Tie Downs - Good and Bad?

If its super loose, then she must be using her body in very unusual ways to brace against it. That can't be good for her body.

I've used a tie down on a gameing pony who had a super short/upright neck new used it when racing so he didn't hit me in the face during a moment of adrenalin. It was never on him at any other time.

If she rides exactly the same without it, how is she bracing on it? Does she naturally carry her head so high she would be hitting a loose tie down?
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To me, this tiedown is not being used as a crutch.

I believe a tiedown is a tool, for finished horses going in events like polo, barrels, roping, other speed events for the balance added. My friend has a horse who is a wonderful example. He has NO training holes, and she rides him in a tiedown for barrels when speed is added. You can see him reach for it and stretch his head out where it's comfortable for him.

On the other hand my mare would probably kill herself in a tiedown, nor would she ever need one because she is extremely balanced naturally at high speeds.

Just all in how it's used, as well as preference to the horse. Used incorrectly it is incredibly dangerous and not useful at all.

OK here comes the anti tie down person or at least the person who does not understand it's use.
Why would you want your horse bracing against it instead of being balanced on his own? Perhaps there is some good reason but I would think that it would be better to have the horse better balanced on his own. In the case of the horse that does just as well without than with, then get rid of the thing. It is just one more thing to get hung up and cause an accident.

I'm a trail rider and from that point I am definitely against them. Sso many western people have them on way too tight. The horse cannot get his head up above his withers to balance himself on hills. He is constantly getting bumped in the nose when ever he tries. If the rider is using it to keep him from flinging his head, then address the training issue and don't use it as a patch. Maybe they think it helps them get that low head set. I have no idea. I have never used one on any of my horse and never gotten banged in the head either.

The only good thing I see in tie-downs is horses that will use them for balance or, as a "third leg" as mentioned earlier.
They really help rope horses (especially heading) brace themselves and help barrel horses balance.

I'm not anti 'tie downs' but I wouldnt use one unless it was as a temporary 'band aid' with a horse that flipped its head enough to smack me in the face - problem I had with Looby but I used a running martingale which a prefer and 6 months down the line problem solved and no more martingale They are a tool for use in a competitive situation when sometimes theres a 'needs must' - which is why some polo ponies are ridden in them - but usually only when playing or training - you're going at high speeds, fast turns, reins in one hand etc
To me if a horse is bracing itself against it then it can't be balanced and its at risk of overdeveloping the muscles on the underside of its neck
If you are wanting to do english ridden classes then that's the opposite of what you want and if the horse goes well without one then lose it altogether - however if its head is still up in that 'braced' position without the martingale then its no way working on the bit in a relaxed frame is it?
If you want to do english classes then you need to school the horse away from this habit and not encourage it
Some photos of your horse under saddle would help but here are 2 pics where you can see a horse in a fairly good outline and one that looks as if its braced against an invisible tie down

I do not understand how the horse leans into it and it helps him with high speed maneuvers. It would seem that if he were leaning into it then his weight would to far on his forehand. Could someone explain how it works and how it helps? I'm open minded, I'm just not understanding the dynamics of it.

At #3 the OP says it very loose and it goes the same with or without the tie down & also that she wants to do English pleasure classes
If the horses is head is that high when ridden without the tie down then it needs some serious schooling work if its ever going to do any sort of English riding classes
The tie down isnt the right thing for the horse and only perpetuating a bad habit

Is an english martingale the same as a "tie-down" in western ??

No, the tiedown is not the same.

I used a tie-down on Grace (Western) for the first time to try and work on her headset. She throws her head up a little to much during her lead changes. We rode 2x in it. She was very frustrated. The 3rd time (about a week later) we rode without it, and she was so nervous, confused and scared she refused to lope/canter. She loves to canter & only refuses if there is something wrong with her tack or some lameness... I had to ride her 2 more times and still she is nervous- I am just going to let her do the head toss & am going back to better rein control. (??)
Early on I learned to gently "see-saw" the reins to drop her head- if I say "drop your head" while riding she will for a few moments, but that's it even with my trying hard to release when she does it right. She also will drop her head on cue for her bridle.This tie-down was not a good thing at all for her....i feel SO bad I did this. Just how wrong was I ??