dually and orse becoming kinda head shy

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hellywelly1

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hey
i know so many people are both for and against the dually and well im unsure. we have been using it for 3wks and have been shown how to use it correctly.
the results are great he is less of a handful on the ground and now standing still when asked however he is now refusing to have his head collar or bridal on which is a new thing

has any one else experienced this??
:confused:

(please excuse my spelling im dyslexic)
 
For what reason did you get the dually in the first place? Does he still need it? My horse doesn't like having his headcollar put on sometimes (other times he's absolutely fine). he can be a bugger to lead as can just take off (he never goes that far and will always come back for food). I got him an eskadron chain headcollar which works wonders - before that I just wrapped the leadrope round his nose and back through the headcollar to give me more control. However, he did get into the habit of trying to avoid having the eskadron put on and i am convinced it's because he doesn't like you being in control! lol

I think it's just a case of reassuring him really - assuming he's not suffering any pain round his poll or anything? Bribery may work - the odd little treat for putting the headcollar on, make it a nice experience. Maybe also just put the headcollar on randomly in the field, pat him, make a fuss and take it off. Same with the bridle so he realises it's not a big deal.
 
hellywelly1 said:
backing up to very back of stable, throwing head around, pushing you out of the way. he has only started doing this since dually
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Doesn't sound a very happy chappy, I think he's trying to tell you something.

To me that would be either that he finds it too much, or, that he resents having it on and having to behave.

The pushing you out of the way, in what way is he pushing?
Rushing past you to avoid you/the halter as if he is scared/worried?
Barging past rudely? (As in not scared, but avoiding you all the same?)
Pushing you/the halter away with his head whilst standing still at the same time?

I'd ditch the thing for now, I am personally not a fan of them at all, if a horse needs a little extra to remind him of manners then I use a chain either over, or under the nose, and it is only put on occasionally, the horse doesn't automatically think "Oh Gawd, halter, that means the chain"

What is he like with a normal headcollar or halter?
 
quote

I think it's just a case of reassuring him really - assuming he's not suffering any pain round his poll or anything? Bribery may work - the odd little treat for putting the headcollar on, make it a nice experience. Maybe also just put the headcollar on randomly in the field, pat him, make a fuss and take it off. Same with the bridle so he realises it's not a big deal.[/QUOTE]

im just concerned as wasnt like this before the dually. might try a few bits of carrot did try this last wkend with no luck.

we decided to use dually as woundnt stand still in any sistuation- to be mounted, to have feet washed or for farrier and well this made him difficult to haddle at times.
the dually has improved all of the above but with this down side
 
Ah right. I have said it a few times before and will say it again. A lady near me came to help with handling my youngster (he had/has biting issues when being lead amongst l another things). She essentially said he struggled to stand still and tried to bite due to balance issues.

she gave me some tips to how to work with him and it's all down to ground work - she did use a control headcollar (not a dually) but really it's not about that. One of her things was to teach him to 'park' which consisted of asking him to back up (using a schooling whip as an aid to tap his front legs) Once he steps back then you stop the tapping and jjust stand in front of him facing him. if he steps forward then you tap the leg he's stepped back with again until he stpes back. What you want is for him to stand facing you and not move until he is asked. To ask him to walk forwards she then would tap his side (gently at first) where you would use your heels and increase the intesity until he steps and walks forwards, then you stop tapping and praiseand walk him a few strides (slowly) ask for this by tapping on both sides alternating it - he will quickly learn that means to walk on and mix this with asking him to back up and stand.

I know it may sound odd and it's a lot easier to show in practice but it worked with my youngster and i still do bits now asking him to back up and 'park'. he can now stand for a lot longer and, if he starts nipping or having trouble picking his front feet up for me, I ask him to go back until he has balanced himself and then he can pick his feet up now problem.
 
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