Horses181
New User
Does anyone have any links for any lunging aids to help my horse gain muscle again no tack shops near me and everything online has no reviews so don't really trust them.
Lunging aids for gaining muscle
- Thread starter Horses181
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AmyMay
Situation normal
Can you not just ride it?
Leo Walker
Well-Known Member
Everyone is going to shout that you don't need on if you lunge properly. Sue Dyson recommends a pessoa. I'm not sure I like it for teaching the horse a way of going, but every single one I've seen lunged in it has muscled up incredibly.
There are better ways to build muscle and fitness though, pole work, hacking, interval training, hill work etc, etc
There are better ways to build muscle and fitness though, pole work, hacking, interval training, hill work etc, etc
TPO
Fly paper for freaks 🍀
They key is fitting and using it correctly. I've yet to see one that is one correctly fitted/used and having the correct effect. So many miss that it acts like muscle tap on hind end, that horses aren't working over their back, it's easy to fall behind the contact and hold a false outline in one and the over rotation of the pelvis. I doubt Sue Dyson has any issues with any of that!
There's an irony that if it has to be asked what/how to use equipment like this that it's likely there is not the experience or knowledge to use it correctly.
There is no "quick fix" to build muscles on quarters, topline or improve way of going. Slow and steady wins the race.
OP best bet is to ask a (hopefully experienced and knowledgeable) trainer and have them fit it* and show you how to know when it is working optimally and what to look out for when it may appear correct but is not.
*It being whatever, if any, equipment that trainer advises would benefit you and your horse's current situation.
There are hundreds of books out there that will explain how to get a horse fit correctly and I'd consider that a better way to invest money.
This is a good start point:
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Getting-...ords=getting+horses+fit&qid=1583325278&sr=8-1
Charmer91
Well-Known Member
My horse hates and I mean really hates a pessoa, but my old pony worked really well with it. It's each to their own, but it also depends what the need for a lunging aid is. If you're wanting to vary your horses work then you could try anything. If it was to get it working in a better frame than more ridden work with suppling work and establishing a correct bend and way of going is better achieved when ridden.
Horses181
New User
I like ground work too...
ycbm
Overwhelmed
Why do you want one? I'm lunging my TB twice a week over raised poles with no tack or gadgets other than a bridle and he's building up muscle just fine, according to his physio.
On the subject of the Pessoa specifically, nobody could persuade me to lunge a horse in a device which links its mouth directly to its back legs.
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On the subject of the Pessoa specifically, nobody could persuade me to lunge a horse in a device which links its mouth directly to its back legs.
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SEL
Well-Known Member
If you do decide to go down the lunging aid route then its worth seeing them fitted properly. I went to a session where they showed the usual ones in action (pessoa, equiami, side reins) and most I see on photos, videos are fitted a lot tighter than they were in that session.
The chiro who works on my horse can't see why anyone would need anything more than an elastic tail bandage behind their bottom. Equibands have a cracking write up though and have actually been put through some testing.
The chiro who works on my horse can't see why anyone would need anything more than an elastic tail bandage behind their bottom. Equibands have a cracking write up though and have actually been put through some testing.
crazyandme
Well-Known Member
Sister used to use a pessoa on R when she lunged him and let him just trot and trot and trot in circles while looking pretty but with no engagement or push from behind. I tried it on once due to mum's insistence and never did again. I'm sure they have their place, but I found that they did nothing for R
Instead I used a fairly loose German lunging aid to help encourage him to drop his nose as he was apt to shoving his nose in the air and pissing off up the field otherwise. And 2 lunge ropes to control the pace better (I'm not good enough at lunging to break the habit of only trotting fast and ignoring the body language of the lunger) and working on slowing the pace right down before asking him to push himself forwards again as well as various bits of polework!
Instead I used a fairly loose German lunging aid to help encourage him to drop his nose as he was apt to shoving his nose in the air and pissing off up the field otherwise. And 2 lunge ropes to control the pace better (I'm not good enough at lunging to break the habit of only trotting fast and ignoring the body language of the lunger) and working on slowing the pace right down before asking him to push himself forwards again as well as various bits of polework!
be positive
Well-Known Member
My take on aids and lunging in general is that if the horse cannot work correctly through injury/ pain/ discomfort or lack of correct training then an aid may do more harm than good, if the person lunging also lacks the training or knowledge then again it can do more harm than good, if both handler and horse lack the ability no aid will make up for it despite the claims made.
