The German Martingale is a popular training device because it allows the rein pressure to be direct to the rider’s hands so that when it is removed there is not a drastic change of pressure for the horse as in the case of draw reins and conventional martingales. It is different from other devices because the rider doesn’t pull the horse’s head into position but allows the horse to adjust his head by the position that is set by the ring that the running fork is attached to.