Why use a standing martingale?

The standing martingale is used to keep the horse's head down in a more normal position. Some horses will toss or throw their heads sometimes so much that a rider can be hit in the face. With the head in a better position the bit will be more effective, the back won't be hollow and the rider can keep his teeth. The martingale attatches to the cavason on an English headstall and hooks to the breastcollar or the girth on the bottom. When riding western, a plan cavason is worn under the western bridle and it hooks to the breastcollar or western girth. Sometimes the western version is called a tie-down. When showing, sometimes a standing martingale is not allowed because it can be viewed as a training device. The are legal in jumpers and some flat classes. For western riding, martingales are seen on barrel racers and roping horses.