The standing martingale has a single adjustable strap with a large loop at one end that the girth passes through and a smaller loop at the other end that a cavesson noseband of a bridle passes though before it is fastened. A neck strap or breastplate keeps the martingale close to the horse's chest. The standing martingale is very restrictive.
Fitting A Standing Martingale
To fit a standing martingale the neck strap or breastplate should be placed around the bottom of the horse's neck and be loose enough to place a hand's width between the horse and the neck strap or breastplate. The lower part of the martingale should be passed through the horse's front legs and the girth passed through the loop on the end before being fastened. It should be adjusted so that the lower part of the martingale fits comfortably under the horse and is not too loose. The cavesson noseband of the bridle should then be passed through the loop on the upper part of the martingale before being fastened. The standing martingale should be adjusted so that it is loose enough that the strap can be comfortably pushed up to touch the throat lash of the bridle when the horse has its head in a normal head carriage position.
