Equi Ami, pessoa or something else?

TableDancer

TableDancer

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Well, having lived in the dark ages, training aid-wise, thus far, I have decided that it is time to venture into the land of gadgets :) I want something which will enable me to work the ponies, as well as horses, correctly and quickly without always drilling them on the flat. So as well as providing a good correct workout which really gets them stretching over their backs and coming up at the wither, it needs to be quick and convenient to put on and adjust for a variety of horses, and able to be used on ponies/horses from 14.2 to 16.1ish. Suggestions, folks? And, by the way I already use the draw reins over the wither and behind the elbows method, I'm after the next level of sophistication :D Ta muchly, and cup of Earl Grey on offer once vet has been to dope the redoubtable Noffy for me to shave him to within an inch of his life ;)
 
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Physio advised me to use pessoa, and have been pleased with results however it wasnt the easiest thing to set up, but once all connected its easy to adjust once on the horse so I dont see a problem when using it on smaller ponies.
Ive also looked into the equi ami, looks interesting but not sure how it differs from the pessoa.
 
ellie_e said:
Physio advised me to use pessoa, and have been pleased with results however it wasnt the easiest thing to set up, but once all connected its easy to adjust once on the horse so I dont see a problem when using it on smaller ponies.
Ive also looked into the equi ami, looks interesting but not sure how it differs from the pessoa.
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Thanks ellie (still waiting for the vet ;) ) I agree, they look similar so it is definitely "either or", but I don't really understand the difference so would be interested to hear from anyone who does!
 
JGC said:
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Thanks JGC, that's what I call the draw reins over wither and behind elbow method (see above!) It was Bossanova originally, although K often gets the credit as she recommends it a lot these days...

ETA : Tee hee, sorry :) And thanks for taking the trouble to reply anyway!
 
I have the equi ami, and have previously used a pessoa. TBH not much difference, except that the equi ami gets clipped onto itself through the side ring of the roller, which means it has about a foot of play forward and back. It's not the easiest to set up the first time, you need to watch the video it comes with, but once you've done it once it's simple.
 
I think the equi ami has a better design as the Pessoa appears to sock the horse in his mouth with every stride. Haven't used either though!
 
I've had both (seem to have lent them both out though and can't remember who too!). They are pretty similar but the Equi Ami is probably easier to use in a hurry. you only need to adjust it on one side and then it levels itself out as it's in a continuous loop effectively.

I don't know if either of them (I had a cheap imitation pessoa) would do 14.2 - 16.2, the equi ami was a bit snug on my 16.2 beast. I now have a 14.2 but don't know where the gadget is or I would try it on her for you!

Do you still have super Noffy then? Thought he would have been snapped up ages ago :)
 
I use, and have used for several years, a Pessoa. Personally I love it and is one of the best bits of kit I use on a regular basis.

I've started several horses in it including two of my own, used it on physio/vet advice for horses with various problems including my boy that had kissing spines and it worked wonders through his rehab :)

TBH have never seen it sock anything in the gob? But have never used the Equi Ami so cant comment on that one :)
 
I have the pessoa which I stopped using for the draw rein method........ then 2 weeks ago I borrowed the equiami. Tonight I am going to lunge in the pessoa to see if she goes better/worse or the same as the Equiami because so many have mentioned the sock in the mouth but tbh my horses have always gone really nicely in them. This one is fussy in the contact so will see what she does tonight and report back.
 
I'm a Pessoa girl (well, a cheap Derby House copy girl to be precise - but it's pretty much identical; the John Whitaker one's the same too I think). Mine's in daily use for a post-KS surgery horse at the mo. I have to say that adjusting mine is a teeny bit fiddly but I don't change it hugely between different horses and I really like the ability to change the outline of the horse from long and low to what I would call more of an Elem/Med outline. You do need to make sure that you lunge them so that they really work up into it to be most effective (grandmother and eggs here possibly ;)).

Cheers for the Earl Grey... it's been a long one - perhaps your vet is having a similar day to me! :eek:
 
Another vote for the pessoa, or should I say the John Whittaker version of it. Have had ours a number of years and have used it a lot. It really does the job, of working the horse really well, but not in a rigidly fixed way. Used properly in conjunction with proper work, and food, it gives Mini TX's mare a lovely topline, and the best bum on the yard. I have also used it on my 14.3 cob (well 14.2 hh on his tippy toes), and its not too big for him.

