[QUOTE=MHM;8409032]
I’m a little surprised only one rein in each picture has a stopper on it.[/QUOTE]
I would be willing to bet that if the stoppers on one rein keep the rein from slipping through the martingale ring to the point of becoming caught on the bit, that it would be difficult to get the second rein to slide through and catch? I’m trying to imagine it, and I can’t really see how if one rein was blocked, the martingale ring would be able to slide up the other to catch on the bit without something very odd happening.
Unrelated, but one of the local farms posted some pictures from their summer camp, and one of the horses had just one ring of a running martingale attached to the noseband of the bridle to make it a standing martingale. Other ring was down and flapping in the breeze.
I’m sure it was a spur of the moment pony needed a standing and they didn’t feel like redoing the tack, but that was still very odd to me.
[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;8408994]
The sole purpose of a running is to come into effect when a horse throws their nose above their ears (basically) to give leverage on the rein so that the bit will still act on the bars of the horse’s mouth. That’s it.[/QUOTE]
I would respectfully disagree that this is the “sole” purpose of a running martingale.
I’ve ridden some horses that were more comfortable with lower contact in their mouth. Think about where you snap side reins on when lunging - they are usually at about the height of the rider’s knee. Some horses are much more comfortable with that lower angle of pull on the bit and a running martingale can effectively mimic that scenario.
Also, if the rein on a pelham shank is run through a martingale, it actually decreases the amount of leverage the rider has on it. This is beneficial to use with beginner riders or riders with poor hands and sometimes even with horses that might be a bit fussy or stiff at the warmup. The pull changes to a more “downward” direction instead of straight back, so the shank doesn’t move as back as far as it would with a straight rein, and the martingale rings act as a bit of a noise buffer from excess movement.
We use a running as a standing every day, but both rings on the noseband. It’s not just a naughty pony thing, also cheap fei rider thing 
[QUOTE=ladyj79;8409636]
We use a running as a standing every day, but both rings on the noseband. It’s not just a naughty pony thing, also cheap fei rider thing ;)[/QUOTE]
And see that made sense to me! I was kinda “ok…that’s interesting” but the oddest to me was that only one ring was hooked and the other was dangling down. Maybe pony couldn’t fit both rings on the noseband? I will say that most of my standing martingales are substantially longer then my runnings so I would not be able to swap them like that without doing some extensive resizing lol. Be easier for me to just grab a standing!
It makes sense to me. If the horse throws its head up when the rider is using only the ringless rein, then there is no martingale action at all.
Many use running martingales on gag bits. It is very commonplace.
[QUOTE=Tiffani B;8409632]
I would respectfully disagree that this is the “sole” purpose of a running martingale.[/QUOTE]
Agreed. In addition to Tiffani’s examples, a running martingale can deaden a rein so bad hands are not transmitting constant mixed signals, and it can also be used as a snubbing post.
Another aside, if you read British horsemanship books from pre-1930ish the curb rein is always the one through the martingale and putting it on the snaffle is ill advised. Just an example of how times change.
[QUOTE=SmartAlex;8410111]
Another aside, if you read British horsemanship books from pre-1930ish the curb rein is always the one through the martingale and putting it on the snaffle is ill advised. Just an example of how times change.[/QUOTE]
I was taught NOT to use a running on a Pelham. I get the point about reducing mixed signals from bad hands…do you really think that is why Beezie is using it?
Honestly, I was taught the opposite…that a running can greatly increase the effect of a bit. And I expect that is MORE likely why many use them. If hands were that bad…we were put back on a lunge line with no reins…and/or given a neck strap to keep our hands in.
A DRAW rein will increase the affect of a bit because it’s a movable pulley. A running martingale changes the direction of the pull - it cannot increase the pulling power at all. In fact, it takes more power to achieve the same effect because it acts as a fixed pulley. It’s simple physics.
http://hgp.hdsb.ca/Grade4/FOV1-000C664C/?OpenItemURL=S08AB3326
In the first diagram, which represents a running martingale, the purple box is the horse’s mouth, the pulley is the martingale ring, and the loop is your hand pulling.
