Here is an early 19th century specimen of worn and tired leather horse equipment known as a martingale. This equestrian accoutrement appears to date from the 1820s to 1840s and was a leather strap device used in conjunction with the saddle harness on more unruly and headstrong horses. When properly used, the martingale strap set across the chest of the horse and was buckled into the saddle equipment. The martingale tended to prevent a horse from throwing his head up and rearing. It also kept the animal's nose down and his head in a more perpendicular position.

This martingale is constructed of black bridle leather and measures approximately 56" long and 3½" wide at the strap's mid point where it features a large, heart-shaped, leather disc tightly sewn directly to the center of the strap. Martingale narrows in width toward the buckle attachments and billets at each end of the leather strap. The billets and clasps suffer separation from the martingale strap because of the original stitching that has broken apart and separated in areas. Entire lower border edge of the martingale exhibits remnants of the original leather fringe or tassles used as decoration on this piece of horse equipment. Martingale also features five horizontal and decorative tooling lines that traverse the entire face of the leather exterior. A single line of light colored stitching is visible at the specimen's bottom edge where the leather fringe is attached. All stitching appears machine done. No maker's marks visible.

A pre-Civil War example of an original but tired equestrian leather martingale.  [ra]

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