Pure brilliance from Sustainable Dressage website. Just had to share!

[kerilli]

But it's not only the sheer weight of the rider which disturbes the horse. It is the pressure as well. The horse's back is an emotional filter. An upset, tense, angry, frightened horse tenses his back muscles and hollows the back. A rider aboard can be intimidating, at least in the beginning.
Discomfort
It will also generate a certain degree of discomfort in the back, which the horse will try to avoid best he can. By hollowing. If these instinctive reactions are not nipped in the bud early on, the horse will establish a habit of hollowing as soon as the saddle comes off its hanger.
Unbalanced
Another, and some would say the most important, reason why a horse becomes tense and hollows with a rider on board is the fact that his balance is upset. A horse is a flight animal, which needs to be able to turn and bolt in a second, or at least he will believe so until his last breath. To be cemented on the forehand by an additional weight on the back is a nightmare. In my experience, the higher up the hierarchy a mare is, the less she will tolerate losing balance. Because balance and poise is closely connected with self esteem and social structure.

Crikey. That explains a lot to me... dominant mares can be very very tricky, perhaps this is why...
Also, the entire article is a very compelling argument, although she never says so, to be as light as you can, to be fair to your horse!

 

[Blizzard]

I had to come off that site because OH was wondering where I had gone!

What made me think, is what she said about the Pessoa training aids and the horse being jabbed in the mouth everytime their hind legs push against the sheepskin at the back.

I havent read much of the site yet,only skimmed, but it is amazing.

 

[Baggybreeches]

It is fantastic isnt it! The thing about the hierarchy is fascinating certainly explains some past horses behaviours.

 

[Bossanova]

So Moon was just telling me I need to lose weight..... charming

 

[dwi]

[ QUOTE ]
What made me think, is what she said about the Pessoa training aids and the horse being jabbed in the mouth everytime their hind legs push against the sheepskin at the back.

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I was worried about that as well, somebody did a post about pessoas a couple of days ago and posted a link to the article. I can understand why she is is saying it because it sounds logical but that wouldn't explain why so many professionals seem to like this sort of training aid.

Can anyone shed any light?

 

[Sags_Deer]

its a great website isnt it.

 

[Stella]

I don't like that site. It says some sensible things, but seems a touch too fascist for my taste in its approach to other legimate approaches e.g. pessoas! The truth for most things lies in a more moderate position.

 

[kerilli]

Pessoas do pull the horse in the mouth with every stride of the hindlegs. my trainer pointed this out to me when they were first introduced and i asked him about getting one. you only have to watch a horse in action in one for 2 minutes to see that this is an inescapable fact.

people like them because they do work the horse in some sort of an outline, (which a lot of riders can't do) and perhaps for some horses having no rider on board helps them to strengthen their back muscles, so they feel improved, at least for a while, when the rider does get back on.
can't stand them, personally. the horse, to me, needs to be gently taught how to balance and improve with my weight on board. that way, we are both constantly learning things about each other. can't happen if i'm 20 feet away at the end of a rope.

 

[Tierra]

Look how many professionals use rollkur ;p Being a professional doesn't necessarily mean that what you are doing is either correct or ethical for the horse. The precise reason that dressage is in such conflict these days is because of speculation over some modern training methods (and often associated gadgets)

As for the site, ive always loved it. The person behind it is truely inspirational and she has an amazing way of explaining things. I think the problem with the more classical approaches is that they appear too unobtainable to most "mere mortals", where as i think this lady explains things in a way that anyone can understand; regardless of their actual experience levels.

As for her opinion on pessoas... ive never liked them and i never will

The only thing i do wish is that the author still updated her site as im sure her thoughts, philosophies and experience could be a continuous inspiration

 

[clipclop]

Great article.
I love reading about and talking to people who think outside the box.

 

[ann-jen]

Interesting about dominant mares. I've always had mares and my current one is the only one I'd of said is anywhere near the top of the pecking order. She has been the trickiest of all to ride but also the most rewarding too.

 

[burtie]

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As for her opinion on pessoas... ive never liked them and i never will


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Same here.