I finally asked and now I know that nifty D ring in the middle of the girth is for attaching training aids. Great! But why is it then that martingale are looped around the girth? I’ve never seen one that is clipped onto the D ring, and I think that would be so convenient for showing when it comes time you have to remove them.
I bought a clip at the tack shop and took my martingale to a leather repair guy, and had him chop off the loop end and attach the clip instead. Works great :yes:
Sometimes with the wider girths it can be a tight squeeze (or impossible with a stud girth.) Plus it is easier if you take it on/ off to hack. OTOH there was a terrifying video recently where a horse caught the clip on the martingale on his bar shoe and almost fell, so it does have a potential downside.
[QUOTE=Highflyer;8235382]
Sometimes with the wider girths it can be a tight squeeze (or impossible with a stud girth.) Plus it is easier if you take it on/ off to hack. OTOH there was a terrifying video recently where a horse caught the clip on the martingale on his bar shoe and almost fell, so it does have a potential downside.[/QUOTE]
I’ve also seen the snap break and fling up and hit the horse in the face and neck. However most of the time it is ok, just make sure you have a heavy duty clip and stays tight against the girth (those built in caribeeners in the girth seem to me to be the safest)
[QUOTE=StillHorsinAround;8235367]
I finally asked and now I know that nifty D ring in the middle of the girth is for attaching training aids. Great! But why is it then that martingale are looped around the girth? I’ve never seen one that is clipped onto the D ring, and I think that would be so convenient for showing when it comes time you have to remove them.[/QUOTE]
One reason is that if your martingale is already on a tighter hole, adding a clip would make it unable to go tight enough if the slack isn’t being taken up the girth. I’ve actually encountered that problem when I’ve gone to clip the running martingale in to a belly guard.
Thanks for the responses. It’s interesting I’m hearing that one can rig the martingale to have a clip, but why do they not have options that come that way? It makes me wonder if the makers do not advocate the girth D ring for use with a martingale. Maybe due to the hazards some of you mentioned. Thank you again!
I think the D-rings on the girth are generally designed for draw reins and the like. Belly girths make clipping the martingale to the girth a necessity. Most belly girths are now designed with the caribeaner built in like this
http://www.pjsaddles.com/shop/contents/media/girth_belly_guard.jpg
making a clip on the martingale not necessary
Just wanted to point out that most of the pretty leather hunter girths don’t have a D ring on them (at least not at my end of the world).
[QUOTE=Scratch N Dent;8238903]
Just wanted to point out that most of the pretty leather hunter girths don’t have a D ring on them (at least not at my end of the world).[/QUOTE]
I was going to say something along those lines. None of my leather show or hunting girths have a d-ring. The only girths that I have with a ring on them are fleece or neoprene ones used for schooling, so it would be schooling equipment that I would attach to it (draw reins, etc).
Also, leather to leather is safer/less likely to break than something that it stitched on. Ideally, one would not be using a martingale if they didn’t need it, so there would be less chance of something going wrong with the girth run through the loop than with a clip/snap breaking or pulling loose.
I just saw a nice looking leather girth with dee rings on the sides so that draw reins may be attached there…might be a new thing. (the dee rings, not the placement of the draw reins)
If you need/want a martingale with a quick release, breast plate (at least mine, not educated enough to know if it’s all) can just unclip and you just have to remove the noseband.
My nice leather contoured girth has d’s on the sides and middle and it’s probably a good 8 years old at least
I have this “nice” leather girth: https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/pt/antares-classic-jumper-girth-7759
I added a snap to my standing martingale so that I could snap it to the center d-ring…only to have my horse freak out in a warmup, throw his head in the air, and pull the ring from the girth. I guess that’s why you don’t really see snap-on martingales.
The clip is for draw reins, not martingales, although imo it is better to attach drawreins to the girth under the saddle flap if you are going to use them.
You can also use the girth D for Vienna reins while longing.
[QUOTE=ElisLove;8238782]
I think the D-rings on the girth are generally designed for draw reins and the like. Belly girths make clipping the martingale to the girth a necessity. Most belly girths are now designed with the caribeaner built in like this
http://www.pjsaddles.com/shop/contents/media/girth_belly_guard.jpg
making a clip on the martingale not necessary[/QUOTE]
I’ve also seen regular-width leather girths with the caribeaner feature. I think PJ makes them. They’re pretty nice for quick martingale on/offs between hack and jumping classes.
[QUOTE=Indy;8241660]
I’ve also seen regular-width leather girths with the caribeaner feature. I think PJ makes them. They’re pretty nice for quick martingale on/offs between hack and jumping classes.[/QUOTE]
Yes, they are available on the regular girths as well.
[QUOTE=SidesaddleRider;8238931]
I was going to say something along those lines. None of my leather show or hunting girths have a d-ring. The only girths that I have with a ring on them are fleece or neoprene ones used for schooling, so it would be schooling equipment that I would attach to it (draw reins, etc). [/QUOTE]
A lot of horses show in fuzzy and neoprene girths even at the highest level, and a lot of those horses warm up in draw reins, so I feel like it makes a lot of sense for D rings on show girths to become increasingly common otherwise it is just another reason not to show in one.
Hmmm… I have only used that ring for attaching breastplates/collars…
Then again, I’m an endurance rider.
fyi, that carabiner clip on the fancy expensive girths is what the horse a few weeks ago got his bar shoe clipped to.
If you use one, TAPE THE CLIP CLOSED!
[QUOTE=elctrnc;8240266]
I have this “nice” leather girth: https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/pt/antares-classic-jumper-girth-7759
I added a snap to my standing martingale so that I could snap it to the center d-ring…only to have my horse freak out in a warmup, throw his head in the air, and pull the ring from the girth. I guess that’s why you don’t really see snap-on martingales.[/QUOTE]
I think this is probably the best answer to my question. I think I will pass on using the D rings for martingales. Thanks so much!
