Martingale

[alexa]

I am trying to buy a standing martingale (this is a martingale that is attached at one end to the girth and at the other to a cavesson noseband passing through the forelegs and through a loop on the neckstrapwhich supports it, a thick rubber ring holds the two together.
It is used to stop the horse tossing his head too high, it is not to keep his head down when the head is held in a normal position.

I cannot find one anywhere here (France) (only can find the regular running martingale) and
thought maybe in the UK I could order one but do not find any on tackstores that are on the Internet.

My horse is normally ok especially when in the manege but sometimes when riding outside he gets extremely excited and his head is jerking up and down which makes control difficult.

If anyone can give me an idea about where to get one I would greatly appeciate it.

thanks
Alexa

[Rachel R]

Hi Alexa,

You could try the following: www.foxsaddlers.co.uk (http://www.foxsaddlers.co.uk) www.htsequestrian.com (http://www.htsequestrian.com) www.ifield-park.co.uk (http://www.ifield-park.co.uk) www.rbe.co.uk (http://www.rbe.co.uk) www.robcl.co.uk (http://www.robcl.co.uk) www.tds-saddlers.com (http://www.tds-saddlers.com)

Alternatively you could improvise by tying a knot in a running martingale and attatching the rings to the noseband. Make sure that it is the correct length though.

Rachel

[cynthia]

instead of a standing martingale, perhaps you might try using a rubber Pelham with him first? the leverage might give you a bit more control, without the possibility for danger that standing martingales can offer. i myself wouldn't opt for using one of these, particularly on an excitable horse. i don't think it's unheard of for a horse to freak out and flip backwards when confronted with a standing martingale, particularly if it's on too tightly. :(

just my $0.02.

[alexa]

Thanks to you all for getting back to me on this.Cynthis, I already have a rubber pelham and I do have more control than with the snaffle BUT it is insufficient when he is really excited as I do not want to use the curb rein harshly and think a martingale not set tightly but just enough so that when his head is above an acceptable point he can't go any further with it would be my best bet, if ever I am wrong and he seems really unhappy I will not insist. I have managed to locate a place that is ordering one for me and so shortly (I hope) I will be able to try it out when riding out (not in the inside school as that is not where I have the problems) - so keep your fingers crossed for me.

bye
Alexa

[Pamela]

When I first got my horse and started riding him, He would throw he head so hight I though that he was pourpsly trying to hit me with the back of his head. He would spin around in circles and go nuts (him not being ridding very much by his last wacked owner Iam sure had alot to do with this). He was really good about getting tacked up and mounting. It was just him getting to go and do what you wanted him to do. I got just the martingale that you are talking about and you wouldn't believe the difference. I am far from being the "expert", but I have a fairley big boy and I couldn't get that thing too tight. I had to ask friends because it looked to loose even as tight as it could go. He did very well in it too. Hope this helps. All I can really tell you to do is try. What could it hurt? It may just work out for the best. It did for me. And sometime you have to go by what you feel not what others tell you. If that was the case, I wouldn't have the horse I have now, alot here didn't think that it would be such a good idea. Being my first and all. He was alot of work, but he respects me more now. I know that. Good Luck - Pamela