Control headcollars/Dually Halters. Opinions!

helen75

helen75

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 November 2008
Messages
190
Location
South Wales
Visit site
Has anyone used any of these type of gadgets with any success??

My darlin' ex racer is a different horse to the one I first took on nearly 5 years ago but still has one very bad persistent habit and that is rearing up in the field when I bring him in.

He can go weeks and months without doing it but a bit a spring grass and a new field buddy has seen him do it several times in the past week. He's pretty good to catch but if he decides he wants to be back with the others as I lead him across the field he will stop, often strike out, pull back, rear up and gallop off. Once out of the field and back in his stable he's angelic again!

He doesn't always get away from me but sometimes he's too quick and strong for me to keep hold of. I have used a chifney in the past with success but I'm afraid if he ever gets away with that and steps on the rope he'll rip his mouth apart. I've also noticed it seems to increase his anxiety when I use one.

I've had a quick look on the web and come accross things like these, for example:

http://www.equestriansuppliesshop.co.uk/pr...Headcollar.html

http://www.camrosa.co.uk/index.php?page=sh...hk=1&Itemid=237

http://www.intelligenthorsemanship.co.uk/t...lly-halter.html

Any help/advice/experience much appreciated!!!!

Thanks!!!!!!!
 
I wouldn't use one on a rearer. But if you do decide to get either of them do ensure you always use it with a slip rope, never a clip on one.
 
We used a dually head collar on a 16.3 ISH, he was very much a handful after suffering a tendon injury and being in on box rest! he was extremely strong but we found him so much better when we started using it! Taught him some manners too! He did manage to rear up in it once or twice though so I wouldn't say it would stop that...but at the end of the day...if a horse wants to rear, a horse WILL rear! Nothing can really stop them :/
 
The good thing about the NH Dually, is that it comes with a DVD that gives you a few guidelines on it's use and couple of routines to explain to the horse what he is wearing. My main advice would be to use a really decent, long lead rein. I had a difficult horse last year and did several sessions with a NH person. When I could not get the horse out of the field, her suggestion was to use the dually to lunge the horse in the field. The mare had two choices, leave the field, or lunge. She was no allowed to stand there and nap or pull back. It did work. The other thing is, don't be fooled into thinking "he's been good recently, I'll use a normal headcollar". Always use the dually, every day when you lead him in from the field.
 
Last edited:
I have a Dually halter and tbh it's my best buy ever. I originally bought it for my then young mad mare and with lots of in hand work she has turned into a impeccably behaved horse,so much so everyone always comments on how well mannered she is on the ground especially,very different to 4 years ago! I've also used it on a riggy anglo arab which helped me stay in control at rearing times,have also made it small enoguh to fit my vvv riggy dartmoor who also likes to strike out with a tantrum and rear now and again,he can be bargy too as was wild off the moor and this seems to give me that extra bit of control in 'dodgy' times! I used a v long soft lead rope with it too,always helps for when they go up as theres more length there than standard ropes. Can't recommend it enough,it's fantastic for loading also if you have a stubborn one or a horse who likes to take the mick,it uses the right methods for you to get the desired result.
 
I have a dually and a 12 foot line. I never lead anything that can be tricky without the 12 ft line these days, I love it. The dually only comes out for special occasions.
 
I use this one:
http://www.eskadron.org.uk/index.ph...manufacture_name=Eskadron&s_manufacture_id=6&

my horse used to rears spins bucks in my face and legs it....this is the only thing i found that helps me. I use it with a 12 foot rope so I can get out of the way and not get booted. He is now a doddle to do. It will not solve the problem entirely but it gave me more control so I do not loose him and then end up chasing him around the field
 
The Dually was a godsend for me and my boisterous filly, it really turned her around and the DVD is very good.

I don't think it would stop a rear, but it gives you the ability to send her backwards and let her understand it's not on.
 
Just popping on this thread to say if you use a long line of any description, please wear gloves. I was long-reining Kal on Friday and he decided to spin and "wave" at the horses in a neighbouring field - I wasn't wearing gloves and the lunge line ripping through my left hand left me with an impressive burn on my palm and the almost total removal of my left ring fingernail (which is now infected) . . . it could have been worse, but is still rather painful.

P
 
Its not only the gadget but the handling technique that will make a huge difference.

I use 3m leads on all my horses and have never looked back, no way I'd go back to the standard 1.2m one, as its just not long enough!
 
Please be very careful if you buy a dually. I've seen so many horses who have been ruined with them. Working with one at the moment who has been really screwed up.
 
amymay said:
Not long enough for what??
Click to expand...

