The two most common types of martingale, the standing and the running, are used to control the horse's head, and to prevent the horse from throwing his head so high that the rider gets hit in the face by the neck. When the horse's head gets above the point of control, the martingale places pressure on the head so the horse cannot raise it higher.

When first using a martingale (or any piece of tack), it is appropriate to ride in an enclosed area until the rider is certain that the horse is under control.

The Standing Martingale and the Tiedown

The standing martingale consists of a yoke that goes around the horse's neck and two straps that attach to the bottom of the yoke, at the point where the horse's neck meets his chest. One of these straps runs between the horse's legs and attaches to the girth, the other strap runs up and attaches to the noseband of the bridle. Both straps, as well as the breastplate or yoke used to attach it to the horse's body, are adjustable. A standing martingale should be adjusted so the strap that runs to the noseband can almost touch the throat of the horse when pushed up after attached. It is often attached to a breastplate and, even if only a yoke is used, it must always have some method of attachment to prevent it from being flipped over the horse's head.

A variation of the standing martingale, called a tiedown, is popular among rodeo competitors and is seen almost exclusively in the western riding disciplines. A tiedown is adjusted much shorter than a standing martingale and is intended entirely to prevent the horse from flipping its head up when coming to an abrupt stop. It consists of an adjustable strap, one end which attaches to the horse's breastplate and the other which attaches to a noseband on the bridle. The noseband can be of leather, but may also be of lariat rope, or even plastic-covered cable, which can make the western tiedown considerably harsher than the English-style standing martingale.

With both pieces of equipment, the slack is taken up out of the strap when the horse raises its head above the desired point, and pressure is placed on the horse's nose.

The standing martingale is preferred by show hunter and hunt seat equitation riders, fox hunters, and in polo. It is also seen on some military and police horses, partly for style and tradition, but also in the event of an emergency situation that may require the rider to handle the horse in an abrupt manner. It is not legal for flat classes. The tiedown is commonly seen in rodeo and O-Mok-See games, but is not show legal for reining, western pleasure or any other western-style horse show events.

Safety and Misuse

The standing martingale is considered to be more restrictive than the running martingale because it cannot be loosened in an emergency and is illegal in most flat classes. Therefore, at horse shows, the standing martingale is primarily used for jumping over relatively low fences where the horse is less likely to need to raise his head for balance. A horse that trips in a standing martingale can fall more easily because its range of motion is restricted.

Due to the risk of injury to the cartilage of the nose, the martingale strap should never be attached to a drop noseband. Because of the danger of both nose and jaw injuries, it also should also not be attached to a figure-eight noseband. A standing martingale can be attached to the cavesson (the upper, heavier strap) of a [[noseband|flash noseband, but not to the lower, "flash" strap.

A standing martingale has to potential to combine with other equipment to cause a great deal of pain to a horse if misused. If used in conjunction with a gag bit, a standing martingale can trap the head of the horse, simultaneously asking the horse to raise and lower its head and providing no source of relief in either direction. This combination is sometimes seen in polo, in some rodeo events, and occasionally in the lower levels of jumping.

Overuse or misuse of a standing martingale or tiedown, particularly as a means to prevent a horse from tossing its head, can lead to the overdevelopment of the muscles on the underside of the neck, creating an undesirable "upside down" neck that makes it more difficult for the horse to relax and flex properly. It may also lead to a horse tensing its back muscles and moving "flat," especially over fences, all of which put undue pressure on the horse's spine, reduce the shock-absorbing capacity of the leg anatomy, and can over time lead to lameness. There is also a risk of accidents: If a horse is sufficiently "trapped" by a combination of a too-short martingale and too-harsh bit, the horse may rear or fall down in an attempt to free itself from the source of pain.

The Running Martingale and German Martingale

The running martingale is similar to the standing in that it has a yoke and a strap that runs between the horse's legs to the girth. However, the strap from the chest to the reins forks at about the level of the chest and has a ring at each end, through which the reins are run. When the horse raises its head above the desired point, the martingale puts pressure on the reins and presses the bit on the bars of the horse's mouth. The leverage created by this pressure causes the horse to lower its head.

A running martingale is adjusted so that each of the "forks" has about an inch of slack when the horse holds his head in the normal position. Some horses become anxious when there is undue pressure on the head and neck and may become unmanagable. The reins should always make a straight line from the rider's hand to the bit ring when the running martingale is not in effect.

A running martingale provides more freedom for the horse than a standing martingale. If a horse happens to trip on landing after a fence, the rider can slide the reins and the horse will have full use of its head and neck. Because of this safety factor, only a running martingale is permitted for use in United States eventing competitions. Show jumpers also prefer the running martingale due to the extra freedom it provides. Running martingales are also used on young horses being trained in the Saddle seat and some western riding disciplines.

A running martingale may be used with rein stops, which are rubber or leather stops placed on the rein between the bit and the ring of the martingale used to stop the martingale from sliding and getting caught on the bit rings. If rein stops are not used with a running martingale, a rider may be disqualified from a United States eventing competition.

The German Martingale consists of a split fork that comes up from the chest, runs through the rings of the bit and attaches to rings on the reins of the bridle between the bit and the rider's hand. It acts in a manner similar to a running martingale, but with greater leverage. It is not show legal and is used primarily as a training aid.

The Irish Martingale

The Irish martingale consists of a strap with a ring on either end. The reins are run through the ring on their side, before being buckled. The Irish martingale's purpose is not to control the head, but to prevent the reins from coming over the horse's head should a rider fall.

References

• Ball, Charles E. Saddle up. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 1973, ISBN-10: 0397009909, ISBN-13: 978-0397009909
• Slaughter, Jean. Horsemanship for Beginners, Alfred A. Knopf, 1952. ASIN: B000NWHDA0

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