Using Pessoa on 4 year old

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Carrots&Mints

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Does anyone use a Pessoa on their 4 year olds? I'm considering doing but abit concerned if he was too young ? He's quite mature in himself can lunge and long line perfectly but just want him working abit more long and low and using his back end more before we eventually get on board.

Let me know your opinions and no nasty comments please. Thanks
 
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I wouldn't use a Pessoa end of but certainly not on a youngster like that - agree with equi that your desired frame comes with strength and balance
 
Can't you lunge over poles to get the same long and low motion?

I tend to lunge with low baggy side reins to achieve the seeking of the bit and encourage horse to reach nose down and stretch it's back. As long as you drive it forwards!

You say it long reins well, why not long rein up a good hill? They tend to really power up, use their hind engines and stretch their noses down (long an low!)
 
Wheels said:
I wouldn't use a Pessoa end of but certainly not on a youngster like that - agree with equi that your desired frame comes with strength and balance
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+1.

Hate Pessoas - they're the quickest way to teach a horse that any hock movement will jab them in the mouth.

If you want long and low have a look at a chambon - much more forgiving and can help a horse learn to lower its head. Or just keep working until the horse can carry and balance itself.
 
Carrots&Mints said:
Does anyone use a Pessoa on their 4 year olds? I'm considering doing but abit concerned if he was too young ? He's quite mature in himself can lunge and long line perfectly but just want him working abit more long and low and using his back end more before we eventually get on board.

Let me know your opinions and no nasty comments please. Thanks
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Sorry, I would not use one on a horse that young.
 
I wouldn't. Simply because most four year old are still learning to balance themselves and their rider correctly and also how to go forward. The Pessoa could end up teaching them to 'think backwards' and confuse them! I think 'less is more' is definitely the way forward with youngsters, a very 'black and white' approach about what is expected is often the best way - be kind yet firm.
 
Thanks for the responses :)

I don't have a hill to long rein on well not a quiet one and I don't really want to be long reining on the road, especially as they are very busy + fast drivers.

I like the idea of princess sparkles think I know what you mean.
 
I have heard that these are popular in showing circles http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cotton-Lu...t=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment&hash=item3f44d78b7d

I make a similar thing with draw reins and have used a tail bandage around the quarters to a roller (no jabbing in mouth) and would use that on a four year old personally (my pony is five now)

Pony hated the Pessoa so much he stropped and rolled in it so I didn't press the issue
 
Have to agree with all the negative replies. I wouldn't consider putting one on my 4 year old. As Equi said with correct training and balance your horse will develop and use himself properly. I would invest in getting a good straightness trainer out who can show you how to work your horse correctly in hand and ridden.
 
It depends on what you want from your horse if you want a horse that buries itself onto the forehand and is down hill and unbalanced use a gadget as that is what most do if you want an uphill light and responsive ride coming through from behind then school your horse from the saddle and with a good instructor there are no short cuts that do not damage the horse whatever its age
 
Carrots&Mints said:
Tiddlypom whats a equi ami? :)
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This.

http://www.equiami.com

I'm not a gadget fan, as a rule, but the equiami can be very useful. The horse still has quite a lot of freedom in it, so it is clear to see if the horse is unhappy in any way, but it encourages and then rewards the horse for stretching forward and down.

In my experience, when used correctly, it don't tip the horse onto its forehand, either, but encourages good, active work.
 
I really don't like Pessoas, so another no vote, especially for use on an immature horse.

Once a horse is actively using itself well on the lunge I really praise any lowering of the head to the ground. In no time they are working with their noses on the ground, no gadgets needed. Only thing to watch is that are still active behind and carrying their front end rather than falling onto it.
 
My youngster worked in loose elasticated side reins, lots of praise when he lowered in to them - he learnt the command "stretch" - always going forward though, keep the withers up if that makes sense? He now works well, I still lunge in the side reins as loose as they go and he's ridden in a bungee once a week. As others have said, the key to him was straightness and not letting him lean/get attached to the school fence! I still ride on an inside track most of the time now. X
 
We put Pessoa on 4yos at work, I don't see anything wrong with it as long as it's on the right setting, we put it as low as possible and between their legs, and you're not doing it for ages!
 
I wouldn't use one on anything either. And certainly not on a youngster. But then, I almost never lunge at that age either.
 
I was rather a traditionalist in my lunging equipment and would always use side reins. Then when my horse went away for a few weeks to my instructor's yard he was lunged a bit, but always with no gadgets at all. So I tried it for a while and was very happy with the results. The top picture was last year (at 7), the bottom picture is the previous year (at 6).

923454_362612547211112_354762923_n.jpg


I did buy an equi ami a bit later on during 2014 as he seemed to be getting a little long in his frame and I thought it may help. I do actually like it. He can't lean on it like side reins, and it doesn't snag the mouth with every step like a pessoa does. However, I now know why he was trailing his back end, and will consider carefully whether to use it much when he is back in work as gadget free lunging was working very well.

As mentioned above, pole work is also very good to encourage stretch and activity from behind:

1559253_384881488317551_6961113538203518718_o.jpg


Lastly, poles don't need to be set out as in the picture above, they also work well on a 20m circle. More details here:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.415910825214617.1073741874.253388098133558&type=3

Hope that helps. Good luck. :)
 
Sorry if I sound fierce but I loathe these gadgets. I have seen several horses ruined with these things. Take time, patience and correct riding and in a couple of years he should be strong enough to carry himself.
 
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