Martingales-Yes or No?

So I have recently begun using a running martingale on my horse Xander, to encourage him to gain more self-carriage.
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I have felt that using it has been extremely helpful and successful. However, I know that many people in the horse world are strongly against using martingales. My question is: what is your opinion and why? Do you think martingales are a good, useful tool to use, or do you think they do absolutely nothing and are terrible?

I believe martingales are good because they aren't as restrictive as tiedowns. They teach your horse to round themselves besides brace and put their heads up. Although, some horses hate it when there is pressure on their mouths so I guess it depends on the horse and situation in order for a martingale to be used.

I'm okay with them being used as a just in case object or if a horse sometimes dangerously raises his head while training..

I know what a martingale is for a dog, is it similar for a horse?

Martingale should NOT substitute the correct training. I have no problem with martingale adjusted correctly when it's used to protect rider's face from being smacked. However I don't think using martingale to "teach" horse a "head-set", "self-carriage", or whatever else is a right way to go.

ITA with you there - it is not, imo, a training tool (even though it is so often used as one)

On one of my horses I put it on her every time I ride. It keeps her head down and helps her focus on the cattle more.
The other one don't need it has a great headset.

A martingale should have no effect on the horse unless it is flipping their head dangerously. It will in no way help your horse have self carriage or go in a better frame. If you have it adjusted too short it may pull your horses head down, but will have no effect on the length or collection of the rest of the body. I suggest you stop using it if your horse doesnt flip its head dangerously.

A correctly adjusted running martingale is a really good thing, it shouldn't affect the horses natural head carriage but it can prevent the reins from ending up on the same side of its neck should something happen that causes it to drop its head and neck down, it can also prevent you snaging the horse in the mouth if you lose your seat a bit - especially jumping. It can also prevent an unruly horse from hitting you in the face but has the advantage of you being able to release the action with your reins. No horse should be jumped in any sort of class without one that's corectly fitted.
I hate to see a standing martingale on anything - they are pointless. They should be banned from hunter jumper classes where they seem to have become a fashion statement, If they are loose enough to allow the horse to stretch and jump then they are too loose to prevent it from hitting you in the face. If they are tight enough to stop it hitting you in the face then they are too tight to allow the horse to lift its head up and save itself if it stumbles or jumps too big. Dangerous things.

^^ how can it help you from catching the horse is the mouth ??