NEW! Place your order online and ship directly to the Dover Saddlery retail store of your choice! You will be contacted by a store associate in approximately 7-10 business days when all of your items are ready for pick up. Standard shipping is FREE! You will be responsible for any Oversize/Overweight fees which will be visible during the checkout process. Ship to Store orders are not eligible for expedited shipping.
To place your ship to store order, simply add items to cart and begin the online checkout process. Select a Dover Saddlery retail location for your 'Shipping Information'. You will be asked to provide your name and phone number so we can contact you when the items are ready for pick-up.
Curbside pick-up is available. Please coordinate with the store associate when you are notified that your item is available for pick-up.
Questions? Call us at 800-406-8204.
Reserve Online-Pick Up at Store - for FREE!
Chat with us now to reserve this item at your local store! We will check to make absolutely sure the product is available and reserve it for you to pick up as soon as today. If the item is not available at your store, we will ship it there for FREE and you will be contacted when it is available (approximately 7-10 business days).
Click on the Live Chat button below.
Provide your desired store location, item, size, color and quantity.
We will check your local store's inventory to make absolutely sure that the product is available.
Fitting a Martingale A martingale is a short-term corrective aid that applies pressure to help prevent a horse's head from coming up too high when being ridden. It should always be used by a knowledgeable rider and with rein stops to prevent the rings becoming tangled with the bit or billets. There are three types of martingales.
Standing Martingale - If the horse raises its head above the allowed height, pressure is applied to the nose to encourage the horse to return to the lower head carriage. Pressure is relieved with the lower head carriage. The strap attaches to the back of the noseband. Pass the lower part of the martingale through the horse's front legs and then fasten to the girth. It should be loose enough so the strap can be pushed up to touch the throatlatch of the bridle when the horse has its head in a relaxed position.
Adjusted correctly, you should to be able to press the strap into the inside contour of the neck from its attachment at the chest. The loop should reach to the horse's chin when stretched along the length of the gullet.
Running Martingale - If the horse raises its head above the allowed height, pressure is applied to the bars and tongue to encourage lower head carriage. A running martingale can provide more freedom than a standing martingale, and the rider can release pressure as soon as the head is in the correct position. The reins pass through rings that are attached to the center strap.
When correctly adjusted, the rings should reach the horse's withers when stretched tight, and the reins should run a straight line from the rider's hand to the bit ring.
German Martingale - If the horse raises its head above the allowed height, the reins apply pressure to the bit, which acts on the bars and corners of the mouth. The pressure encourages the horse to resume the lower head carriage, and the pressure is then released. Swap your reins for the German martingale reins. The breast strap of the martingale connects to your girth first. Each side strap runs through the corresponding bit ring and clips onto a d-ring of the German martingale reins.
How to Attach a Nameplate to a Halter, Bridle, Martingale or Breastplate
Required Tools: will need a leather hole punch, hammer and pencil.
Steps: 1. Unwrap your nameplate and identify the rivets as having two posts and two caps. 2. Center the plate where you would like it ; mark its holes with pencil. 3. Use the hole punch centered on the pencil marks. A good quality hole punch with appropriate pressure applied should be able to penetrate even thick leather halters. 4. Push the rivet posts through the back of the tack so the posts are pointed toward you. 5. Put the nameplate on rivet posts. 6. Place rivet caps onto the posts, and tap the caps with a hammer.
Note: If you do not feel comfortable installing your own nameplate, we are happy to help. Bring your plate and tack into your local Dover Saddlery store for assistance. Your local leather repair professional or cobbler may also be able to assist you.
The Easiest and Best Guarantee in The Business
Shop with 100% confidence at Dover Saddlery. If something doesn’t fit you or your horse, return your original purchase within a year, and we’ll make it right with a refund, exchange or replacement.
Our experience as riders and horse owners ourselves is that in most situations a year’s time is fair enough to evaluate proper fit and function. PLUS: For manufacturer’s defects, we’ll extend the manufacturer’s warranty to a maximum of 24 months, regardless of their individual policies. (AND: Manufacturer warranties longer than 24 months will be honored and supported by us as well up to the length of those warranties).
Exceptions: Safety items such as helmets and protective vests may only be returned within 30 days, with their original tags intact. Saddles and riding boots may be returned within the one year period, but are subject to a prorated refund based on usage. Used saddles may be returned for 30 days only. For everyone’s protection, treats and vet meds which have been opened are not returnable, and returned blankets must clean and free of debris.
Special Conditions
To protect all customers and ensure that every return or exchange is handled fairly, we may require a receipt or decline a return in these situations:
• Item was not purchased directly from Dover Saddlery. (It was purchased at a used tack sale or from a retailer or online seller other than Dover Saddlery.)
• Item is missing a label or has been defaced.
• No receipt and no valid identification in our stores.
• Item is wet, dirty or contaminated, or until it has been cleaned. (For health and safety reasons, we cannot accept returns on used, defective or poorly fitting blankets if they are UNWASHED.)
• Item has been lost, stolen, damaged, or misused.
• On rare occasions, based on the nature of prior transactions.
• Supplements have been opened or used.
• Multiple returns of the same item.
• Personalized items may not be returned unless defective.
Security Guarantee
Dover Saddlery understands your concerns regarding online security. We share in your concerns and therefore work hard with experts in the field to maintain a highly secure ordering environment. Along with our comment to security, we offer you a Secure Order Guarantee - this gives you 100% protection for your credit card transactions on Doversaddlery.com.
Our Secure Order Guarantee means that you will never have to pay any money related to unauthorized charges to your credit card account, as long as those charges are a direct result from a transaction on Doversaddlery.com.
How it works: If you experience credit card fraud, the Fair Credit Act specifies that your credit card company can hold you liable for no more than $50.00 in fraudulent charges to your account. Our Secure Order Guarantee will reimburse you for any amount up to $50.00 billed to you by your credit card company for unauthorized charges to your account, if those charges result from an order you placed with Doversaddlery.com. For this protection you must promptly notify your credit card company of fraudulent charges and follow their procedures as outlined in your credit card agreement.
The Vespucci Plain Raised Standing Martingale is fully adjustable at neck and girth for a comfortable fit. Designed by Peter Menet, it matches the Vespucci Fancy, Square or Plain Raised Hunt Bridles, but it complements other bridlework as well. Crafted from American leather.
Imported.
Manufacturer Restricted Price Product: Count on Dover Saddlery for the best quality, value and price possible. However, some of our manufacturers restrict advertised selling prices and prevent us from advertising discounts. For other items, some manufacturers allow us to offer and advertise a discount on a limited basis. Therefore, some products are not eligible for discounts.
