New breaking-in ‘dummy’ launched to improve safety
A product that allows you to start a young horse without venturing on to its back has been launched in Ireland.
The Ardall is designed to resemble a human torso and is placed on the back of an untrained horse — or one that hasn’t been ridden in a while — to accustom the animal to the sensation of being ridden.
Showjumper and trainer Paul Murphy of Co Kerry, launched the Ardall at the Dublin Horse Show (3-7 August).
Paul, who starts around 30-40 horses a year, told H&H: “Breaking is a main part of our business. I originally created it to make our lives here easier, but decided to market it.
“I’ve had a few near misses with young horses — it’s dangerous — and as a showjumper I couldn’t afford to be injured.
“This [the Ardall] gets horses accustomed to a rider, without the risk of someone falling off.”
The dummy, which weighs 35-40kg, fits all standard saddles and can be used during long-reining and lungeing.
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Paul said it speeds up the backing process, but the aim was safety.
“It stays on — the first rule of breaking a horse is not to come off it, as if you come off today, he’ll try again tomorrow. And if you come off again tomorrow — then you’re in trouble,” he added. “It doesn’t matter how good a rider you are — horses can still be unpredictable.”
The Ardall costs €669. For more information, visit: www.ardall.com
Read this story in full in the current issue of Horse & Hound (25 August 2011)
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.