So, in the rules, it states that you can only use running martingales, right? not germans or standings…or draws…
explanaions on that?
But gags are ok. Why is this?
If you are using a german or standing martingale or draw reins on cross country and the horse gets in a bad place, they are unable to use their neck to balance and hopefully stay on their feet.
A gag is a bit; it has no more ability to inhibit neck use then any other bit. Therefore, if the horse gets in trouble, they are still able to use their neck to balance.
19 Likes
Yep, any martingale that can lock a horse’s head and neck is basically asking for a flip, broken neck, and a great dismount from the rider.
Additionally, they prevent a horse from STRECHING ACROSS a fence as what is needed on XC (perhaps not at the low levels, but training is where it begins). Thus the hinder the horse’s ability to actually jump xc.
And additionally, additionally, they prevent a horse from galloping and streching out into an efficient frame to cover the ground.
This aint h/j land.
17 Likes
Like solarflight said, standing martingales, German martingales, and draw reins effectively bind the horse’s head to its chest. In an emergency or extraordinary effort, they can severely inhibit the horse’s ability to maintain its balance.
A running martingale or leverage bit may incur an unpleasant jab to the mouth and poll, but they don’t solidly (since the running slides on the reins) connect the head and chest with a piece of leather. It’s that reason I’ve never understood the preponderance of standing martingales in the foxhunting field.
As an aside, if one feels like one needs a German martingale or draw reins to compete cross country in an event, one needs to invest in more training at home.
14 Likes
side note- why do I see some people using a breast collar and a separate additional running, rather than a BC with a running attachment?
perhaps that is what they have and didn’t feel like buying an attachment piece or they use the running martingale on different horses? who knows. who cares
3 Likes
@DoubleDown
Generally, the martingale attachments don’t fit properly (too short, often), so the real martingale needs to be used in addition to the breast collar/plate.
I know (I think) and I care (moreso than I know, often - okay I’m actually obsessive) about properly fitting tack
4 Likes
Just to clarify even further, no one should jump in a German martingale ever, anywhere. Jumping safely in draw reins requires excellent riding and timing and even then they are only useful in very limited situations.
4 Likes
I had to get my martingale attachment for the big draft cross custom made - find with the off the rack ones I always seem to have buy a size bigger than the horse usually is considered.
1 Like
SUPER helpful, thanks.
Thanks @fanfayre just curious if there was a legit training reason behind it as I see it on lots of the UL horses. I like to learn how others do things! 
2 Likes
Fairfax did research recently on the action of breastplates on the freedom of a horse’s shoulder. From that, they came up with their own patented version to maximize shoulder freedom for galloping/jumping.
Their design is mechanically very similar to racing breast collar that goes across the chest, supported by the wither strap. The difference between it and a breastplate is that there is nothing tying the breastplate to the girth. So, nothing pulls the saddle tree points forward and down into the shoulder blades.
I now prefer the breast collar/martingale arrangement, though I’m still sorting tack over for it. I need a breast collar and Irish martingale for my young TB. (After getting a running caught in his mouth? I’ll never put one on him again)
