30/ AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 THE RIDER
The Science of how Horses Think & Learn Martingales
Views on the use of training aids
differ from the barn aisle to major equine associations. As a coach and trainer in a sport where truth, tradi- tion and emotions frequently collide, I’ve learned to sift through divisive issues by drawing on past experi- ence, reading current research, ex- perimenting myself and asking questions! I ask the riders I teach why they’ve
chosen certain tack or training aids. Tradition? Habit? Often there’s a well-reasoned response. Other times, a shrug -everyone tacks up their horse this way… Then, I suggest my artificial aids checklist : 1. I understand the mechanics of how the equipment works and on which
EDITOR’S NOTE: The wrong head- line was used for this column in our July 2022 issue. We apologise to Lindsay Grice and our readers for any confusion this may have caused. We are rerunning the corrected column here in its entirety. Thank you.
By Lindsay Grice. Equestrian Canada coach, horse show judge, specialist in equine behaviour.
Q. My trainer suggests I use a martin- gale for everyday schooling for my four year old gelding. Most horses in the barn are ridden with martingales. Some people say they’re helpful. Oth- ers say they’re shortcuts to proper training. What’s your opinion?
part of the horse 2. Based on #1, I’ve chosen this equip- ment to help solve this issue for this horse at this stage of training
How martingales work: As decision-makers
in the
horse/human partnership, we owe it to our horses to clearly define our expecta- tions - the boundaries of speed, line and shape in which we want our horses to travel. What kind of “box” are you visu- alizing around your horse? When my horse stays inside the
boundaries, without me having to hold him there, that’s self-carriage - kind of like cruise control. He’s discovered, by trial and error, the box’s limitations - en- countering my aids whenever he makes an unauthorized change and finding re- lease, within the box. Martingales represent the top of the
English Martingale
box. A consistent limit when he elevates his head and freedom when he lowers it. Running martingales redirect bit
pressure downward when the horse lifts his head above the line from the rider’s elbow, through her wrist, to the bit. Standing martingales or western
tie-downs are attached to the noseband. The horse encounters pressure on his nose when he elevates his neck.
When to use them Ideally, the freedom box is dis-
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cerned by the horse, without artificial aids, through the timely application of pressure and release at the hand of an educated rider. I see training aids as tem- porary teaching tools to help the horse find the right answer, as maneuvers be- come more complex. For example, refining transitions or flying changes while main- taining a consistent topline. When hands are
busy and lots happen- ing at once, roping, for example, a tie down can provide a consistent limit to head lift and some-
thing to balance against when the horse is stopping. In complex maneuvering at speed, such as show jumping or barrel racing, martingales are useful when a split second head- toss could mean miss- ing the takeoff spot or stumbling. A horse can’t find the boundaries
of a box when those boundaries keep moving. A standing martingale can be a useful aid for a novice rider inclined to miss the moment – inadvertently re- warding the horse who seizes the oppor- tunity to pop his head up. Check the adjustment: when your horse is carrying himself in the desired topline, is the mar- tingale strap slack?
When not to use them • If your horse doesn’t understand the basic phonics of suppling to rein pres- sure. A martingale solution is like a driv- ing exam in a foreign language. You feel confused and trapped. • When used instead of vs. supplement- ing your hands. A too-tight running mar- tingale directs bit pressure to the bars of the horse’s mouth instead of the lips and tongue, as designed. Relentless pressure from a standing martingale desensitizes your horse. At best, he’ll never learn self-carriage. At worse, he’ll feel trapped and flip over.
Western Martingale
• When your martingale is not permitted in the schooling area and show ring of your association. Check your rule book!
About Lindsay Grice. A horse show judge and certi-
fied riding coach with a special inter- est in equine behaviour. After 25 years as a competitor and horse trainer, Lindsay enjoys teaching clinics and travelling to Ontario farms as a free- lance instructor. She’s taught the sci- ence of equine behaviour and learning for horse associations, courses for University of Guelph and therapeutic riding facilities. Lindsay judges many disciplines
and breeds and serves on an EC judg- ing committee
Why do horses do what they do? “In the horse world, our traditions and evidence sometimes collide – I love to help riders solve their horse puzzles with logic, patience and equitation science.”
www.lindsaygriceridingcoach.com
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