What english martingale should i use?

Question

i have a thoroughbred mare, who is a ex. race horse. when she trots she raises her head way up in my face. i want to bring her head down and teach her to get collected. what kind of training device should i use.

Answer 1

I don't think a martingale will be the best solution for you.  The purpose of a martigale is to stop a horse for throwing her head up, not for pulling her head down.

Try working the bit.  Squeeze the left rein, then the right, then the left again, etc.  Once she puts her head down relax your fingers and arms.  At the beginning she will probably put her head back up, but thats okay.  Just ask her again, and eventually she'll get the message.

Answer 2

If you HAVE to use a martingale then use a standing one with a halter. Buy a full size and let it out too its maximum range  ride her like this for a couple of rides then bring it in a hole ride her for a couple times like this then do the same again   bring it in another notch and so on and so on..... THIS WILL NOT TEACH HER TO COLLECT this will only stop her from throwing her head in your face, from rearing or from taking off.  You can teach her to collect by positioning your hands and seat properly and practice, practice, practice,  even better  have a few lessons and explain to the instructor what it is you wish to achieve that way they can tell you what you are doing right and what you are doing wrong  ( most hack judges give lessons)

Answer 3

As a race horse, she is doing what she was taught to do - reach out and lean heavily on the bit.  To help her be a casual riding horse, she needs to be re-started just like a green baby - because she has no idea what you want her to do.  Also, how are your hands.  Besides her racing life, a lot of horses will raise their heads because they are getting ready to be pulled on with two reins/hands.  It is their way of trying to protect themselves and their mouth from this attack.    You have to realize that as a race horse, she did not trot, she has been running all of her life.   She actually needs to trot and walk a lot (not so much canter for a while) so she understands about other gaits.  A canter will be hard for her because she is going to want to gallop full out.   Please do not put mechanical devices on this (or any other) horse. She needs training and patience and lots of ground work.  Taking a track horse is an admirable undertaking, but it is a lot of work to make them safe and happy horses.  Remember, she doesn't know what you want from her.  These are new things you are asking of her and she did not have exposure to such in her old life.  I hope you will help her.  good luck.

Answer 4

no training device will do this for you, except using YOURSELF and your aids.

but think of it this way, if a horse is going foreward, its not going UP.

yes, its scary to ask a TB to trot faster, but she will bring her head down.

Answer 5

Your horse, like mine, and like every other racehorse doesn't want to collect themselves (usually) going right because they were never taught how. You don't need any of those training aids, you just need to teach your horse the basics again. Do a lot of lounging from the ground and tap your horses neck with a whip, VERY LIGHTLY to encourage her to bring her head in. This will build up her muscles and strength and balance. Only ride and lounge her to the right for four weeks straight, and don't use your legs to bend her, she needs to learn to straighten her back and move with her hindquarters, you can't teach that by controlling her head. You have to balance her first. Consider buying the book called "Straightening the Crooked Horse" that will talk about this is detail, also look up "Lessons From Woody" online that show why horses have trouble going straight and going right or left. You can't force a horse straight, they have to learn how. Until the horse can go straight without anything controlling it, they will always be "crooked". Also, as you're doing this your horse's right side will probably be very sore. Learn to find the knots of soreness in your horse's body and massage them out, or get a horse masseuse to help you out. The main places are the sides of her face, right in front of the ears, the poll, the back, between the ribs, behind the shoulder, and on the muscles below the spine. There are lines throughout a horses body that gather strain, but it's hard for me to describe them to you. I suggest talking to someone who does massaging for a living. This will make the training less painful for your horse. It will be tough at first, and your horse will give you h**l about it, but  just be patient and persistent. While you're riding have someone watch you or if you can just feel for it to make sure your horse is driving from her hind end, instead of heavy on the forehand. Your farrier will be able to tell you which way your horse usually moves. As you progress with this, talk to your farrier when he or she does your horse's hooves to see if they notice a change in the shape. This will mean the way your horse is carrying herself has changed, which is a positive thing. Most race and ex race horses drive heavy on the forehand and primarily using their left side. This is why it is harder for them to pick up the right lead and much harder for them to collect on the right side.

Answer 6

None.

Correct training is the answer. Take her off of the jumps and work her on the flat. Devices wont help you. Time and patience will.

Answer 7

don't if you can.

although in that situation probably a running martingale or german martingale would be your best bet. especially the german one, but i've never used one and i've heard they are hard.

do not use either if you don't know how.

Answer 8

first-half haults. . . my trainer taught me them and how to use them in a way to get the horse to get in frame and round itself. . .

i also use a german martingale. . . i know alot of people may not like them. but i think of them as training wheels when working with a horse who doesnt know how to round as well. . . anyway, i usually only set it on the first or second hole, never the third.  i do like using it for training, but you never use a training device in the show ring.

Answer 9

I would use a german martingale. They work great for horses that have not yet learned how to carry themselves properly. It has a breastplate like the other martingales but it goes through the bit and snaps onto the reins (which have little rings on them). The horse pulls against itself. You don't pull her head down. I have had great sucess with it.

Answer 10

I wouldnt use one, but using side reins will help and do lots of small circles to get her to bend...SIDE REINS im telling you they will help!!

Answer 11

my horse used to do the same thing. when i got him he always had his head very high. i just kept riding him every day and tugged left right a bunch on my reins to set his head. about 3 month after i did that every day he lowered his head. good luck.

Answer 12

I would say do not use a martingale. A tool I use for getting horses heads down is lunging them is side reins. If you lunge her in the side reins she will start to get the idea and put her head down.

Answer 13

None.

She needs correct training, not something to tie her head down.

Do some Classical Dressage, and work on her to go down and stretch her neck. When she gets more built up, in about 4-6 months, she will be able to go round correctly.

Using Side Reins isn't good either. It forces their head in a position, and only build one section of their neck. It won't help them become round in the upper levels because they won't have correct back muscles. Stay away from contraptions.

I lunge, and just that. I don't use anything, just the lines, and the horse is allowed to go down and round. Not forced.