SD is able to fix the horse and at least get that part in place before the handler takes it on and hopefully they have help if they lack the knowledge to work the horse correctly, lunging is a skill that needs far more thought to be used for full benefit than many people would expect.
tristar
Well-Known Member
when the horse can offer its back upwards it will build muscle, i lunge with just a rein and headcollar so i can see when the horse is getting strong enough to use its back, then it will make its own muscles correctly from a natural frame, which they prove by being able to canter on a ten meter circle, really round and bendy of their own volition
i would never use any gadget, from the ground cause you cant back it up with your leg or release with your hands
i would never use any gadget, from the ground cause you cant back it up with your leg or release with your hands
j1ffy
Well-Known Member
My horse has been ridden in tight draw reins so tends to curl behind the bit and my physio recommended the equi-ami over the pessoa as it slides through the bit rings so is less likely to jab the horse in the mouth. The aim was to encourage him to work more over the back, down and out on the lunge. However even with it adjusted loosely he reverts to curling, so I have gone back to just bridle and lunge line, trotting over the odd scattered pole, and he's learning to work better just with that. I've spoken with my trainer and he says to crack on with no aids unless he gets strong or wild on the lunge (which he doesn't).
If you'd like to buy an equi-ami I'll be advertising mine soon!
If you'd like to buy an equi-ami I'll be advertising mine soon!
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
In my view a Pessoa is worse than doing nothing .
the best lunging aid is some poles and your legs get yourself moving round the school and do pole work .
the best lunging aid is some poles and your legs get yourself moving round the school and do pole work .
Horses181
New User
I'm not asking how to use one I know how Im just asking for links as there's none nearby me
Horses181
New User
Tried poles he's scared my friend used a pessoa on her horse and he built up beautifully
Horses181
New User
I'm trying to teach him to work correctly he is off the track and was advised to use a lunging aid as he is getting nowhere with just regular lunging and he is scared of poles x
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
Then why ask the question I would never ever use a Pessoa the horses learn to block and lean they get a set feeling in the rein I can always always tell when I try a pessoaed horse .
horses develop just fine with pole exercises and on a lunge line .
if you must use a gadget the equi ami is much harder to lean on .
I use an equi core saddle cloth at times that’s a useful thing that does not in any way damage the feel of the horse in the hand .
theres Dozens of lunging thingys but none of them do anything that can’t be achieved by training your eye and developing your skills .
I like using side reins they do have a roll but it’s your training your eye your timing that develops the horse best .
horses develop just fine with pole exercises and on a lunge line .
if you must use a gadget the equi ami is much harder to lean on .
I use an equi core saddle cloth at times that’s a useful thing that does not in any way damage the feel of the horse in the hand .
theres Dozens of lunging thingys but none of them do anything that can’t be achieved by training your eye and developing your skills .
I like using side reins they do have a roll but it’s your training your eye your timing that develops the horse best .
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be positive
Well-Known Member
They soon get over being scared of poles, that is something easy to fix and getting him used to walking over poles quietly would be a priority for me as it will be so useful in many ways, if he is recently retired from racing he will take time to settle, change his way of going and build up his topline, a lunging aid can be useful but is only a small part of the retraining regime, if your friend has a pessoa why dont you borrow that as you have already decided to use something although I would prefer an equiami .
ycbm
Overwhelmed
I also have an ex racer. When I first showed him a pole you would have thought it was a hungry lion. I don't see being scared of poles as any reason to use a lunging aid, just teach him poles won't kill him. Lead him over one, and build up from there.
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LiquidMetal
Well-Known Member
I built myself an Equicore with an old saddle pad, buckles and therapy bands off Amazon. Probably should use it more but I tend to just lead my horse and do hills, etc so we're both getting exercise.
There is some actual scientific evidence behind Equicore system and I do see an improvement in my horse's way of going when I put it on. I much prefer it to a Pessoa as it does not involve the mouth. Pessoas make me very nervous of potential wrecks - I think there is a lot of potential for things to go really wrong.
My horse is also an OTTB and I will admit I probably haven't worked enough on his lunging skills. I much prefer to do my groundwork in hand and walk beside him to do poles, hills, ditches, etc. I am pregnant at moment and not riding and I've seen an improvement in my horse just walking up and down our sloped driveway.
There is some actual scientific evidence behind Equicore system and I do see an improvement in my horse's way of going when I put it on. I much prefer it to a Pessoa as it does not involve the mouth. Pessoas make me very nervous of potential wrecks - I think there is a lot of potential for things to go really wrong.
My horse is also an OTTB and I will admit I probably haven't worked enough on his lunging skills. I much prefer to do my groundwork in hand and walk beside him to do poles, hills, ditches, etc. I am pregnant at moment and not riding and I've seen an improvement in my horse just walking up and down our sloped driveway.
Sprat
Well-Known Member
Have you tried long reining?