30/ JULY 2022 THE RIDER


The Science of how Horses Think & Learn Tips for Memorizing Show Patterns


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 part of the horse 2. Based on #1, I’ve chosen this equipment to help solve this issue for this horse at this stage of training


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?


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, tradition and emotions frequently collide, I’ve learned to sift through divisive issues by drawing on past experience, reading cur- rent research, experimenting myself and asking questions! I ask the riders I teach why they’ve


How martingales work: As decision-makers in the horse/human partnership, we owe it to our horses to clearly define our ex- pectations - the boundaries of speed, line and shape in which we want our


horses to travel. What kind of “box” are you visualizing 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


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.


English Martingale


When to use them Ideally, the freedom box is dis-


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, re- fining transitions or flying changes while maintaining a consistent topline. When hands are busy and lots hap-


pening at once, roping, for example, a tie down can provide a consistent limit to head lift and something to balance against when the horse is stopping. In complex maneuvering at speed, such as show jumping or barrel racing, mar-


tingales 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-


Western Martingale


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. • 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 certified riding coach with a special interest in equine behaviour.


After 25 years as a competitor and horse trainer, Lindsay enjoys teaching clinics and travelling to Ontario farms as a freelance instructor. She’s taught the science of equine behaviour and learn- ing for horse associations, courses for University of Guelph and therapeutic riding facilities. Lindsay judges many disciplines and breeds and serves on an EC judging 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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