Lunging Question - and I don't think a Pessoa is the answer!!!!!!

[helen75]

Hey,

MY TB is often relectant to take a contact. He will work in a shape but is not always truly between leg and hand - he's a cheat!!!

I have the opportunity to lunge a few times a week and have realised that lunging in a pessoa encourages him to 'duck behind the contact' He works lovely long and low though!

Side reins seem to put him in a false outline too (if I get one at all!) with obvious tension behind his poll.

Is there anything out there that I can use for lunging that will encourage him to take a contact forward???

Thanks!

ETA: teeth, back n saddle all checked!

 

[Lou_Lou123]

I use a gadget that I think somebody on here suggested. It's also very similar to the thing that Laura Bechtolscheimer (sp??) uses in her video on lunging on horsehero.com (I watched it when videos were free but I think you have to pay now).

It's brilliant for getting them to stretch without forcing them to go in an outline, or behind the vertical.

Right, I'll try to explain it. I use an old pair of draw reins, with a knot tied in the end that you would hold if you were riding, to get them the right length. you just put a bridle on and nothing else (ie no roller/saddle etc). You then place the knot just behind the withers and let one clip hang down each side. You then take the clips and pass them behind horses elbow and between front legs and clip to bit. Obviously you don't really want to leave the clips hanging down while you put it on that was just the easiest way to explain. Hope that made sense.

 

[ihatework]

I do exactly as Lou_Lou describes (although I nicked the idea from Bosanova from on here) - really is a great way to lunge

 

[millitiger]

long rein/lunge with 2 lines so you have a 'live' contact instead of a fixed one?

 

[siennamum]

A chambon will make him stretch across his topline and reach forward and down into a contact.

 

[jumptoit]

My mare was pretty much the same just held her head in the right place but you could not feel anything down the reins at all, she often came behind the vertical and didn't use her back end properly or track up. It looked ok to most people but it was actually a completely false outline and quite tricky to ride!

Lunging with 2 lines and there is a different setting (dressage one I *think*) for the pessoa that has really helped mine.

Riding wise, hacking out in walk with a horse with a much longer stride, going side by side and pushing her on to keep up without jogging. Also trotting/cantering on a circle and leg yielding out, lots of leg yielding to get them off your leg too.

I found that ridden work helped a lot more than lunging tbh, and when warming up to turn at the corners a couple of metres earlier and get a few leg yield steps to get them off your leg. Also however much I am not a fan of them spurs have really helped

 

[MegaBeast]

have you tried all the settings on the pessoa, you can cross the lines over either side of the withers in what they call the dresage setting so it's a high contact.

 

[TarrSteps]

A chambon or a deGouge is the most likely piece of kit to serve your needs. I have used the rope over the withers successfully before but I've also found the set up rubs some horses under the armpits (if horses had arms). Also, it still limits the forward stretch because the lower length of the reins is fixed, so there is always going to be more down than forward.

When you're using side reins, can I ask if you use them in walk as well? And if they are long enough? It can be a bit of a trick to adjust them for a sensitive horse but with quiet repetition they can still do the job.

 

[ngrace]

chambons are perfect, they can stretch down, out, but will discourage them from sticking head in the air/nose out. some usefull info on sustainabledressage.com (iv quoted it many times lol)
says to sling a rubber neck extender around the back end. not connected, so dosent jab them.
quite a cheap option too - i spent less than £20 on both!

 

[kerilli]

chambon encourages them to duck below the contact too, i'd advocate the draw reins as described above, this is what i do with 1 of mine. i offset the knot so it isn't on top of the withers, and use thinnish reins so they don't rub (so far)

 

[Finns Mum]

I have been reading the threads about the draw rein method and am going to try that with my lad.

I was worried about it rubbing having a very delicate skinned horse, I have seen it at one place sold with a sheepskin sleeve for where it passes between the legs.

Would this change the way it works as I imagine it would hold the line closer together and possibly not work with as much freedom?

Sorry to highjack

 

[MillionDollar]

This is the draw rein method...........

 

[helen75]

Thank you all so much!

Lots to think about and try!

xx

 

[Saratoga]

The draw rein method looks good - i am thinking of giving it a try with one of my boys who also ducks behind the contact.

For those that use it, what would happen if the horse put it's nose near the floor? My boy tends to put his head right down, is there a chance he could get his leg over one of the lines?

 

[helen75]

[ QUOTE ]
The draw rein method looks good - i am thinking of giving it a try with one of my boys who also ducks behind the contact.

For those that use it, what would happen if the horse put it's nose near the floor? My boy tends to put his head right down, is there a chance he could get his leg over one of the lines?

[/ QUOTE ]

Good point. I'd like to hear the answer too!

 

[TarrSteps]

You can put a neck strap on and feed the reins through it - it changes the action somewhat, I guess, but it's not as if you're reproducing the line from bit to hand anyway. If you look at the photo the horse is not actually "on the rein", the set up is more about developing posture and strength than teaching the horse about contact. (Which is not to say an improvement in these areas doesn't help the horse more correctly.)

When I've worked horses in something similar I've used a soft rope attached to the buckle end (to keep it from sliding down the neck) with a loop to pass each rein through. It keeps the reins from getting too low and keeps them from swinging too much.

I've also seen it done with the reins passed through the throatlatch. I know the purists will scream

but it's a very useful configuration for some horses.

Another little used but sometimes very helpful option is a "body wrap". This is an elastic bandage loop (I use two polo bandages attached in a long loop) that passes under the neck, is crossed over the back, then loops around the quarters similar to a Pessoa. It's a proprioceptive device and surprisingly effective for the above mentioned posture and strengthening, without compromising the horse's mouth in any way.

 

[Saratoga]

Thanks TarrSteps!