| There are two basic types of martingales, the standing | | | | because of them. |
| martingale and the running martingale. Depending on | | | | Running martingales are not legal in the hunter ring, but |
| your discipline and your purpose, both have their place | | | | are common in the jumper ring. Instead of connecting |
| in your training repertoire. | | | | to the noseband, a running martingale splits into two |
| Standing martingales are common in the hunter ring. | | | | straps that end in rings. The reins are run through the |
| They are legal for use over fences, but are not | | | | rings so that the martingale can pull against each rein |
| acceptable on the flat. | | | | when the rein is tightened. |
| A standing martingale consists of a strap that leads | | | | Running martingales are active aids. This is because |
| from the noseband to the girth, held in place by a | | | | the rider's use of the reins activates the martingale. |
| second strap that wraps around the neck. It is a | | | | They should always be used with blocks on the reins |
| passive aid, meaning that the rider has no active | | | | to keep the rings from running up to the horse's mouth |
| influence on its action. | | | | where they could interfere with the bit. |
| If a horse lifts its head, or flips it into the air, the standing | | | | Running martingales are great for helping to control |
| martingale will become tight, preventing the action. In | | | | strong horses. By directing the pull of the rein |
| the western world, a similar device is called a tie-down. | | | | downwards, they add leverage to the rider's aid, and |
| While the martingale prevents the horse from lifting its | | | | force the horse to drop his head. Most horses who run |
| head too high, it does not tie the horse's head down. | | | | away tend to stick their heads and necks straight out. |
| This would in fact interfere with the horse while | | | | By forcing the horse to drop his chin, you break his run |
| jumping, which would be foolish. | | | | so that he must slow down and begin to listen. |
| The theory is that the martingale prevents the horse | | | | In the jumper ring many horses grow excited and tend |
| from leaning on the rider's hands while working. This | | | | to forget to pay attention to their riders. The running |
| may be true, but it is probably more because the | | | | martingale allows the rider that extra little bit of |
| horse winds up leaning on the martingale than because | | | | leverage to regain their attention and keep the horse |
| it stops the horse from leaning in the first place. | | | | on course. |
| In the hunter ring, wearing a standing martingale is more | | | | Racehorse riders often use a modified running |
| of a fashion statement than a necessity. Most hunters | | | | martingale with a bib attached between the two parts |
| who wear standing martingales would do fine without. | | | | of the martingale. The bib keeps the ring of the |
| Unfortunately, many riders have made a habit of using | | | | martingale even with each other, and allows the rider |
| them, and many horses have developed bad habits | | | | to apply even pressure on both reins. |