Pessoa's

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Hanz

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Pro's and cons?

Have given my geliding a month off and am starting from scratch with him, have heard many good reviews about Pessoa;s and I know a lot of people who swear by them, on the other hand Iwas told my a sports massuese (sp) Because it is forcing the head in and the hind legs under, horses tense their back and it causes probs?

What are your opinions of it, do you use it/have used it and is it ultimately just another way to force your horse to work 'properly' in an unnatural way?

Thanks guys. Much appreciated, I just don't want to waste 70-odd quid on something that is effectively a u8seless bit of string.
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Think your massage person does'nt know what she is talking about. Sorry.
The pessoa encourages thehorse to work over its back it does-nt force it there. Infact i have just done some work for a vet, who is the consultant to the Royal college regarding backs and saddle fitting, on his own horse using a Pessoa to sort out a back problem/injury.So i would think he would be the first to dismiss it if it were the case.
It has several ways of being 'positioned' That depend on your horse and his needs as well as adjustments to esure correct fitting.
Get someone to help you that has used one so that they can help you get familiarised with it.
I do'nt do much canter in then at first as some horses find this the most difficult to get used to.
 
Hi, my physio and my vet suggested i used one on my mare when she was recovering from a back injury as they "encourage" the horse to use it's back muscles properly.
 
The very nature of a pessoa is to encourage the horse to carry itself correctly, the whole gadget is a very fluid item which makes it difficult for the horse to lean on it, yes if you fit it to short you may get a false outline from the horse but used correctly it is a very very good piece of kit. IMO you could do far more damage with side reins than a pessoa.

Rather than pay full price for one have a look at the copies on ebay, many of these are very good and cost a fraction of the price of the real one. One word of advice if you go the ebay route, do make sure it has the pulleys that clip to the bit rather than just running the rope through the bit ring as this gives a softer feel for the horse.
 
I agree totally with MrsT. The outline is not forced if used correctly. One of my TB's has improved so much with it........
Do look around, some of the copies are very good and half the price. I have the John Whitaker version, it was at the right price and came with a roller......
 
I bought the equibalancer one from ebay and I was really pleased with the quality and it does seem to be helping George. I did get my instructor to help fit it as I'm inexperienced.
 
They are brilliant. We used them on all the youngsters at my old yard and my TB who had had back problems over the years. If you haven't fitted one before then make sure you have someone to help you. I was a kid when they first came out and was handed it and told to put it on a 17hh horse. Took me about 1/2 hour to figure it out - luckily she was patient with me!
 
I bought one of the imitations off ebay for £5. Can't really see much difference between mine and another livery who bought a 'proper' pessoa other than hers looks nicer... they work the same way.

My horse hates pessoa's though, I use a bowling line on her instead which seems to work better for her.
 
My horse had a sore back and the back specialist we saw recommended lunging him in one for 3 months. He now has far better muscle and is obviously more comfortable being ridden. It encourages the horse to work correctly, you just need to make sure you don't ask too much at first.
Our vet does a lot of work with horses with kissing spines and other back problems and says he almost always recommends the pessoa to build the horse up again after surgery.
 
My vet recommended it to me. I was firstly quite suspicious as I dont really like 'gadgets' so I bought a £12 version from ebay. Best £12 I have spent..! I used it twice a week on my gelding over last winter and I was amazed with how he built up the muscle, his way of going under saddle improved too though sadly he had most of the summer off lame and I have had to start again...!

My mare hates being lunged and freaks with side reins - tried her in the pessoa last night and she was great, she didnt freak out or mess about and after 5 min she was stretching out nicely. She seems to prefer it, probably as there is a lot more 'give' in the pessoa than side reins.
 
Brilliant piece of kit in the right hands.....they're only 'harsh' when they're used badly. First timers just need to be shown how by someone who really knows.

Didn't know about the ebay cheapie ones, I've only ever borrowed a friends proper one....are they really just as good? If they are I may as well get one of my own
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The cheap ebay ones are fine (or if you look around the horsey forums somebdoy posted instructions on how to make one - might have been on Stableads)

I really rate mine, it has been used on all shapes and sizes and really works
 
My instructor has just suggested I get one for my mare as she has been out of work for near enough 7 months and needs to build up the muscles correctly again, she said it would really help lunging her in one. Just got one of ebay for 29.99! Not called a pessoa but it arrived yesterday and is exactly the same thing.
 
ive got the top line activator one of ebay. and i think its great! would much rather lunge any horse or pony in that than in side reins
 
Wouldn't worry about getting a cheaper version. I bought the real thing and it drives me nuts as the adjustment clips keep loosening themselves
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