following on from the pessoa post...

[jenbleep]

can anyone give me some tips and advice on how to introduce it to a spooky horse?

i want to get one for Frankie because i really think it would help develop his back muscles, but the thing is he has never been worked in one before. when i put back boots on him for the first time in ages (about 4 months) he went nuts and nearly kicked me in the head!

so i have a feeling he would be a bit like that with the bit round his back legs.

so hints and tips please

how did your horse react when you first put a pessoa on?

thanks xx

 

[Sarah_Jane]

If you do think your horse is going to go mad make sure you do it in a well fence arena with a good surface. You must wear hat gloves etc and after that I'm afraid they are likely to loop the loop for a bit. Obviously put it on loosly but not to the extent he can get leg over the rope.

One good tip is if they really buck attach a piece of string to the sheepskin bit at the back and thread through the legs and attach loosly (not too loose) to the girth. This will stop the sheepskin being bucked up over their back.

 

[vhf]

Mine's not a good example - she stood and dozed while I dropped bits, got in a tangle, muttered vile things... Practice on a sofa or a quiet horse first!
I wouldn't try and do it on your own the first few times, and perhaps do it after you've had a rug on with leg straps? Just so that in his head, the feeling isn't that different? Or while eating if he's a gutser?
They suggest doing it in an enclosed space the first time somewhere that I read, but personally I think I'd want room for a quick getaway.