Speak to me of running martingales. What specifically is their purpose? Why would one choose to put their jumper into one? Why are they the only legal ones in the bigger jumper classes?
Standing martingales are now allowed in jumpers up to a certain height, which I cannot recall off of the top of my head.
A running martingale adds some leverage to the bit, when the horse raises his head the rings on the reins apply downward pressure to the bit. It also is used to help keep the horses head from going too high, similar to a standing martingale.
There are some other uses I’m sure I am missing at the moment… But it is early on a Monday morning… 
Note: Just saw that you said in the bigger jumper classes; This is because they are considered “Safer” and are less restrictive if adjusted properly to the horse than a standing martingale.
I used mine as a bit of extra breaks for my jumper. We tried every bit combo in the world until my trainer decided “let’s just do a plain snaffle and a running”. It worked like a charm. It was enough that I had some extra control, but it wasn’t too much to where my horse went backwards.
I’ve never used them as a piece to prevent head raising. They are not meant to be used as a tie down, and they have a proper adjustment. IIRC, George made some riders lengthen them one year at his clinic because they were too short.
[QUOTE=Belmont;8895466]
I used mine as a bit of extra breaks for my jumper. We tried every bit combo in the world until my trainer decided “let’s just do a plain snaffle and a running”. It worked like a charm. [/QUOTE]
I sometimes use a running martingale sort of like a snubbing post. It adds friction so once you get a good hold on a horse you don’t lose ground every time the horse tries to pop out the top.
When a running martingale is fitted correctly, it should have no impact on the horse and rein-aids, unless the horse lifts the the head to hollow and/or pull against the rider. The martingale then adds some leverage force on the rein aids.
It also allows greater freedom left/right than a standing martingale.
A standing martingale prevents a horse from raising it’s head if it is going to fall. A horse raises it’s head if it falls is like when we put our hands out if we are going to fall.
A running martingale should be fitted so as when the rings are pulled up they should reach the wither or within 10 cm of doing so. They should NOT be tied so as there is a ‘v’ from the riders hands to the rings and back up to the bit. Their should be a straight line from the riders hand to the bit.
Running martingales are a safety device for a horse that hollows and takes off.
As to your question. I have never worn a running martingale. I took my life in my hands to ride a tb that had been ridden in one that was too short. This means that they create more muscle to pull against it and they will then actually come up too high and could hit you in the face and knock you out.
I retrained him. He then didn’t need a martingale to be ridden in.
Yes he was a showjumper. Yes he could jump the moon. Yes I showjumped and evented him without a martingale.
Yes it is possible.
A correctly fitted running martingale keeps any pressure from the bit solely on the bars of the mouth, prevents pressure going on the corners of the mouth, no matter where the horse puts his head. It is often used with very green horses, who may become frightened as the location of bit pressure changes when he moves his head. The unchanging pressure is apparently more reassuring to a green horse. As a horse become more experienced, a rider may wish to change the angle of the pressure of the bit, at times, for different reasons. Use of a running martingale at that point is counter productive. It is not a restrictive device, it only directs rein pressure. If any horse, green or experienced, benefits from this, then a running martingale is a good option. A standing martingale CAN be restrictive, if incorrectly fitted (as can an incorrectly running martingale), OR if/when the jumps get VERY large.
Overly Simplistic version…
PROPERLY ADJUSTED, the standing is a strap attached to the girth on one end and noseband on the other thru another strap around the neck to keep it stabilized and close to the chest. It’s sole purpose is to guard against the head coming up and back towards the rider, only comes into play when that happens. Does not effect bit action or steering. Does nothing at all if the head doesn’t fly up.
PROPERLY ADJUSTED, the fork shaped running, also coming from girth thru a neck strap but ending with a ring around each rein, influences bit action both forward and turning left/right, does not hold the head down. It always has at least a slight effect due to the rings directing the rein pressure on the bit.
Its more complicated then that but that’s it in a nutshell.
Somebody on here recently compared the standing to the western tie down and got some grief over that…but I think they were right, girth to noseband, physical block to the head flying up. Too often misused to substitute for training in both disciplines which should not be confused with proper use.
There’s also a slew of variations on running martingales out there called training forks and systems, typically misused to create frame or headset, not to be confused with correct adjustment and use. I have had a couple of fussy types that went quieter in a running, made them more secure or stabilized the bit when they got fussy, I guess.
IME, they are no more dangerous then closed or buckled reins as horses are far more likely to stick a foot thru the reins then a correctly adjusted martingale of either type in a mishap.
If you have the chance to be really close to horses jumping bigger fences, like next to the base of the fence, and watched how the horse rocks back and lifts off, no way anything that acts as a static block against raising the head would be appropriate. Lower down, horse mostly canters over, no rock back, lift and launch.
YMMV but don’t assume what you see others doing is appropriate or correct or, on the other hand, the fact they have one on is dangerous or evil just because they are using one.
