Pessoa

[ACT]

I need to encourage my horse to use his back end more, a couple of people have suggested that i try a pessoa training aid to encourage him; has anyone found any flaws in the pessoa or are they effective? Thanks in advance!

 

[xgemmax]

I find mine really good, helps to get him to stretch down and work from behind Only flaw to it would be if it wasn't fitted properly i.e. just strapping the horse into the 'correct' position! Also found the cheap copies just as good as the real thing, think mine is Kincade and works fine

 

[Fides]

Or you can just tie bandages together and loop round in a figure of 8 pattern - this works without interfering with the head

 

[Billy the kid]

I use a pessoa, i find it has helped alot. As long as you dont have it too tight then you cant really cause any problems. I find some horses will buck the first few times as the rope behind the rump must feel strange to them...i find some encouragement from behind with a lunging whip (not hitting, just cracking) will normally push them through the bucks and then they normally settle into things.

Once they are advanced enough and muscled enough you can change the settings to achieve a higher frame, i personally dont use this; i just keep him long and low in it, gets him stretching.