Running Martingales for safety not training

[Cyberpony@aol.com]

In a message dated 1/9/99 10:56:41 AM Eastern Standard Time, CMKSAGEHIL
writes:

> have you ever seen a horse get his martingale hung up on a tree limb?  I 
> have.  Have you ever seen a rider get his own foot hung up in a martingale 
> after a nasty spook? 

Have you ever seen a horse get caught up in the stirrup of a saddle. I have. .
. . . Gonna stop using stirrups?

I agree that training is the best answer to a head carriage problem.  My horse
has been competed in a fat eggbutt snaffle for the last 10 years.  So I guess
that would tell you that I am not into gimmicks. I am into training.  

I am also into safety.  But even the best trained horse can spook and bolt*.
That is where the running martingale can be a life saver in the emergency
situation . . . . just like the seat belt and the riding helmet.  If they are
properly adjusted there shouldn't be any problem.

It sounds like those who are against the running martingale have seen them
improperly used and adjusted.

As far as the horse getting caught up in his own equipment, the rider has a
responsibility to be alert and make sure that doesn't happen.  But there is
always a trade off when we make a choice to do something one way or the other.
Each person has to weigh the pros and cons, and make the decision that feels
best for his/her situation.

Happy (safe) Trails :-)
~Nora
  Ocoee, FL

*I have one buried in my back pasture (another story)