Dually?

[siskin]

Who uses it and for what? Pros and cons please. 

This is actually revealing what a dweeb I am but I have now got the Micklem bridle and its all very nice, but I just find it so stiff and constrictive! I know it'll probably soften with wear but I dread rubbing his wee snozz again and I like to mosey home via a bit of grazing without having to loosen nosebands, so a headcollar is so nice and relaxed... but a bit sloppy for long reining etc.

I wondered whether the dually might make me happy until I lovingly soften the micklem enough to suit his baby skin?

I've heard tell of lunging, long reining and even riding in it... but maybe I'm deluding myself and its a bit of harsh rope more likely to chafe than the cushy padded micklem?

[ash]

Well depending what size you need, I've got oneI have no use for that you could borrow.

Personally I would't use it for many reasons, but possible chaffiing is one of those reasons.

[siskin]

What reasons? I've never seen one in the flesh and have only assumed it may be good because I've seen it mentioned used in these ways on here...

[ash]

Well since taking up clicker, I don't really 'do' pressure halters of any description.

Secondly, it was bought for Tommy, who doesn't need it any more now he has been retrained with the clicker.

Thirdly, it is essentially when used for riding, a side pull, but frankly the thought of two pieces of rope rubbing across the horses nose makes me wince, so personally I wouldn't ride or long rein in it. As for lungeing in it, no way never, given the amount of pressure it can exert.

So from a purely personal viewpoint I would prefer to use a fixed side pull.  I have one in mind for Tilly and Faith but will have to search for the link....

[ash]

The one I had in mind is on here.  If you scroll down, it is the side pull with the jaw strap rather than the normal throat latch.

I would prefer it in leather though, so will be asking her if it can be made in leather at all.

http://www.bitlessandbarefoot.com/bitless-shop.php

[siskin]

I don't need or want something to function as a pressure halter, as it is we rarely have tension in a line so its not needed for control! Sounds like its not for me.

I like a sidepull with a jaw strap but it was a leather lindell that rubbed in the first place. The rolled leather was "crumpled" where it curved around the nose and was pretty much ribbed as a result. I've loaned out another lindell with a flatter noseband, maybe I should reclaim that... Probably the micklem will be fine, I have a lot of sheepskin bits if I need to pad.

Have you seen the Diana Thompson sidepull? Improved stability on the lindell, really very lovely quality looking and made to measure...

[siskin]

http://www.dianathompson.com/dth.s.pull.pg1.html

[thealicatuk]

I have no advice on what to use for riding -- but I do recommend this to soften your bridle

http://www.uradleathercare.co.uk/shopdisplayproducts.asp?search=yes&bc=no


it may say for old, hardened leather ---but it actually works really well on new, stiff leather too

[catkin]

I actually found the dually a very useful bit of kit when introducing the Welsh princess to longreining. I found that because you can fit the headcollar snugly and independently of the nose piece, on mine at least, the nose releases very quickly. However the little horse was well versed in the whole principle of pressure and release having been properly trained to lead softly in a welsh halter from a baby by her breeder.
I found it worked well as the 'cavesson reins' when introducing a bit and it's sheer flexibility made the stage of longreining off the nose and bit together smooth (I used small loops with d-rings on the ends through both dually rings and bit rings to the reins). I have used cavessons for this stage before and I prefer the dually.
Both my horse and I hated it for riding in - we used it for a couple of weeks whilst she was teething as a 4 1/2 yo and we were both really relieved to get back to a bit!!

[VR]

Another who has used this with her baby horse  


I used it when initially backing Kaz as he understood pressure having also been correctly taught to lead, but I didn't feel he was ready to be ridden off the bit as ge didn't understand it's place yet (though he still wore one underneath, just no reins attached). 


So, for our first initial few weeks of riding it was fab. We didn't use it for long, nor was he ridden in it with any real contact but in this case it certainly did the job & was perfect for it I liked how snugly it fitted the head & didn't slide around his head but if I had needed to use it with more pressure then would also have had concerns re the rope rubbing/chaffing his muzzle.

[TashaKat]

I've used a Dually for riding and for long reining and, honestly, don't like it. 

For riding it was 'ok' but was rather neanderthal and there are better options out there.

For long reining it doesn't release quickly enough across the nose (an big issue I have with the Dually anyway) and, again, I'd rather long rein from a cavesson or even regular headcollar.

I still have one but it's only ever used as a regular headcollar, I never use the schooling rings and really ougth to cut that bit off.

[laura D]

I've used it for riding and it was great for Ginger when we had tooth issues - she did tend to go heavy in it but I had no real problems with it.

It certainly didnt rub or anything...