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 Veteran
Posts: 134
 
| I recently added a martingale to my mare when I run poles. I am using them mainly to get her to flex better. she gets stiff on left but right is okay. We are also doing slow work to improve the flexing both directions. I am assuming this will be temporary. What are the opinions of competing in them? Pros/Cons? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 883
Location: Southern Indiana | I'm not a fan. I think they hinder a horse more than help them. Don't get me wrong draw reins, German martingales, and a regular martingale can all be great training aids, but they are just that. You use them a few times to help collect the horse and then you should be able to move on. And some horses may need it like once a week, but a good rider should be able to teach a horse to collect with their hands. I'm not saying it can't be done. In fact I know a very good pole horse that runs in a German martingale and a tie down. However, I just don't see the need. Do your slow work, use a tie down and maybe find a bit with more lift. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 324
Location: The Purple Room | I've run in a German martingale on one of my horses for 7 years. To me, they are no different than a tie down. If it works for you and your horse, do it. I've never had a problem with running in it. |
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | Run in a german martingale, yes....a running martingale, no. |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | MS2011 - 2015-08-19 1:13 PM Run in a german martingale, yes....a running martingale, no.
agree
a standing martigale in the english world is a tie down, basically.
I would not want to run barrels in a training fork/running martingale just because I think it would hurt more than it helped.
German martingale I would run in if it helped me. There was a gal who ran in one at the NFR years back. I see people run in them locally as well. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 825
| My main mount runs in a german martingale and has been for about a year now. When I slow work I use regular draw reins. They work good for her because she likes to get her head up a bit behind the first barrel sometimes and she doesn't like anything across her nose. |
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Veteran
Posts: 134
| To clarify, yes, a german martingale. She does work fabulous in draw reins/o-ring to warm up but she gets bullish sometimes in the pen (assumes she knows all) and the martigale helps me communicate quickly with her. |
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 Famous for Not Complaining
Posts: 8848
Location: Broxton, Ga | Would have no problem with doing it have before on my filly. Only problem I've had a couple times is the reins coming unhooked leaving me with the martingale reins only usually just one....I've found it helps to have snaps to the inside towards the bit with the martingale helps prevent this. |
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I Am a Snake Killer
Posts: 1927
Location: Golden Gulf Coast of Texas | I really like the German Martingale on young horses I just start hauling. It helps keep them looking straight thru your hands, just make sure it's adjusted correctly. I see so many with it cranked down tight like a tiedown, which defeats the purpose of it. |
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