Equi Ami or Pessoa - Which one to get?

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MeganMarie

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Hey everyone,

I want to start lunging my boy more 1/2 times a week, help him develop and stretch his back muscles and topline, long and low but without forcing him into anything. I previously lunged him in side reins, but I don’t feel they really do anything, I don’t have them tight, but I find them rather pointless, really - not sure what they’re supposed to encourage a horse to do tbh.

I was originally going to get a pessoa, but after doing some reading I saw someone mention an “equi ami” (id never heard of them before), and a lot of you were ranting and raving about them!! So now, i’m torn between which one too get *eye roll* haha!

What are the main differences between them? Which do you recommend? Thanks :)

Also i’ve heard horror stories of horses getting tangled in the pessoa, has that happened with the equi-ami? my boy can occasionally go off on one on the lunge, huge bucks and i dread to think of him getting all caught up in them!!!
 
I love the equi ami and would always choose one over a pessoa, although not sure I'd use either with a horse that really threw shapes on the lunge! Or maybe lunge without first if likely to buck then stick it on? I leave my EquiAmi ready to go on a roller and its very quick to put on.
 
They both have exactly the same action - but the Pessoa requires a fair bit of knowledge and fiddling to put on. The Equi Ami as some built in "ease" points so it is more difficult - although not impossible - to fit badly. Persoanlly I prefer the pesoa becuase youi can get a refinement with it that you cannot with the equi ami. But it is very easy to fit wrongly. If you are not sure on how to fit lunging aids the the equi ami is definitely better. But if you want to lunge long and low - don't fit anything !
 
Agree that neither of those is going to help with either long or low (look at a few pics of the mouth-roller(-hind end) contact of either...). It isn't really what they're designed for.
 
I've got an equiami. Recommended by physio but agree not really for long & low. If i think we're in a mood for throwing shapes I usually do 10 mins first without it so she can get the silliness over.
 
Neither for long and low - both will invite curling of the neck - you want the nose out, not in or else biomechanically incorrect. It is a myth that the horse should be deep and round (curled neck and tucked in nose) which both of these gadgets promote whether you are aware of it or not. I would be wary of a physio who suggests these to you.

To encourage a horse to take the bit forward, down and out, it's better to teach it in hand first in walk walking beside the horse. Then on a cavesson lunge-line and then better ridden. I admit it is really hard to find instructors that can teach you but they are out there.... look for teachers who have trained with Mary Wanless, Sally Swift, Ecole de Legerete, Straightness Training...

This video may help:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hokqRs9GbrI
 
tallyho! said:
It is a myth that the horse should be deep and round (curled neck and tucked in nose) which both of these gadgets promote whether you are aware of it or not. I would be wary of a physio who suggests these to you.
Click to expand...
A correctly used equiami does not promote a curled in neck and tucked in nose. It can be fitted loosely so that the horse is encouraged (not forced!) to swing along in a relaxed outline, with no nose curling.

Equiamis are fab for rehabbing a previously injured horse which has poor muscle memory. But like any gadget, they are only as good as the user :).

The Pessoa is quite different. Must put my unused one on eBay sometime.
 
Tiddlypom said:
A correctly used equiami does not promote a curled in neck and tucked in nose. It can be fitted loosely so that the horse is encouraged (not forced!) to swing along in a relaxed outline, with no nose curling.

Equiamis are fab for rehabbing a previously injured horse which has poor muscle memory. But like any gadget, they are only as good as the user :).

The Pessoa is quite different. Must put my unused one on eBay sometime.
Click to expand...

Could you show me a video where this is demonstrated please?
 
I don't know of any videos, sorry. You're welcome to pop round and see mine in action :). My preference is to lunge without any gadget, but poor T has had such a rotten time with her multitude of veterinary problems (bilateral hock arthritis, suspect PSSM2, Cushing's, poor foot balance etc etc) that she needed encouragement that it is now safe to step out and stretch forward, rather than hollow and go like a giraffe.
 
This is a pic which shows how loosely you can fit the EquiAmi. The ingenious sliding loop means that it doesn't restrict the walk. We weren't fully on top of T's problems when this pic was taken in July, she stands much more comfortably now.

OPC3yvy.jpg
 
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