Using Martingales on green horses

[Gypzywingz]

Just wanted to get some opinions on using a martingale on a green horse. She hasn't been riden much and we were thinking about using it as a safety precaution in case she throws her head around a lot.

Any opinions or advice is welcome.

[leviskipperette]

hmm, im no expert but using a martingale may confuse a green horse becasue she isnt getting a direct pull especially if she has her head up, (would that be right?). also before you resort to a gadget check to see if shes in pain. check her saddle fit and how the bit is, it could be pinching her mouth.

-meg

["GEMMA_FROST"]

When I first started riding my 5yo TB he also tossed his head ALOT, sometimes he still does. We did not use a running martingale on him but instead just made the rein contant VERY firm when he tossed his head, now you just have to tighten your grip the slighest bit on the reins and he knows that it's not the time to toss his head.
Do check that horse is not in pain like leviskipperette mentioned. Our horse tossed his head simply if he was fidgety, not willing to work or nervous.

[eventerbabe]

with a green horse, you are better off working through the problem and correcting the head tossing rather than masking it with a martingale. if you want to, you could try a sheepskin noseband cover, that way when she tosses her head, she won't be able to see very much and it may help with discouraging her from head tossing. i use one on my boy when hacking coz he can be a fidgety monster :D

[Gabrielle]

You should ideally ride him first and see if he is tossing his head, don't you think? If he is then try to find the problem. If not alls well!

[Jessey]

A martingale is to help keep the rein at a constant angle to the bit not to stop a horse from tossing his head. My horse used to toss his head a bit and a martingale made it worse cause as he threw his head he would get a sharp jab in the mouth when he reached it. I used to use an Irish martingale (6" strap with a ring at each end to connect the reins) just to stop the reins getting over his ears if he was really throwing his head round. Head tossing is often a sign of pain or an evasion technique so get her checked out if she does it or go back to the basics of bit acceptance.
using it as a safety precaution in case she throws her head
Its best if you don't have to but if you really do need to put a martingale on you could try one of the ones that has rubber forks, they are good for introducing the martingale as you don't get so much fixing of the rein.

[Gypzywingz]

Thanks everyone, I thought about it alot and did some more reading and you are right that is not the way to go about it but really work on the ground training. And once I found out what it could possible do if she bucked that was out.

Thanks so much