the reins are clipped to the D-rings on the type of reins that one uses with a German Martingale. A German Martingale does not work that way. The correct tack includes a strap that goes around the horse’s neck much like a standing martingale or a breastplate, so that the martingale straps “begin” at the chest (like a running martingale does) and not back between the legs (making it much less likely, if not impossible, to put a leg through). Used correctly, I have no problem using a German Martingale over lower jumps if the rider knows how to manage them.
What 222orchids said.
I currently show my greenbean in lower level jumpers (up to 1.0m) in a german martingale and there is no issue. (I am an experienced rider in full training.) I saw your picture and I agree that the neck strap is missing and I’m not sure I would jump with that either.
In some parts of the horse world, you see a “German martingale” without the neck strap. Having now ridden with one (just once) that does have a neck strap, I would say you need one! Just seems like the horse could get a leg hung up in it otherwise.
I’ve never seen a German without a neck strap, I would be quite nervous about jumping in that set up as well!
One thing you could maybe try is run the german inside of a standing martingale if you were going to do that again to keep it close to the neck.
Is it missing the neck strap?
[QUOTE=222orchids;7691632]
There is something about that tack in the picture, that is not technically a German Martingale. This looks more like draw reins that are hooked to (or looped through) the girth between the legs, and then passed through the bit like draw reins, but instead of the rider holding the reins, the reins are clipped to the D-rings on the type of reins that one uses with a German Martingale. A German Martingale does not work that way. The correct tack includes a strap that goes around the horse’s neck much like a standing martingale or a breastplate, so that the martingale straps “begin” at the chest (like a running martingale does) and not back between the legs (making it much less likely, if not impossible, to put a leg through). Used correctly, I have no problem using a German Martingale over lower jumps if the rider knows how to manage them.[/QUOTE]
Completely agree.
That does not look like any of “Germans” hanging in my tack room.
A German martingale is my “go to bridle” for a strong headed/mouthed OTTB right off the track. Or a racehorse in training that does not respect the bridle, what is being asked and just wants to run through the bit until it’s out of gas. They do not “live in” one though. A week or two and then switch back to a “plain” bridle. If they start to get strong again I go back to the German for a couple of days.
IMO and experience there is no worries jumping them. But the rider should have very good “hands”. The same with a “gag” or draw reins.
IMO the German martingale/bridle is a very “over looked” bridle for some reason. It sure makes my life easier when legging up, galloping a strong horse. Especially on hot and muggy days.
I won’t comment, others have said it all. Just wanted to say cute horse.
