Re: head carriage and split reins

["Maggie Mieske" <mmieske@netonecom.net>]

I am sure this will start a whole new flurry of posts on this but here's my
2 cents.  I prefer not to use a tie down or martingale.  Usually if I do,
it's temporary while I am working with my horse.  I sometimes start out a
ride with a tie down on my gelding as he likes to toss his head a lot at
first....he's excited.  After he settles down, I can undo it or take it off
entirely.  But after getting a fat lip a couple of times, when people give
me the evil eye, I just tell them, it beats a fat lip or God knows what
other kind of freak accident.  And I don't believe I tie it too
short....it's enough to keep his head from coming back far enough to smack
me but I actually think that its presence prevents the behavior more than
the tie down itself does!  Same thing with the martingale.  Before anyone
starts flaming, I don't believe they are long term solutions to the
problem.


Maggie Mieske
Mieske's Silver Lining
10601 S. Richards Rd.
McBain, Michigan 49657
http://www.netonecom.net/~mmieske
mmieske@netonecom.net