Also admit to not being a gadget lover for the sake of it, as this is the only gadget we possess.
 
Another one for the Pessoa (or pretty ancient rip off version!) I have had mine over 10 years now and bought it originally for ponies but now use it on a 14.2 and a 16.1 and mine is very easy to adjust. As Gamebird says, its also really easy to adjust the outline you are working them in.
 
Thank you all so much for yor input :) Sounds like either would work ok.

MadisonBelle said:
I have the pessoa which I stopped using for the draw rein method........ then 2 weeks ago I borrowed the equiami. Tonight I am going to lunge in the pessoa to see if she goes better/worse or the same as the Equiami because so many have mentioned the sock in the mouth but tbh my horses have always gone really nicely in them. This one is fussy in the contact so will see what she does tonight and report back.
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MB why did you stop the pessoa for the draw rein method? Was it just because the latter is just so quick and easy (in which case I sympathise!) or did you have a more complicated theory?
 
I used to use a Pessoa but decided I didn't like the way it worked on the mouth and I think it was causing my 5 year old to set on the bit.
Just started experimenting with different methods. I tried the draw rein method but still found it socked him in the mouth a bit and caused him to trail his head on the floor. So bought a bungee that goes over his head, through the bit and clips on the roller through his front legs and I really like it! It works mostly on the poll rather than the mouth and it made him go really nicely.
 
I have an equi ami and prefer it because it's less fixed: the pessoa is easier for a horse to lean on / get fixed on, and the equi ami is a loop essentially so encourages them to hold themselves a bit more I think. On the other hand if you want very low work, the pessoa has a bit more pulley action to achieve that. Equally I know top dressage bod who uses a simple over-the-poll bungee for about a tennee.
 
Pessoa, recently bought the wetherbeeta equivalent at £35. Easy enough to set up/use and working well for horse recovering from sacroiliac pain.
 
Niether. I still don't think you can beat good old fashioned lunging with two lines to get a horse working properly on the lunge.
 
I've always used the John Whitaker version as I find it better value for money with roller included.

Never found it restrictive in mouth but always had it on a really loose setting
 
I have used a Pessoa on many horses and ponies of differing backgrounds and abilities with great success over many years. The contact has never been a problem even with light mouthed or fussy horses so I don't think it abuses their mouths. I haven't used an equi-ami but a friend who is a high listed judge used it on a top quality dressage horse and thought it was excellent.
Either could be very useful to you.
 
It depends for me on the age of the horse in the young I use a lunging rope and poles as it never overbends them.
An equi ami tops a pessoa by miles IMO as the horse cannot learn to lean and block as many do in pessoas.
I am working a horse at the moment who is rehabbing after jaw surgery he has a work plan put in place by a acpat physio using an equi ami and poles I am impressed ( I have a Pessoa and loath it ) but I am impressed with the equiami ( just the lunging one don't know about the riding thing ).
 
I know it isn't trendy or anything but I really love my Chambon :o

Nothing anywhere for them to fix against and really easy to put on and all that jazz.
 
I really rate the Equiami. It's made a huge difference to Freddy who is really sensitive, needs a very steady contact and calls it a day if anything socks him in the mouth and at the same time it's good for Rusky who tends to get on the forehand.
 
Not used either but use a bungee instead with good results and encourages horses to stretch long and low on the lunge. Use a tail bandage around the hindquarters aswell
 
I bought an Equi Ami just the other day, as Mlaly is doing a cracking job of refusing to use her back on the flat (making me think there is a problem) and then stretching over a 1.20 spread with the greatest of ease! :rolleyes:
I've decided to lunge her in this twice a week and see if I can teach her to work through a bit more. I bought it because I've used it in the past and found it easier than the Pessoa.
First spin in it was tonight, and given Moot has been off a couple of days, stabled and it was so windy I felt I was kite flying rather than lunging, initial results looked promising! ;)
I also got the ridden training aid too, but not too sure about that one!
 
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