Using a pessoa/ lunging exercises longer term.....

[Sunny08]

sorry for posting this as I know there are many pessoa haters on here! I personally think it is like any tool, used in the correct way on the right sort of horse it works wonders.

My mare is 5 years old and is stiffer on one side than the other. I have been using the pessoa to help build even muscles and getting her moving forwards and correctly. For her it has worked wonders.

I have given up riding for a bit as i am pregnant, someone else is riding my mare for me 3 times a week and I intend to lunge my mare 3 times a week too. Currently we do simple exercises including working on transitions, extending and collection, basis leg yielding.

Over the next 6/7 mths even if she doesn't get bored - I will!!!

Are there any other lunging or pessoa exercises I can use over the next 6 months to keep things interesting?

 

[Kokopelli]

One I like to do is do a smallish circle in the corner of the school, to collect her, then run up the long side with her without her cantering but extending her trot. They really enjoy this.

Also pole work whilst lunging keeps them entertained

 

[Letslip]

Have you thought about long reining her as well because then you can introduce serpentines, figures of 8 etc as well as going large, plus small and large circles. Also working over ground and raised poles too, I often lay out several combinations around the arena consisting of a single pole, two trotting poles in a staight line and a fan of poles usually consisting of 3 poles, all stuff to keep them engaged and working

 

[Ali2]

Agree with all of the above

My loan horse has had back issues which we had to remediate with physio and lunging & long lining. We did all most of the stuff mentioned above and its really helped him - he's going nicely under saddle now and we're keeping up the lunging and long lining with a minimum of two sessions a week My own horse is very good at, and loves, doing the collection then extending down the long side

I also like to long line in the field and go on long line 'hacks' (with a second person at the head in hi viz too, for safetys sake) to add a bit of interest for both of us and to get him moving up and down some hills.