Best way to first use the Pessoa?

[JoshuaR97]

How's best to first use it? Was thinking to maybe lunge him with the sheep skin behind him to see his reaction rather then attach everything onto him.. And depending on that put him on the first level

 

[Goldenstar]

Use it for playing cats cradle .
Don't put it on the horse , they encourage the horses to lean and learn a nasty little nose wobble , an equi ami does the job better IMO .

 

[tallyho!]

Use it in the bin.

 

[milliepops]

Use it in the bin.

Lol :lol: Yes, sadly for the OP I am in agreement with both of the above ^^

 

[EQUIDAE]

Anything that attaches the bit to the hind end needs binning...

 

[ycbm]

My friend broke her horse in using one extensively to 'encourage' a very long strung out mare to step under more. The mare had to have kissing spine surgery a year later and has arthritis in the fetlocks as well. It could just be coincidence, but any device that affects the mouth every time the horse uses its back end is a no for me, sorry.

 

[Equi]

Can i somewhat hijack? I have a john whitakker training aid i could use, but not yet. Horse is extremely on the forhand, so much so without lifting and collecting him he trips. Would it help?

 

[Wheels]

I don't use any training aids on the lunge, how can trussing a horse up in ropes promote self carriage? Lol

Sending the horse forwards and promoting inside bend on the lunge with varying the size of the circle and using things like squares, being able to send away the shoulders or quarters to ensure the correct stepping under of the hind legs etc is what promotes self carriage and stretching on the lunge.

I agree that the equiami is a little better than the Pessoa but I have watched various videos promoting it where whenever the horse tries to stretch he ends up overbent - if you think about how much rein you have to give the horse when working on a long rein I don't think any gadget with a fixed point of any description can give that much rein

 

[Shay]

Any gadget has the potential to evoke strong views. OP I suspect if you had put anything into your title instead of a brand name you would get similar replies. Many of the problems and perceived problems from the use of a pessoa like aid (including the equi-ami) is that it is not fitted correctly or is not used correctly. Lunging isn't as easy as people who are good at it make it look - there is actually a lot more to it than standing in the middle and letting your horse go around you. As Wheels suggests you can use different shapes, you can also lunge over poles, lunge with two lines - all sorts. The best way to learn all the options is really to get someone to teach you.

For what its worth - I have both a pessoa and an equi-ami (and a lungie bungie - and side reins!). I understand (or at least I hope I do!) how each fits correctly, what the purpose is and how it would influence the way of going on the horse I'm working on. I am happy to use anything or nothing - it depends on the horse and what I want to achieve from the session. I will also long rein and free school (only in a suitable arena...). A gadget in and of itself is not "bad" - the people who use it wrongly are.

You don't say what you want to achieve using a pessoa. It might be a good place to start to looking at that first. If nothing else - they are very expensive bits of kit and there are usually other ways to achieve the same thing without!

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

How's best to first use it? Was thinking to maybe lunge him with the sheep skin behind him to see his reaction rather then attach everything onto him.. And depending on that put him on the first level

I use the roller it comes with and brought an extra girth and one of the draw reins hoop for the girth so the ropes go down through the front legs and clip onto it.


I like my pessoa and have had good sucess with it op I would get someone to help you fit it correctly though like your trainer.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

How's best to first use it? Was thinking to maybe lunge him with the sheep skin behind him to see his reaction rather then attach everything onto him.. And depending on that put him on the first level

This is what I am doing with my mare as she is 5 having the bum bit round but not clipping anything else on the bit yet or down through legs. I would do that first OP see how they mind it being behind them before you attach anything to the bit

 

[cornbrodolly]

Apart from being used as a shortcut and an alternative to correct schooling - what is the point of these so called 'aids'?

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Apart from being used as a shortcut and an alternative to correct schooling - what is the point of these so called 'aids'?

We said like that what is the use of anything might as well rid all artificial aids

martingales
side reins
bungee
whip
lunge line
and on and on

 

[EQUIDAE]

We said like that what is the use of anything might as well rid all artificial aids

martingales
side reins
bungee
whip
lunge line
and on and on

I personally free school over raised poles to encourage self carriage.

 

[be positive]

Apart from being used as a shortcut and an alternative to correct schooling - what is the point of these so called 'aids'?

We said like that what is the use of anything might as well rid all artificial aids

martingales
side reins
bungee
whip
lunge line
and on and on

A lunging aid has it's uses, often during rehab when the horse needs to be worked from the ground rather than ridden but most are a short cut, many are used by owners who lack the skill to do the work from on top, or want to try and get somewhere quickly, the use of side reins, martingales etc are much the same.

A whip is an artificial aid but it can be an essential back up to the leg and a matter of safety to carry one, I will never hack without a whip unlike a training aid it is not there constantly but can be used if and when required.

I think too many people are using lunging aids as they see what they think is a horse going nicely and want their own to look the same, used by an experienced trainer I suppose they may serve a purpose but for the less experienced they are at best a waste of money, time and effort, at worst harmful and encourage a horse to go in a fixed outline while the deluded owner thinks they look wonderful.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

A lunging aid has it's uses, often during rehab when the horse needs to be worked from the ground rather than ridden but most are a short cut, many are used by owners who lack the skill to do the work from on top, or want to try and get somewhere quickly, the use of side reins, martingales etc are much the same.

A whip is an artificial aid but it can be an essential back up to the leg and a matter of safety to carry one, I will never hack without a whip unlike a training aid it is not there constantly but can be used if and when required.

I think too many people are using lunging aids as they see what they think is a horse going nicely and want their own to look the same, used by an experienced trainer I suppose they may serve a purpose but for the less experienced they are at best a waste of money, time and effort, at worst harmful and encourage a horse to go in a fixed outline while the deluded owner thinks they look wonderful.

Maybe with some but not others _ I use it for the reasons I do - I am experienced so get good results from my horses.

I know the whip is an artificial aid as I learnt that 34 years ago doing my BHS exams. You are right in the less experienced owners should not use these devices if they are not knowledgeable to know how to fit them and when and where you use them.

 

[tallyho!]

So Joshua... what is the problem anyway? What made you think about this gadget and what were you hoping to achieve?