Training aids

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Luckylocalian

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Help please! My instructor keeps telling me that I need to use a Pessoa on my horse to get him to learn to hold himself up properly and to build his muscles up etc (he is 17hh and 5yrs old so quite a lot to get together). Is it worth splashing out on the real thing or can anyone recommend a cheaper alternative?? Help please - I am well out of my depth! x
 
John Whitaker and Derby House both do something similar. Alternatively google Divoza - I bought my pessoa from them and it was fairly cheap. When you get one, make sure your instructor sets it all up for you - there are many setting on the pessoa dependent upon stage of your horses training. You will need to buy a lunge surcingle as this does not come with the pessoa. Would also like to point out (very sorry if you know this already) but lungeing with pessoa is fairly strenuous and I would start with no more than 5 mins on each rein, gradually building up length of session. Hope that helps
 
Thank you both so much - I think I will probably go for the JW or DH version as they include the roller so probably saving about £40-50 which is quite a whack when you have a new horse and a hundred other things to buy but not sure that I feel brave enough to make my own (I know I am a total whimp!!) Any further suggestions gratefully received x
 
try ebay, i bought a topline activator (or something like that) and it is exactly the same but only about £20. You will still need a roller though.
 
this is supposed to be a helpful comment not a bitchey one, ok !

why dont you ask your instructor why they cannot teach you to ride instead of trying to get a gadget to do the job for you?

i see alot of people use the pessoa & they go ok in it, but as soon as they get on, it goes just the same as it did before...

but suck it and see, u & your horse may like it & that is wot counts... good luck !
:-)
 
I know I know - I kinda agree! The problem is that I am a pretty small person and he is a very large horse and we are a little stuck in a rut and he gets very frustrated so I think the idea of the training aid from the ground is to let the horse work it out for himself and work himself without leaning on and getting annoyed with his rider.. does that make sense?
 
well it would, but your best riding doesnt depend on you being strong...! it relies on skill & technique & understanding of what makes a horse balance & strengthen.....
you really can ride a big horse well & be small...


your choice though...

:-)
 
Pessoa, or the other kinds, I have found to be the best way of achieving what you want from the ground - other training aids dont have the same affect. However a word of awarning introduce it slowly so that your boy can work loosely to get used to it first and make sure that he is moving forward. I have seen many people use it with thier horses going very slowly round and they end up leadning on it a much as they would in side reins. If your horse is inactive from behind when ridden he will begin inactive in the Pessoa. FORWARD is key to everything on and off the ground. Good luck
 
Just a 'heads up'... The DH version isn't great. The ropes are really stiff and cardboardy, and don't run anywhere near as freely as the 'real thing', also the fittings on it seem very weak. Can't comment on the JW one as I've not seen one!

Just trying to save you disappointment - I ordered a DH one and sent it back as I wasn't pleased with the quality.
smile.gif
 
Excellent - the DH one is off the list then!

As for the riding - the thing is that to be a very good rider it does help to be strong, not necessarily in the hands as I don't agree with being heavy handed, but you need to be able to use your legs twice effectively and maintain your position etc etc so you have to be physically strong. I am unfortunately recovering from a serious illness and do not at this present time have as much strength as perhaps I should, hence the suggestion of a training aid to make life easier. Perhaps this is why he wants me to get one so much?
 
fair enuff.....! but the art of riding a big horse is to do excersises that will use his bulk to strengthen himself rather than trying to push & pull him into a shape...

but to each his own, & after all, i could be wrong....

good luck & i hope you make a full recovery
xx
 
Hi,

Another vote for ebay from me! The one I got was exactly the same as my instructor's Pessoa but was only about £25. It has lasted really well and is made of good quality rope and pulleys.

Be careful - some of the ebay ones are elastic which I've heard then ride up round the quarters as the horse moves.
 
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