German Martingale
This German Martingale is the Ultimate Horse Training Tool
Easily teach your horse to give to your hands and flex at the poll
Helps your horse learn…Vertical & Lateral Flexion, Suppleness and Collection
German Martingale photo
If there was only one piece of special training equipment I could have, this would be my choice. Throw your "running martingale" away and try this "German martingale" with your snaffle bit. If you've never used one before, you'll be amazed how much it helps your horse's training.
The German martingale is designed to teach your horse to give to the bit, flex at the poll and maintain good vertical and lateral head position. This equipment is ideal for helping a horse to learn proper head position for stops, spins and collection.
Top trainers, Al Dunning and Larry Trocha swear by this piece of equipment. You'll see them use it in many of their training videos. This martingale is the absolute best quality and will give you years of service. It's designed to be fully adjustable to fit any western horse at any level of training.
Training Tip
First, "check-up" your horse for 15 to 20 minutes with a snaffle bit. Then, go ahead and start riding him with the German Martingale. Be prepared for really great results. Most horses will learn to give to the bit and flex at the poll beautifully in just a ride or two.
With the German martingale, you'll have a much better feel of the horse's mouth. It's really easy to teach him to flex at the poll with little danger of over flexing. Results are much better and the horse learns quicker than just about any other method.

Al Dunning stopping a colt using a snaffle bit
with a German martingale
How to Adjust the German Martingale
This martingale helps place a horse's head just where you want it. The white ropes of the martingale pass through the rings of the snaffle bit (from the inside to out) and snaps into one of 3 dee-rings on the reins. Use this adjustment to position the horse's head for the proper amount of flex (approximately vertical).
Use the first ring to set the horse's head above the vertical position, shown in the photo below. Use the second ring to position the horse's head at the vertical. And use the third ring for really stiff horses to over-flex the head beyond the vertical.
Order your German Martingale now!
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Phone Orders Call Toll-Free 1-800-811-4883
Sorry if someone else has asked this question, but will the German Martingale stop a horse from rearing. Nothing is wrong with the horse except the fact that I have spoiled him for the past 6 yrs. And now I'm trying to fix the issue, (I know it is all me and not the horse) but when he wants to be done he rears up. Will the german martingale stop or defuse this behavior.
Hi Larry
I have a 4 year old paint who is bucking to the left at the lope but not to the right , is right side loping is better than his left . Could it mean he isn't balanced ? I know he's stiff more on that side so would a German martingale help with balancing, or proper collection?
I ordered the German martingale and the thin snaffle from your site after watching a few of your video selections detailing their uses. Currently, I ride my Morab in two different broken curb bit varieties or an elevator happy mouth with a running martingale (this one rarely). He's happiest in the curbs, but it requires a lot more constant tweeking with my pinkies to keep his head set, mostly at the trot. He tends to want to speed up/evade, but generally comes around as he creates a longer workout for himself with such behavior.
When your equipment I've ordered arrives, should I just do his normal workout (W/T/C, side passes at trot, stops into lead changes – we've not perfected these yet)? Huck is highly trainable, but he is heavy on a snaffle. Anyway, just wondered if we should just take it easy walking about the first day; I don't think he'll need checking as he's 8 and not green or mean. Thanks.
Hi Larry,
I've been enjoying your newsletters. I've been using a german martingale regularly on my western pleasure horse for the last couple years, but probably not properly. I use a junior cow horse bit on her (which has a very short curb), for both the arena and trail riding. However, in your video you said not to use a german martingale if you have a curb bit on your horse. Why is this?
Thanks so much,
Lisa
Are the reins open or closed? I want to use the martingale on my gelding. He is getting on years, but I have been using him for low-level eventing. He was always a western pleasure horse, so he noses out a little. He also has a really long neck (he is pretty, but probably only to me…) and has a tendency to carry it up and hollow his back. He has generally made a terrific transition into English riding and jumping, but I want a gentle way of getting him to carry his head a little more towards the vertical for the dressage portion. If the reins are open, I will just tie them shut, but it would be helpful to me if they are closed.
Will the German Martingale fit a 17 hand horse?
Larry,
I wanted to say that your a hundred and ten % correct on the German Martingale.
A draft horse was brought to me to see if I could supple him up.He was just reall hard mouthed. He is a part of a team that pulls a wagon.
Instead of fighting him all the time, I made a few modifications to the german martingale, and two weeks later not a single problem.
Now I just need to order another from you.
Thanks for all the great work and information. Hard jobs made easy, explainations of how and why.
I purchased the German Martingale for a green 4 year old gelding. This is a big horse at 16.2 hands and he would not break at the crown. The German Martingale fixed this problem as well as the bucking he had recently began doing. He can't get his head so when he tries to buck all he does is wear himself out.
I am in the process of building a round pen to correct this but must admit that I can't keep from getting on him. Thanks for the German Martingale, it is a great piece of equipment.
Thanks for your recommendation of German martingale,which is a good tool for horse training,and your tips on that is very prctical and helpful.
One question regarding the German Martingale does it come with the reins or do you purchase them seperately as the reins I currently have you cannot attach anything to?
Leave a Comment


25 Comments on German Martingale