Loading - Monty Roberts Dually headcollars

horseywelsh

horseywelsh

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My horse has moments when he decides he doesn't want to load. Most of the time he walks straight in, but if he decides he isn't going straight in it then takes 1hr + to get him in usually. Lunge lines, food, smack bottom all don't work, he isn't fightened of trvaelling and doesn't sweat up. I have been looking into buying a dually as these are supposed to help with loading issues. All your experiences good or bad on the dually would be appreciated, before i part with my pennies to buy one. So comments please ..
Thanks
 
yes very true. I do intend doing some groundwork with it on before attempting loading.

Would like to hear any experiences where they have worked, or not?
 
If you want one have a look on ebay as they sell the piece that converts a normal headcollar into a Dually for around £8 so saves plenty of pennies!

I've got no personal experience of them but have seen them completely misused.. as poster above said, only as good as the hands that use them.
 
Hello - this sounds exactly like my mare. Some days she will happily load and other days we can be there for up to 3 hours!! She's not scared or has ever had any traumatic experiences - she's just nappy and stubborn by nature.

I bought a dually and although I did loads of ground work with it and went on a "kelly marks" clinic - I didn't think it worked and stopped using it
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However, after a while I decided to try it again and really persevered - and now I will only ever load her in the dually
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I have made the mistake of thinking she's fine and going back to a normal headcoller - only to have problems and have to kind of re-learn her the dually, so now I load with the dually no matter what mood she is in.

I really would recommend it - and I'm quite cynical about stuff.

Worth noting, that even after lots of ground work you won't always get an instant load. When I first loaded her with it we must have back-uped for about 2 hours, but now if she decides to be nappy I only have to back her up once and she gets the idea that she needs to go forward. (Often just a firm tug on the dually before I load her reminds her she's wearing it).
 
thanks didn't realise they did a converter piece for normal headcollars, that will save pennies (more left to spend on carrots
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I have seen Monty Roberts live twice
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it really seems to work but as he says it only works if used correctly, would reccommend watching one of his DVD's or going to see it for youself as it really is incredible
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I went to see him last week and he had a pony that normally took 1hr to load, loading itself.
 
thanks lizzie bell for your response, yes they sound very similar. He likes to stand on the lorry ramp for ages not realy going anywhere, but i've now started backing him off, doing a few maneovures on the ground to get him listening (i.e. back, halt, quarters over etc). He has been known to rear up whilst on the ramp. Sounds like it may be worth a try.
 
why not do the groundwork now with an "ordinary" headcollar - it still works on the same principles of pressure and release - and you don't need a "special" (Costly) headcollar to do it.

when you apply the pressure you want a response, when the response you want is given, you reward the response by releasing the pressure.

So to load - take the trailer out of the equation and get the basics of leading well established - in many different locations.
then start to put in the trailer when you understand it and your horse has some learning. ..
 
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why not do the groundwork now with an "ordinary" headcollar - it still works on the same principles of pressure and release - and you don't need a "special" (Costly) headcollar to do it.


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Having been through this myself, I did not find an "ordinary" headcoller to be very effective - even rope around the nose does not provide the correct "pressure / release" required for my horse to be responsive to it. It might work for some, but for mine the dually has proved vaulable.
 
Thanks peaclily, yes there is no reason why i can't start now as you say. He doesn't have much respect for the headcollar, his leading has got a lot better, but there are still times when he thinks he is in charge.
He has been going in a trailer for the last 5 years, last year we changed to a lorry and the objection to loading does seem to be more frequent (and lasts longer) since doing so. What is annoying is that some days he's fine, loads perfectly. However if groundwork will help then i am prepared to do little and often of this.
 
I agree with peacelilly, I'd go back to basics and that includes having a good look at her management as well, how she's kept, feed and the trailer/box itself etc. etc.
There will be a reason she is inconsistant in her willingness to load, that may just be she is misunderstanding your signals but there could possibly be another reason she is perhaps a little lacking in confidence generally. Just some thoughts.
The dually is good for making a clear signal but as has been said you need to know about how to use the signals effectively, timing and the release at the right moment are the important things. Also you need to be aware of her offering to move where you're asking, even a lean in the direction is a 'try' and needs a signal that yes, that's what I want. This is where the release comes in, and gradually she will get the idea. Also add a scracth or 'good girl' as reward when she gets it right.

Oh and the thing I found makes the biggest difference is stay calm and cool, practice when it doesn't matter whether she loads or not and end on a good note even if that's before you planned. I love watching for tiny responses and see how much I can read what horsey is saying to me.
Most of all try and not put pressure on yourself, she will take ques from your mood too, if you're anxious etc. so stay relaxed and enjoy.
 
