Question about proper tack for hunting

[BigMick]

Hi!

I am going to start hunting more regularly (with an eye towards joining) and I’d like to make sure my horse’s tack is most correct.

I’d like to get a flat hunt bridle (I’m currently considering an HDR that I’ve seen on eBay) and a standing martingale.

I feel he needs a standing martingale as he will get a bit excited and fling his head up and down. I’d like to nip that in the bud straight away.

In regards to the martingale - do I just get a standing martingale, or do I get a breastplate with a standing attachment?

My horse doesn’t need a breastplate (my saddle fits perfectly), but not sure which is considered most proper.

thanks!

[Grasshopper]

I’m not sure which is considered more “proper” either, but I’d vote for breastplate with attachment since, even if your saddle does fit perfectly, a breastplate can save your bacon if your saddle does start to slip and slide. If you’re going over any terrain or jumping, it’s even more important. Plus, I find the attachments more convenient, as I add a snap to the buckle end where it attaches to the breastplate ring, and then it’s super easy and fast to unsnap if you need to do so.

[2ndyrgal]

either is proper

but a breastplate has many good “grabs” if you get sideways. Ask me how I know?

Plus, even the best saddle will slip on a twisty, wet horse that is getting fitter by the day.

Also, easier to get the attachment off in an emergency if need be.

[jawa]

And you can change one small piece if you find you need a running instead of a standing.

My old hunter would break a standing or the cavesson it was attached to in 2 seconds. A running was the only thing that kept him from flinging his head when he didn’t want to be polite and wait his turn at a fence.

I second the advice to put a clip on the end of the martingale so that it can be added or removed with ease.

I also second the grab strap use of the breastplate, and it doesn’t roll around the horses neck the way a regular yoke on a standing does. It is very useful for pulling yourself back on top of your horse.

[lizathenag]

minority view

less is more.

the more tack you have, the more tack you have to break or rub or catch on something.

one woman’s opinion. you said your saddle fit.

[Benson]

Flat bridle, standing martingale and you’re good to go. If you find you need a breastplate, it’s a good purchase for next season.

You’ll look fantastic with simple tack and a clean presentation. Have fun!

[Jaegermonster]

I whip in, and i use a breastplate with a standing attachment (with a snap, yes). It’s great for hanging equipment on, and also for grabbing as others have said.

when my mare was 3 the first season she hunted we hunted in the hilltop field and I used a regular standing martingale, the kind not a breast plate.

In the blink of eye, at a check, she put her head down to sniff something at the same time she was taking a step, and dont ask me how but she stuck her right front leg through the neck strap of the standing martingale and then picked up her head.

Yes her leg was still through the strap.

I realized what had happened, bailed out, whipped out my knife and cut the martingale. My mare, god bless her, stood quietly the whole time, but it could have been awful.

so i always recommend a breastplate and please be sure to carry at least a knife, wirecutters too if you can. I have a Leatherman core (the $100 leatherman) that is awesome.

**if you use a standing, you absolutely must carry a knife. Period. If there is any water or boggy areas in your territory and your horse gets stuck in it he could drown, i have seen it happen and it is not pretty.

[sadlmakr]

I recommend the breastplate over the standing martingale. Because you can unsnap it if you need to. I used a running martingale on my big Arab. He would throw up his head and take the snaffle bit in his teeth and run away with me. Not fun. With the running martingale I could keep the angle to where he could not get his head above the line of the reins. Hence I could keep his nose down. If your mount gets too excited in the Hunt you might be better off using the running martingale. I agree to have a sharp knife in your posession at all times. You never know when you might need it. There have been some very strange occurences in the Hunt Field. Some riders have a leather case and wire cutters that buckle onto the saddle. Check into that too.
Good saddle, good bridle, and a good hard hat.
Have a great time.
sadlmakr

[Addictedeventer]

The only pro to a standing martingale is it serves as a better “grap strap” than a breastplate w/ attachment if you get in any sticky situations.

[BigMick]

Based on all of this feedback, I think I’ll go with a flat hunt breastplate with a standing attachment. I like that it attaches to the saddle, but is plain and simple. I’ll have the option of swapping out standing and running attachments as needed.

I believe I can put a buckle on the end of the attachments and snap them onto the breastplate rather than buckling them on. I like the idea of being able to pop them off quickly if necessary.

If anyone finds a flaw in that thinking please let me know!!

[Lifting_Chickk]

I have a flat Tory breastplate that I hunt in. I got the clip style snaps to attach to the D savers, so on/off is very quick and easy.

I also hunt in the HDR flat bridle. Four years of use and still looks fantastic. It’s a nice bridle for the money.

I don’t need a martingale on my horse, so can’t speak to that, but sounds like you have a great plan!

[wcporter]

[QUOTE=Jaegermonster;6071287]

**if you use a standing, you absolutely must carry a knife. Period. If there is any water or boggy areas in your territory and your horse gets stuck in it he could drown, i have seen it happen and it is not pretty.[/QUOTE]

Can you explain how something like that happens??

[BigMick]

@Daatje;6073764

I got the clip style snaps to attach to the D savers, so on/off is very quick and easy.

I also hunt in the HDR flat bridle. Four years of use and still looks fantastic. It’s a nice bridle for the money.

I was planning on snaps to connect to D-rings as well as the attachment itself.

Thanks for feedback on the HDR bridle!

[jawa]

wcporter,

Not sure what was witnessed, but I can give a good example by what almost could’ve happened if I had a standing on my pony, even as a breastplate attachment.

It was a quiet, slow hunting day and we were moving from covert to covert. We came upon a fairly wide creek, some would mistake for a small river, and the banks were fairly steep with some loose but not bogey footing.

The field master went down the bank in the normal spot to cross on her 17 hand TB. Down the bank and the 1st step in the water was up to his chest. But as he went farther into the creek everything leveled out to about a 3-4 foot deep creek crossing, it was just that initial step was a doozy.

Well, then enters myself on my brave and gamey pony, all 14’2" of him. Even without anything restricting his head, that first step into the water with his hind end still on the steep bank he had part of his head under water until he had leveled out and moved a few more steps into the creek. I allowed him his head and lifted my legs as best as possible to keep from getting wet.

If he had had something to restrict his head height, I’m sure his whole head may have been under.

He loves to stick his whole face into any creek we cross, so thankfully he didn’t panic when part of his head was under water.

That day I was wishing he was a few inches taller.

[Jaegermonster]

[QUOTE=wcporter;6073775]
Can you explain how something like that happens??[/QUOTE]

with a standing martingale the horse’s head is more restricted and they panic and cant get their nose up above the water line and drown.
the only people’s horses I have seen drown however, were those not carrying knives that got into bad situations.