[HorsesAreForever]

I was jumping Chance today and she was all excited, but what she does is bolt off after the jump and throw her head in teh air which is how I lose control and have to try my best to get her back to me.

Someone was watching and says how she looks right for the jump and get to excited when she lands and just takes off .. so she suggested a martingale..

After 5 jumps of really slowing her down before the jump she went over it nice and smooth and landed in a nice canter and thats where we ended it.

But my question.. martingale while jumping?????

I know theres standing an running martingales.... which ones are better for jumping.. Ive never once use a martingale in my life.. ive seen them but thats it.

 

[wild_spot]

If she was relaxing by the end of the session, then keep doing what you are doing and don't resort to a martingale yet.

If you do go that route - Running martingale for sure. I don't know why standings are allowed for hunters over there, but they aren't allowed in any jump ring here as they can be very dangerous when jumping. If you want to try one, go with a running martingale adjusted quite loose, so that it only comes into play if she really tosses that head.

 

[MIEventer]

Sounds to me that you need to focus on dressage and learning to ride seat first, legs second and hands lastly.

I think you need to go back to basics and focus on the Training Scale - that way, you don't have to resort to a gadget to mute the underlying problem.

Do you take lessons?

 

[HorsesAreForever]

ermmm

How does her throwing her head up when she bolts after a jump suggest we need to do dressage? She gets over excited when it comes to jumps, she does it on ground every once in a while.

I mean I can control her without the martingale fine, it would just make the whole session easier and more enjoyable for her. And I was only gonna put it on for one or 2 jumping sessions then take it off and work from there.

I haven't taken lessons for the last year or so. And honestly I like it that way. I mean I have people who will point something out if they see its becoming a habit and ill fix it from there but I cant stand lessons and Chance doesnt do well in them either.

 

[eventerdrew]

I'm not going to comment on whether or not you should have a martingale (the conversation could take a bad turn. haha) but if you do, DO NOT use a standing martingale. Running Martingales are the only way to go for jumping.

 

[kevinshorses]

ermmm

How does her throwing her head up when she bolts after a jump suggest we need to do dressage? She gets over excited when it comes to jumps, she does it on ground every once in a while.

Do you want to fix the problem or just cover it up? I don't think putting any martingale on is going to make her more comfortable. It may make you more comfortable but she still hasn't learned to not throw her head up.

Traditionaly, the entire purpose of dressage was to train horses to jump and handle themselves under saddle. If your horse is having trouble jumping then the answer is ussualy to work on dressage.

 

[HorsesAreForever]

Okay good to know

I was gonna go with the standing martingale.

 

[IheartPheobe]

I jump my pony in a standing martingale. . . Sorry to jump in but why is that so horrible?

 

[HorsesAreForever]

Im not trying to cover it up, I just want to see what it will do for her if she has it and if she realizes that jumping with out throwing her head up is easier I can take it off and just work from there.

 

[kevinshorses]

Sounds like your mind is made up so I won't try to change it.

 

[HorsesAreForever]

Its not. lol

I promised id never try and fix something with equitment so im already iffy about it. It was just suggested to me today and I was thinking about it.

 

[wild_spot]

And a few people have said a running.

A standing martingale is fixed - It would need to be adjusted beyond any usefullness to allow the horse full use of it's head and neck when jumping (in case of over-extension, etc.). It is also a solid block - the horse pretty much hits a brick wall when it reaches the end of the slack. Because of this, it is possible for horses to brace against them.

A running martingale actions on the reins, instead of a noseband. Any pressure can be immediatly released by loosening the reins. Because you crest/auto release when you jump, there is no possibility of the running martingale effecting the horse at all when actually jumping.

 

[eventerdrew]

Iheartphoebe- when you get to a certain height, the standing martingale restricts the range of motion that a horse has with their head. Range of motion is vital for jumping. I've jumped a horse that had a standing martingale on...they couldn't move their head up, only down, which encourages them to be on the forehand and not use themselves correctly. Good for hunters, not for jumpers or eventing. You will not find anyone but hunters using the standing martingale for that reason.

 

[wild_spot]

^ because we don't have hunters in AUS, they are illegal on any jumps course. Our version of hunters (Equitation) doesn't allow ANY martingales.

 

[HorsesAreForever]

Okay if im to use one ill deff get a running martingale. TY for explaining that!


Lol see I want to do hunters lol!

 

[eventerdrew]

^sounds like AUS is ahead of the game in that department. I wish they wouldn't put standing martingales on :/

 

[wild_spot]

I was appalled when I first joined here and saw people jumping in standing martingales. Really the only place you see them here is on rodeo horses doing roping/barrels and such, and on some MG horses because they don't interfere with the reins.

I would never, ever jump a horse in a standing martingale. *Shudders*

And no worries!

 

[MIEventer]

I am with you Wild_Spot, I dispise Standing Martingales.

Gadgets are made by man, for man. NO martingale will teach your horse anything, they just mute the underlying issue - and in my opinion, you and your horse need to go back to the basics and work on the Training Scale to correct both of your issues.

By the sounds of it, you are a rider who rides hands first - and dressage is doing to teach you to activate your seat and your core, to work towards a horse that works from the back end first, to the front.

I am going to take a wild stab in the dark, and guess that your horse is moving on her forehand, not using her back end, dropping her back and evading you - the rider. But a horse only reflects their rider.

Dressage is going to teach you to be more effective of a rider, to aid your horse to obtain the fundamentals to become a well balanced, respond to your aids, soft, engaged, rounded mount that you do not have right now.

The Training Scale.

A martingale, is going to cover the issues that is now rearing it's ugly head - and when you remove it, you are going to have the same horse, you have now.

 

[HorsesAreForever]

This is the first time shes ever done this head raising thing its new. Usually she would be lazy after a jump ****. Now shes having fun with it and getting over excited. But yes we are doing a lot more flat work then we have in the past.

And No I ride seat, legs, hands. Sometimes I go hands first out of habit but ive fixed that and still working on it. Chance is also learning to work more off my leg now.

And she actually uses her back now. She wasnt for the longest time because I was letting her slack off and be lazy. But Shes using it fairly well now and getting off her front a bit. And I know this because the saddle hasnt been slipping as much today and it does when shes on teh forehand.

 

[MIEventer]

I would love to see video footage if you have any

It would make it alot easier to see what could be going on.