Ardall Dummies - do they really work/help?

[MagicMelon]

Ive borrowed an Ardall dummy for my horse who I am currently backing, she has a slight habit of rushing forward during other things (like having rug taken off etc. but only sometimes). Due to me having 2 crashing falls last year due to another horse taking off with me full pelt during the first week of being on his back, I'm wary of a repeat of this! Hence the Ardall.

I'd just like to know peoples experiences with the dummies and if you think it really helps when a person then gets on?

 

[Spring Feather]

I'd never heard of Ardall dummies before this thread. A quick search brought up this http://www.ardall.com/safety-rider/

My first thought was for that price you could pay a real life rider, who is used to backing lively youngsters. I really don't think a dummy can possibly emulate the feeling of a person on the horse's back. Initially desensitising with dummies is one thing but so long as you've prepped the young horse properly there usually isn't much problem with the backing process. We've had the odd youngster in who we've been told has rushed a little when anything has been done with them, prior to us having them at our farm, but we just take the time to get over that hurdle before moving on to the next stage.

The Ardell dummy isn't something that would be on my list of things to buy I'm afraid, however I have never used one and doubtful I'd ever have the need for one.

 

[Enfys]

HOW much?

Good Grief. It is fortunate you have managed to borrow one, almost 500 pounds/$1000 ish !

Strewth! I am in shock. You would pay that for 60 days schooling and board where I live!

I have never used anything like that.

 

[natalia]

I don't like them. I've backed some super sharp youngsters and if done at the right pace for each horse when introduced the right way to a rider they don't try and deposit you. Spend your money with a good trainer instead!

 

[AdorableAlice]

I have a sharp cart horse and have improvised with a blow up doll which he now allows to jump all over him and fall off him whilst he stands quietly. I will be using a pair of old jeans filled with sand to get him used to legs flapping about.

My plan is to have him steady to anything above him and around his sides at halt and walk before putting a rider on board.

 

[McCauley]

IF i were ever to go down the path of using some form of dummy,..I'd go for AA's 'dummy' rather than even thinking of spending an extortionate amount of money on an Ardell... I've seen one used and i wasn't impressed at all really....and didn't seem to do the horse any favours in the long run either.

Much better with an 'up to the job' jockey on board in my humble opinion,..as Spring Feather's has said, as i too can't see this product emulating a real 'live' person on a horse's back.

 

[AdorableAlice]

IF i were ever to go down the path of using some form of dummy,..I'd go for AA's 'dummy' rather than even thinking of spending an extortionate amount of money on an Ardell... I've seen one used and i wasn't impressed at all really....and didn't seem to do the horse any favours in the long run either.

Much better with an 'up to the job' jockey on board in my humble opinion,..as Spring Feather's has said, as i too can't see this product emulating a real 'live' person on a horse's back.

It's getting the right balance in my view. I am dead against strapping something on and letting the horse go berserk until exhaustion. That is not acceptance and the next time is likely to be a problem. My horse would just crash and burn if I strapped a dummy on and let him go. But he is an extremely nervous horse through no fault of his own. Along with the blow up doll and the sand filled jeans I get on a box and do a lot of leaning over and making plenty of noise. When he accepts anything and everything on his back a real person will get on.

 

[*sprinkles*]

I'm not a fan. I've backed a lot of horses under many different employers and therefore using many different methods and nothing beats using a "live", quiet and light weight jockey for the first sit on. I don't feel like the horse always equates the dummy with a rider very well as yes, the weight carried is the same but the balance is not. I've seen horses accept the dummy and then take a step back when a rider gets on board. I've never found that it's the weight of the rider the horse often will object to. It's when the rider moves his/her legs or bends down to fix the girth or shifts their weight I've seen horses have a bit of a start.

 

[Dry Rot]

At the risk of boring everyone to death, here is a little video showing an alternative method. (I think I should also post it on the insomniac's thread…). The short loading sequence at the beginning shows what can happen if you feed them in the trailer from an early age. Note: No lunge lines so no possibilities of tangles or panicky horses which for me is a major plus!

[YouTube]-W-PgJPibcY[/YouTube]

 

[MagicMelon]

Dry Rot - thanks for the vid. Yep already do all that sort of thing like rubbing plastic rustly bags over her, flapping saddle clothes/jackets round her and over her. She's good with all of this as long as I introduce things to her slowly each time which is absolutely fine. She's still a bit wary of me jumping up and down beside her (as if I'm about to get on), I do it daily yet each time her ears go back and she just doesn't like it! I'm sure she'll be absolutely fine though. Just waiting for a new girth to arrive as her saddle slips slightly (despite being fitted to her just a fortnight ago), then I guess I'll just hop on quietly properly. Have got on her in the stable a couple of times but she hasn't moved with me on her yet.

 

[AdorableAlice]

No laughing ! he is a complex character and I have to improvise.

 

[McCauley]

ha ha ha ha..... Oh My Good God..... now THAT is one heck of an improvise...!!! LOL Did you go into 'the shop' and buy it yourself AA!!!!???

Nice One! Oh that's made my Friday that has! LOL

 

[Dry Rot]

I would respectfully point out that this is a family forum and showing naked bodies draped over horses might cause offence!

 

[AdorableAlice]

I would respectfully point out that this is a family forum and showing naked bodies draped over horses might cause offence!

Trudie Trollope is a fun doll, she has no, ermm......bit and pieces, or a shocked look on her face, you know what I mean. She is a size 0 and my size 16 plus overalls are too big for her. She was £5.49 free postage on amazon - bargain !!

Ted is a carthorse in stature but the most nervous, anxious and unpredictable horse imaginable. I have had to think beyond conventional methods for a lot of things. Sadly his problems are man made. He will be ok eventually.

 

[MagicMelon]

Ha ha, great improvisation!! Trudie Trollope, ha ha!!

 

[Dry Rot]

Trudie Trollope is a fun doll, she has no, ermm......bit and pieces, or a shocked look on her face, you know what I mean. She is a size 0 and my size 16 plus overalls are too big for her. She was £5.49 free postage on amazon - bargain !! (The rest snipped)

Did you miss my smiley? Look at my screen name!!!

I was being facetious! My apologies for my poor sense of humour.

 

[Hurricanelady]

ha ha ha ha..... Oh My Good God..... now THAT is one heck of an improvise...!!! LOL Did you go into 'the shop' and buy it yourself AA!!!!???

Nice One! Oh that's made my Friday that has! LOL

Mine too, absolutely hilarious AA!!! ;-)

 

[AdorableAlice]

Did you miss my smiley? Look at my screen name!!!

I was being facetious! My apologies for my poor sense of humour.

No, please I was laughing too.

 

[lastchancer]

Adorable alice, shouldn't Trudie have a hard hat on at the very least?

 

[Red-1]

So funny. I think part of your training could be long reining, down the street, with Trudi............Training purposes only obviously!!!!!!