Well anything connected with a horse (leading etc), also as other uses for tieing up gates, emergency repairs - in all respects a 3m rope is superior (and as stated before its not a 10m ungainly lunge line for the peeps confused by metric lengths)
 
I had a horse that behaved similarly to this, lots of rearing/striking out, she was a madam and really knocked my confidence - she wasn't little to start with and was even bigger on two legs!! Someone recommended that I bought a dually and I was originally a bit doubtful as to how much it would work but it's amazing and probably the most "worth it" horsey purchase I've made (other than the horses themselves!)
You do need to do a lot of groundwork with it initially, after watching the dvd, so that the horse understands the halter & what it means, but I've found them to pick it up very quickly. The "pressure/release" timing is very important, you have to be quick to release the rope when your horse gives into the pressure, but it explains all of this in the dvd. Another great thing about the dually is that you don't have to "fight" with the horse - you don't have to be forceful with the halter, just use it fairly & consistantly. It hugely reduced the amount of times she reared/boxed/spun, she had a LOT more respect for me and I was no longer afraid to get her in from the field once I had it - she never once tried to get away from me once it was on. Even when she did start behaving though, I kept her in it, never went back to a standard headcollar - she knew when it was on and when it wasn't! I do recommend a long line & gloves though, also a hat if there's rearing going on. Some horses do react to it more than others - some will get it straight away, hate the sensation & will behave like angels, others might challenge it a bit, but I've used it on several horses now and it's helped in every case. Definitely worth a go imo! Hope this helps a bit x
 
They are all now ridiculously sensetive around their noses, really try to avoid getting the headcollar on, one pony never caught with the dually and yet the second I took a standard headcollar he has caught, this has happened many times with him. Where as the one I'm working with now wouldn't let me near with thw dually and when I could finally get the nose band on he shakes violently to make you drop it. Now after using a standard headcollar for 2 months he's good as gold. He can be a handful to lead but he can be settled fairly easily.
 
BeckyMason97 said:
They are all now ridiculously sensetive around their noses, really try to avoid getting the headcollar on, one pony never caught with the dually and yet the second I took a standard headcollar he has caught, this has happened many times with him. Where as the one I'm working with now wouldn't let me near with thw dually and when I could finally get the nose band on he shakes violently to make you drop it. Now after using a standard headcollar for 2 months he's good as gold. He can be a handful to lead but he can be settled fairly easily.
Click to expand...

Oh wow, my filly wears one all the time, I don't think I will go back to a normal headcollar. It is mostly on the normal headcollar ring now, but it's nice to have the safety net.

She actually drops her head into it, so I guess as with a lot of things it's the user causing problems not the item!
 
I second (or is it third now) using a longer line.


BH can be an arse and I use a lungline when he is in one of his phases (now as it happens). Means the little toad can't get away from me and he soon packs it up again.

I don't have a dually I have an Eskadron control headcollar. Arguably mine is much harsher than a dually (it's basically stallion chains) but it works for us.
 
Another vote for duallys. Like any control head collar they have to be used with care.

Things I like about the dually is the quality and the amount of adjustment so they can fit a wide variety of sizes and shapes and the fact that you can lunge/long rein and ride off them as well as using it as a conventional head collar. They are quite expensive, but saying that ours is about 6 years old and looks like new still.
 
I cant see pass my Richard Maxwell rope halter and line, i have a horse who was a bolsy git when i got him as a baby, tried be nice, kemp,dually to no avail but the rope halter, with schooling in place very quickly, was spot on.
Its now a staple in my kit and i wouldnt be without it. Ive schooled others to it as well all with good effect
 
I have a handful big warmblood youngster and have been looking at what to use to give me more control, have used the be nice halters which in the past have always worked, but is now not being so effective, before I go down the chifney route, I want to try a stallion chain, I saw a thread on here which offered a really good idea. Get a dog choke chain thread it through the noseband side rings of the headcollar, going under the horses jaw and clip both end rings to leadrope, hence creating a control halter at very little cost. Can also be used over nose by attaching one end ring to side noseband ring and going over nose as u would with a stallion chain.
 
I dont like the dually... I watched Monty, bought the DVD etc etc and think it's quite a dangerous bit of kit actually and cumbersome to boot.

Those old rope halters i think are the best. Old fashioned, but it works if you need to assert yourself and ground training isn't an option.
 
tallyho! said:
Those old rope halters i think are the best. Old fashioned, but it works if you need to assert yourself and ground training isn't an option.
Click to expand...

I have one . . . use it whenever GreyDonk forgets his manners (usually this time of year when the grass is growing) and he voluntarily puts his nose in it so I don't think it hurts/bothers him at all (and he's a sensitive/opinionated sort so would soon let me know).

As so many others have said, any gadget is only as good (or harmful) as the hands into which it is put.

P
 
Kemp Controller. Similar problems that you describe. Since using controller and plenty of inhand work not had a single problem. Easy to use, horse respects it. Happy horse - Cheaper than Dually. Job done!
 
The dually has been invaluable for teaching manners to my big strong ID, I can now lead him off a loose leadrein. He long reins in it perfectly too The rope halter that I used to good effect on my other youngster had no effect with this boy who just ran through it. They are good as long as used correctly. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top