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construction of a dummy rider

By:
Miriam (Holland&Germany)
Date:
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed 650 lessons completed

I would love to see a lesson on the construction of a dummy rider.
The one I constructed tends to fall over in almost all directions, even when fixed to the saddle and stirrups. I've been watching all videos I can find, where Monty or Kelly Marks uses a dummy rider, but can't seem to figure out how they keep their inner balance.
Thank you!
Miriam

Rahni (Sydney, Australia)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed

Oooh good question Miriam! I look forward to answers on that one too.

renjaho - Hamburg, Germany
Please upload your photo 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed

Me too! Very good idea, Miriam!

horsepower365
Please upload your photo 100 lessons completed

A freind gave me a blow-up doll! Dressed in jods, shirt & hat shes ok, but light in weight, so you have to add weight. Haven't tried her out yet as we seem to have a "clinch" problem to overcome first

Kicki -- Sweden
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed

I'd love to learn how to make one too!

Kleinne - Utah, U.S.A.
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed

I've had a bit of the same problem, they seem to need a low center of gravity. I used my 9 year old daughter as a pattern but she's so long waisted that I ended up cutting the middle out of her to shorten up her waist a bit. This helped but still seems to need more taken out. The doll seems to need to be rather stiff in nature and not floppy. I've managed to make mine work but it definitely could be better.

Nic&Monti
Hello!

Not the best at arts and crafts but I'd love to know how the folk I constructed and I can pass the info onto my 11yr old daughter who's great at arts and crafts ha ha

Nic&Monti
Hello!

Not folk - doll predictive text out Smarts me again

MaggieF, Melbourne - Australia
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed

Great thoughts here. Oh Klienne - your poor daughter!! Only teasing I couldn't refrain!

Rahni (Sydney, Australia)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed

Ive been pondering this......I am thinking a wire "skelton", simple like in a cross shape.....?
To everyone who has given this a go, what have you constructed your dummies out of?
Perhaps we can nut this out here......

Kleinne - Utah, U.S.A.
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed

One thing I would suggest is a very heavy fabric, I made the mistake of using a light weight muslin which tears easily especially in the arm pits. Maggie - I felt really bad cutting her in half trying to shorter her through the middle. I named her Heidi after Monty's dummy. I took her over to the saddle shop to see if she would work on my altered saddle, she flopped over to one side. I said to her, (like Monty does), "Heidi, sit up Heidi". Then I said to the old guy who altered my saddle, "I think she's been drinking to much", he burst out laughing.

Kleinne - Utah, U.S.A.
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed

Rahni,
I cut out a pattern in fabric sewed it up and stuffed it with old clothes, it's not bad but like I said it could be better. It definitely needs to be short and fat as opposed to tall and thin especially through the waist.

vicci - UK (North Wales)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed

http://www.ardall.com/ They are not cheap but it is a ready made dummy. I have been experimenting for ages trying to get the right design/fit, its not easy!

vicci - UK (North Wales)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Wpo1VpSMxSE

Forgot to say - its supported by Monty - video clip attached

vicci - UK (North Wales)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed

http://www.gallabarfarm.co.uk/thestartersaddle.htm

...and this is the recommended starter saddle

(I really should have put all this on one posting - very sorry all)

Lorraine
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed

I have made a dummy I call Annie, that works, for me anyway. Yes, I have modified, but maybe this will be helpful to you.
Materials: jeans (small), western shirt, leather gloves, bungee cords, HD canvas, sand, nylons, leather belt, 12x12" well stuffed pillow, heavy guage wire, neck brace, cowboy hat, HD sewing machine, needles, etc.
So, I started by sewing a 'tube' out of canvas approx. 40" lg. Sew this in half, then each 'leg' in half. Make a small incision in each section and fill with sand (you can alter the weight here), reclose. Place this tube inside the jeans and attach at the crotch. Take the pillow and insert into the jeans. (This makes the dummy short and fat Miriam). Put on the shirt, tuck in, sew well to sides of jeans. Attach leather gloves to each sleeve end and attach short bungee cords to each glove (snaps @ the ends to attach to halter rings below ears of horse). I carefully bend wire to add 'form' to the body. I go under the sand tube at the crotch, up behind the back to the head. Be VERY careful NOT to leave any wire ends sticking out! I then made a head by stuffing a nylon and attached it to the top of the pillow. Two feet were also made by stuffing the feet of nylons and attached them to the bottom of the sand tubes (coming out of the pant legs). I say "no boots, no stirrups". I attached a strap to the pant leg bottoms with velcro on each end. I wrap these around the fenders of the saddle just above the stirrups when used. I drew/sewd on a face and added some yarn string for hair; had a little fun here. I made one eye blinking and I braided 'Annie's' hair; the floppy braids add to the desensitizing...Topped with a cowboy hat, secured with duct tape! I then re-secured the body with duct tape in a criss-cross fashion around torso, over shoulders and around waist. I didn't go for 'pretty', just working, ha. I use the leather ties/thongs from my saddle to tie very securely to the leather belt on my 'Annie'. I added a used neck brace to keep her head from being too floppy. Comments are unceasing! Adds some humor to a session. So, Annie is secured first by a velcro strap (attached at her belt buckle) to the saddle horn or through the pommel. Then secure the back saddle ties to belt, then the legs to each fender bottom, then snap the arms into halter rings.
Note, I use a very good strong working saddle, and all materials are in good strong shape...and checked all the time. Total cost was under $30- most was 'used'. I happen to own a leather machine, so seams are strong. Good Luck in making your dummies!
Lorraine

Kicki -- Sweden
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed

Thanks, Lorraine!!! :)

emlaw
Please upload your photo

Oh dear, I am so sorry, I know this is a serious post but reading through it all it sounds so funny! I have visions of horses careering around arenas with various amusing looking floppy figures bouncing around in the saddles.

Rahni (Sydney, Australia)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed

ROFL emlaw :D

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