I agree fully with all of those that have said about going back to basics & getting the groundwork right.

I really don't like the Dually's at all have worked with them a lot & they just dont release the pressure fast enough for my liking at all.
I much preffer Richard Maxwells halter it gives the horse much clearer signals however you do need to know how to use it propperly.
 
i use a Richard Maxwell headcollar for loading Millie.

food doesn't work, if you try and chase her in she plants even more etc.

now she has her RM headcollar, we do a few circles each way, backing up etc to switch her on and then i walk through the trailer, stand on the front ramp and let her load herself.

works brilliantly and i know i wouldn't have the same results with a normal headcollar.
 
I have just had Richard Maxwell treat my horse for loading issues and he uses a similar pressure headcollar. My horse sounds similar to yours some days he would decide he wouldn't go on and would plant his feet nothing would work. Since Richard came he has been perfect not one hesitation so far
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he even likes loading and loads himself when he can! I would definately recommend getting help, we used a dually head collar without training and it made no difference. I think you need guideance from an expert and then it works wonders. Good Luck
 
I love mine, used it on the last mare I had. We had difficulty in hand, especially loading. Found it really useful when out and about too as the normal headcollar just wasn't up to scratch control wise. It meant she didn't have to go everywhere in a bridle.
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I really rate them tbh!

My lad is a big 17hh irish boy, who when younger could be a nightmare to load, lead, you name it! I struggled in a regular halter for agers, then after an hour of trying to put him in the box, gave in and had some ground work lessons from an Intelligent Horsemanship Representative.

These were well worth it and they got us loading, leading and just showed the basic pressure and release method (worth learning properly, even if it sounds easy as a lot is in your body language)

I know have him in his dually for his regular headcollar and its a god send, he loads with a slack rope, leads with a slack rope, but this is all down to being schooled on it, if he needed to be, instantly!

If you are loading, very important to keep a very relaxed body language, shoulders down and relaxed, head down and don't stare at them (that is sending away) keep your back to them and pressure on a long rope, so they have room to come forwards if they want, a tiny step forward and release pressure and rub on the head etc.... bet get taught properly!

Hope this helps
 
Thanks for all your responses. Lots to think about, and i agree with what you are saying.

amandap - i too think there could be some confidence issues, as when we got him he was very confused and lacked confidence, gradually this has built up and the changes are enormous. I now have a great bond with him when riding and realy feel the trust between us, but this is yet to come inhand/leading.
 
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i use a Richard Maxwell headcollar for loading Millie.

food doesn't work, if you try and chase her in she plants even more etc.

now she has her RM headcollar, we do a few circles each way, backing up etc to switch her on and then i walk through the trailer, stand on the front ramp and let her load herself.

works brilliantly and i know i wouldn't have the same results with a normal headcollar.

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That's exactly what we do with my OH's mare, using a Dually. Previously she either would not load at all or it took hours. Or we found several 'heavy lads' to assist from behind
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amandap - i too think there could be some confidence issues, as when we got him he was very confused and lacked confidence, gradually this has built up and the changes are enormous. I now have a great bond with him when riding and realy feel the trust between us, but this is yet to come inhand/leading.

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Sounds like you're well and truely going in the right direction, lucky horse.
I've found the better I get at communicating (well I think I'm getting better lol) the better my relationship with my horses is getting too. I've learned to try and 'listen' more to what they're saying to me. Like most things, practice is a big help. Yes I think lack of confidence in horses is often overlooked.
Good luck.
 
Worked brilliantly with my friends mare who previously completely refused to load and reared up and went over really hurting herself. Now she loads really well.

But I have to say its more than the Dually. Its about body positioning, state of mind, where you are looking and timing and you need a really long rope or lunge line without all those elements its worthless. My friend had lessons from an IH instructor and has never looked back. As I see it most of us pay for instructors to tell us how to ride why not invest in a lesson to do it properly?
 
Toby would rear, swerve, walk backwards whilst rearing...anything to stop him getting into a trailer. With the dually, and a month of patient ground schooling, and then a couple months of just loading him up driving round the block and getting back turned him into a pony who walked straight in. My mum watched the DVD and went to the classes. After a year of standing round the back of the trailer to fix the partition I think I picked it all up as I can lead him straight in and I was never taught anything!
 
As has been said - any equipment is only as good as the hands that hold it. The Dually is a very useful tool, and you can also contact an Intelligent Horsemanship Recommended Associate to come and work with you and your horse and help with the groundwork and loading issues. The use of pressure and release is of course only going to work if you get your technique right.
Good luck with the loading issues, being able to solve them can be a life changing experience for some!

Sue
 
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