Western rider here, tell me about martingales and hunters

[Lmabernathy]

Hello, I’m new to the hunter show world can someone please explain what is and is not acceptable during a show

Horse rides well in a western training fork. This is just an old trail horse we are trying to spruce up a little :lol: Would a training fork be equivalent to a running or standing martingale? Is that legal in an open show? flat and over fences?

Any other tack or attire tips you have are also appreciated. This is a very low key beginner type show but we will be wearing jackets. Saddles are wintecs :eek: Horse can go in an eggbutt snaffle at home but trail rides in a tom thumb, thinking of bringing a broken kimberwick just in case. Horse is 13 but I have only had her 2 months. Pretty good natured for the most part but haven’t done a whole lot with her either, wtc and some cross rails

[mroades]

Generally martingales of any kind are not allowed in flat classes at hunter shows. Since it is a schooling show, check with management as they may allow it.
A training fork would be similar to a running martingale.

[OveroHunter]

Most training forks that I have seen sit much lower than a normal running martingale, so I think you’ll find that neither the standing nor the running martingale will give you the same effect.

As mroades said, typically neither are allowed in flat classes, but depending on the jumping class you’re entering you should be able to use a standing martingale or possibly a running martingale.

Broken kimberwicks are pretty common at the smaller schooling shows in the hunter flat classes. You should be fine with either bit.

How does your horse go without the training fork? English classes allow for a higher “headset” than western classes, so you may find that you do not need any sort of training aid to look nice in a hunter flat class.

[Appsolute]

A training fork is equivalent to a running martingale (a tie down would be more like a standing martingale).

Running martingales are not used on Hunters.

Tips for tack for hunters:

Plain nose band (cavason), no dropped, flash, figure 8 etc.
Plain shaped saddle pad (not the square ones etc)
No running martingales (but standing is acceptable and common)

[trubandloki]

@Appsolute;8070775

Plain shaped saddle pad (not the square ones etc)

This is a know your audience thing. If this local showed is mainly attended by breed show people most of them will have the saddle pads with the spot for a number on either side. That type of pad is not normally seen at a true hunter show but not unusual for an open type show with hunter classes.

I would totally do as Appsolute said and default to a shaped pad if you are not sure

[Lmabernathy]

Thanks guys! I’m trying to hide my inner red neck lol. This show gets several…how should I say…non traditional riders. I’ve seen girls on run away horsies in leopard print tanks. Just don’t want people to remember me like that. Heck if they don’t remember me at all that will be perfectly fine

[Jumper_girl221]

just as a note, running martingales are permitted in hunter over fences classes now. Of course, are they seen…no, but they are allowed.