In the second diagram, which is a draw rein, the string tied to the top represents where the rein attaches to the girth or saddle, the pulley is the bit ring, and the loop is your hand pulling.
[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;8410127]
Honestly, I was taught the opposite…that a running can greatly increase the effect of a bit. [/QUOTE]
BFNE, I agree that a running can sometimes increase the effect of a bit. But I have not found that it greatly affects the action of the bit.
And given the effect of a gag bit, it should actually temper the gag effect somewhat. If you think about the action of the gag, lifting the bit up, and then the effect of the running martingale keeping the bit down…
[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;8410127]
If hands were that bad…we were put back on a lunge line with no reins…and/or given a neck strap to keep our hands in.[/QUOTE]
Sometimes it’s not the hands, it’s the horse. I have excellent hands, but my horse tends to be stiff in the jaw when we warm up. He will brace against the bridle and very rapidly bump against the bits the first few trots we do. By using a running martingale on the curb rein, it keeps a steady feel in his mouth so it doesn’t escalate and instead, encourages relaxation. Once he is warmed up and soft through his mouth and poll, I take it off and he stays relaxed. If he tenses up after it’s off, a gentle working of the bit will soften him back up because he’s more mentally prepared to release.
Are there other ways to accomplish the same thing? Certainly. That doesn’t make this method incorrect. Over time the horse is improving and at this point, he’s warming up without it.
You can see the martingale is adjusted quite long.
[QUOTE=Jumper_girl221;8409557]
Unrelated, but one of the local farms posted some pictures from their summer camp, and one of the horses had just one ring of a running martingale attached to the noseband of the bridle to make it a standing martingale. Other ring was down and flapping in the breeze.
I’m sure it was a spur of the moment pony needed a standing and they didn’t feel like redoing the tack, but that was still very odd to me.[/QUOTE]
jumper_girl221, For some reason, I have seen some rather scary photos popping up from a local barn in our area (same area as you)… Its a struggle to keep myself from commenting…haha. There’s one barn that does not seem to know how to adjust a noseband. I don’t know why, but its driving me bonkers. I really really want to fix the stupid nosebands!
[QUOTE=aadams89;8410222]
jumper_girl221, For some reason, I have seen some rather scary photos popping up from a local barn in our area (same area as you)… Its a struggle to keep myself from commenting…haha. There’s one barn that does not seem to know how to adjust a noseband. I don’t know why, but its driving me bonkers. I really really want to fix the stupid nosebands![/QUOTE]
Omg! There’s a new trainer that just started showing with my little association and I have to sit on my hands to not touch rhe noseband. If the noseband is flapping up and down touching the bit with every step shudder
The running/standing who the heck knows is actually a barn in currituck so different one lol!
[QUOTE=Jumper_girl221;8410650]
Omg! There’s a new trainer that just started showing with my little association and I have to sit on my hands to not touch rhe noseband. If the noseband is flapping up and down touching the bit with every step shudder
The running/standing who the heck knows is actually a barn in currituck so different one lol![/QUOTE]
Haha, yep… Pretty sure we’re thinking of the same noseband offenders… Don’t know why it makes me SO nuts
Honestly, I was taught the opposite…that a running can greatly increase the effect of a bit.
Evidence is that a martingale will mitigate poor hands http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/martingales-improve-rein-aids-study-512094
[QUOTE=Willesdon;8413311]
Evidence is that a martingale will mitigate poor hands http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/martingales-improve-rein-aids-study-512094[/QUOTE]
The study would be slightly more convincing had they not gone through the same order of no martingale, running martingale, Irish martingale for each rider. I wouldn’t be surprised to find a novice rider clutching the reins more the first time through a repeated exercise, regardless of tack choices.
I have worked for a top grand prix rider who also likes both reins through the martingale ring. Her thought was it was easier to get your reins back if you lost one over a big jump if they were together and same for when you reins get long o course.
