Martingales and breastplates

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Stubben - Hunting breastplate The Stubben 1060 Hunting Breastplate is made from fine quality leather and combines stainless steel and faux bone hardware. It has a raised top neck strap, 5/8" flat side neck straps and a 11/8" flat body strap. More information>> From: £100 inc. VAT


Stubben - Breastcollar Made from the finest, softest leather and padded for maximum comfort, the Stubben 1063 Breastcollar is designed to coordinate with the Stubben 3000 series bridles. More information>> From: £79.99 inc. VAT


Stubben - Running martingale The Stubben 3050 Running Martingale offers exceptionally smooth gliding. It is crafted from the finest quality leather and is adjustable from both sides. A variety of attractive colours are available so you can match it with existing horse tack. More information>> From: £55 inc. VAT

The Dogwood Equestrian Collection - Martingales

Dogwood�s bridle wear is amongst the finest available. Our name is synonymous with superior quality and our martingales are just part of our fine range of finest quality horse tack.

Martingales form part of the bridle. They are a strap which prevents the horse from lifting its head too high. Martingales are optional and are often used for an inexperienced horse rider as something extra to hold on to. A traditional bridle sees the reins attached closer to the horse's mouth whereas martingales loop around the front portion of the horse's body.

There are two types of martingales, running and standing.

Running martingales

A running martingale has two lines which attach to the reins. These sometimes run through the bit rings before they attach to the reins

Standing martingales

A standing martingale has a single line which attaches to the noseband. The standing martingale is used successfully in fast-action sports such as polo.

Both types of martingales attach to a breast strap and another line runs from the breast strap to the girth or the surcingle.

Before you use a martingale to prevent head tossing, you should check that there is not an underlying reason why your horse is doing this. It might be that your horse has a bad back or a dental problem.

You must use a martingale with care and be aware that the first time you put it on your horse it may not react well. Its initial reaction may be to fight against wearing something that appears to grasp its head. You must ensure that you use the correct bit; a snaffle bit is recommended.

Leather or synthetic martingales

As with all other horse tack you can buy leather or synthetic martingales. Leather is a popular choice because its durability and strength are renowned. If you care for your leather tack then it will last for many years. Synthetic martingales and horse tack can, on the other hand, be washed easily and do not need to be oiled on a regular basis.