Horse Tack - Which Martingale Should I Use? By Lydia K Kelly

There are two basic types of martingales, the standing martingale and the running martingale. Depending on your discipline and your purpose, both have their place in your training repertoire.

Standing martingales are common in the hunter ring. They are legal for use over fences, but are not acceptable on the flat.

A standing martingale consists of a strap that leads from the noseband to the girth, held in place by a second strap that wraps around the neck. It is a passive aid, meaning that the rider has no active influence on its action.

If a horse lifts its head, or flips it into the air, the standing martingale will become tight, preventing the action. In the western world, a similar device is called a tie-down.

While the martingale prevents the horse from lifting its head too high, it does not tie the horse’s head down. This would in fact interfere with the horse while jumping, which would be foolish.

The theory is that the martingale prevents the horse from leaning on the rider’s hands while working. This may be true, but it is probably more because the horse winds up leaning on the martingale than because it stops the horse from leaning in the first place.

In the hunter ring, wearing a standing martingale is more of a fashion statement than a necessity. Most hunters who wear standing martingales would do fine without. Unfortunately, many riders have made a habit of using them, and many horses have developed bad habits because of them.

Running martingales are not legal in the hunter ring, but are common in the jumper ring. Instead of connecting to the noseband, a running martingale splits into two straps that end in rings. The reins are run through the rings so that the martingale can pull against each rein when the rein is tightened.

Running martingales are active aids. This is because the rider’s use of the reins activates the martingale. They should always be used with blocks on the reins to keep the rings from running up to the horse’s mouth where they could interfere with the bit.

Running martingales are great for helping to control strong horses. By directing the pull of the rein downwards, they add leverage to the rider’s aid, and force the horse to drop his head. Most horses who run away tend to stick their heads and necks straight out. By forcing the horse to drop his chin, you break his run so that he must slow down and begin to listen.

In the jumper ring many horses grow excited and tend to forget to pay attention to their riders. The running martingale allows the rider that extra little bit of leverage to regain their attention and keep the horse on course.

Racehorse riders often use a modified running martingale with a bib attached between the two parts of the martingale. The bib keeps the ring of the martingale even with each other, and allows the rider to apply even pressure on both reins.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=299034&ca=Pets

Horse Tack - Taking Apart the Bridle By Lydia K Kelly

Understanding what all those Straps are for

While most horse people are familiar with what parts make up a bridle, it is remarkable how few truly understand what goes into it. With so many parts, it is no wonder that people don’t consider the reasons for them. In fact, it is not unusual to see someone throw together a simple bridle that does little more than hold the bit in the horse’s mouth, and ride off without a care.

So what are all those straps, and what are they for?

Probably the most often misunderstood part of the bridle is the noseband. Many people believe that the noseband is there to hold the horse’s mouth closed. Of course, if you look at the positioning of the noseband, it is quickly evident that no matter how tight you fasten it, the noseband could never hold the mouth shut.

Interestingly enough, the noseband is the least necessary part of the bridle. In fact, many western bridles skip it altogether. With very little actual functionality, the cavasson noseband is purely there for looks! With varieties ranging from broad to narrow, and from raised to flat, riders choose a look that best suits their horse. While there are specialty nosebands that are more than just decoration, the average bridle’s noseband isn’t really necessary at all.

So if the noseband is useless, what about the browband? While it often makes a fashion statement, much like the noseband, the browband is an essential part of the bridle. Without the browband, the crown piece would slip back down the horse’s neck, pulling on the bit, and making the bridle uncomfortable for the horse. While some western bridles only use a half browband, circling around one ear, the purpose is the same.

Another strap that sometimes seems useless is the throatlatch. While it seems obvious that it is there to hold the bridle on, generally the bridle will stay in place without the throatlatch at all. Basically it acts as a safety net, to hold the bridle in place should something happen that threatens to pull the bridle over the horse’s ears.

The cheek pieces have another obvious use. They act as the connection between the crown piece and the bit. But why do they need to be separate from the crown piece? Without separate check pieces it would be difficult to adjust the length of the bridle for different horses. With two adjustable cheek pieces, it is possible to fine tune the tightness of the bit in the horse’s mouth. A single buckle on the side would not allow for this fine tuning.

Of course the reins require no explanation. But, do most reins have a braided appearance? Is this more fashion? No. The laced part of the reins is there to offer the rider a better grip. When a horse becomes sweaty, the reins can become quite slippery. Some reins have alternate forms of grips such as rubber coating, small crosspieces or actual braiding of the leather. It is possible to find smooth reins, but they are uncommon.

So now you know the basics of what makes up a bridle. Each strap has its unique purpose, even if it is a frivolous one.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=298828&ca=Pets