NHT Magazine Autumn 2018

WORKINGWITH
TRIED & TESTED
‘DUNCAN’ THE DUMMY
Northants Horse Trader
Magazine follow many local
businesses on social media
and when ‘EJ’s Equestrian’ a
local breaking in and reschooling
business posted about the work
they carry out using ‘Duncan’
we were keen to find out more.
Ellie has many years experience with breaking in and reschooling horses.
The process can be stressful for some horses (and trainers!). Ellie was
keen to look at ways she could minimise the stress of the horses that
she worked with; after some research Ellie decided to import a dummy from
a company called Ardall based in Ireland that she affectionately calls ‘Duncan’.
The Ardall is a device for training horses. Designed primarily to accustom
unbroken horses, or horses that have not been ridden for some time, to safely
accept a rider, it can also be used for training performance horses.
The Ardall Comprises of Four Main Parts:
1. The Torso.
The main part of the product resembles a legless,
human torso with short arms. At its core, there is a
coiled spring, which facilitates movement when
mounted on a horse. This spring is enveloped with
medium-grade foam in the shape of a torso, which
is covered with high quality, UV-protected
leatherette.
2. The Base
The torso is affixed to a flat, solid base, which
has been specially moulded to fit any standard
saddle. This is covered in the same leatherette
as the torso. On either side, there are two
straps - used for securing the Ardall onto the
horse - and one screw-on ring, through which
the reins go during lunging and long-reining.
3. The Harness
An essential component of the product when
in use, the harness fits onto the torso. The
extent to which the Ardall moves when
mounted on a horse is regulated by the
tightness or looseness of the harness.
4. Weights
These weights serve to make the Ardall heavier helping to introduce the
horse to the sensation of a rider’s legs on either side. These take the form of
two boot-shaped canvas bags, which are filled evenly with fine sand (up to 2
stone/12.7KG in each.) These are clipped onto the Ardall, one on each side,
and secured with straps. We also add a riding hat to him to make him seem
more realistic.
You can find out more about the Ardall dummy by visiting www.ardall.com
Ellie believes she has reduced the stress levels of the horses she works with
significantly. Ellie told us that this method has in her opinion “proved to be a
much kinder transition to the riding experience for the horse”. Ellie added “I
feel that as well as being kinder, it is a much kinder method to start a young
horse or to restart a problem horse. Some horses do not like the sensation
of legs when they first touch their sides, or the height of a rider above and
behind the back of their heads. I find that using ‘Duncan’ helps to desensitise
them before a rider gets onboard and therefore minimises injury to both horse
and rider. It also initially eliminates the pull on the horses mouth, when and
if they react”.
Firstly Ellie begins the work by introducing the basic ground work, such as
lunging, long reining and wearing tack. After the basic training, it's then a
natural progression to ‘Duncan’ the dummy.
The timescale varies with each horse as to how long they take to accept
‘Duncan’, it can be as little as 10 minutes to start with up to 45 minutes. Ellie
finds that 2-5 days use is all that is usually needed in most cases.
Backing a young horse or retraining horses does require experienced and
knowledgeable handling as every horse is different and you need that
knowledge to be able to adapt to each situation and to keep both horse and
rider safe and calm.
Ellie always uses ‘Duncan’ initially on every horse or pony that comes to
her to be backed or restarted in their ridden career; as she never knows
how each horse is going to react and it's just a safer and kinder start.
Breaking & Schooling
An accomplished local rider with
many years experience, I have
produced horses from ride and
drive, competition ponies, hunters
to Eventers. Based in Ringstead,
Northamptonshire, I am able to
offer a variety of services:
NOTE: Always seek professional advice before riding, working, training and handling horses.
21 NorthantsHorseTrader Magazine Feature enquiries: features@nhtmagazine.co.uk