Pessoa training system??

Question

i'm getting my horse back after having him leased out for 8 months, he's been ridden by a 13 year old at pony club, she's a good rider and worked him round but in false frame. i got on him the other day and found him a bit stiff and reluctant to use his back end and work from behind. i think i will rest him for one month and then lunge him for a month before i start riding again, which is the best way to lunge and get him moving properly, side reins or pessoa method? i have no expierience with the pessoa method and don't really know how it works. does anybody know? thanks :D

Answer 1

I dont like artificial aids at all. I think they often encourage horses to work in a false outline, Try lunging him in a head collar, with no gadgets at all. I lunge my horses this way and encourage them to stretch down with their nose nearly on the floor so they stretch all their back.

It took a while but just lunging and getting them listening to your aids you will see that they will naturally start to hold themselves in a nice outline.

Hope this helps, please at least try doing it without gadgets. and definitely without a lunge cavesson! I dont know who thought it was "natural" for a horse to run around with heavy metal across their noses!

Start off lunging without tack on too, to let him loosen off his back muscles.

When you can see him working in a good strong shape, put the saddle back on.

If you are local I could come help, if you have any other queries re what i've said feel free to email me.

Good luck :-)

Answer 2

I wouldn't give him a month off. That means your loosing a month of work with him. I wouldn't jump right into the side reins. They work better for finishing a horse in the bit and becoming less hollow than teaching him to frame. It will actually not help much because its almost continuing to teach him into a false frame. Unless your planing to ride him with real low hands it most likely won't help him or you. Try to pull his head up and train him to come onto the bit using his hind quarters, not just forcing his head down. Your better off just teaching him to come down into the bit for you. So I personally wouldn't use the training system with him  

Answer 3

Now, this may not be what you're looking for but here goes anyway:

I don't like training aids, no offence to anyone who uses them but they are all too often used as a shortcut.

If I was you, I would just start riding him. If you want to lunge, PLEASE don't use side reins, they are a god awful invention! They put pressure on the bars of the horses mouth because of their placement, would you ride with your hands on your knees? Lunging in draw reins can be beneficial with some horses, but again they are a shortcut and can encourage a false outline because the horse brings its head down, but sticks out the nose.

I would just start riding your horse, if you need to lunge before getting on (as I do with one of mine as he's cold backed) then just lunge in tack, no training aids. Then just work on his longitudal and latitudal flexion. Bending exercises such as serpentines, circles, changes of rein etc. will be good for him. Once he has been back in work a little while, a great exercise is to do a half 10m circle from B to X, then another half 10m circle from X to E. This is a more advanced exercise requiring balance so save it for later on in his training. In the earlier stages stick to circles, figures of eights, half 20m circle from A to X and half 20m circle from X to C, down the centre line to change the rein, quarterline work (to stop him depending on the walls to keep him straight). There are numerous flexion exercises that you can do to improve his suppleness. Remember that the bread and butter stuff of schooling is straightness - have the head in between the shoulders and the shoulders level with the quarters and remember to allow your hips and shoulders to follow and flex accordingly.

If I can help you further, feel free to email me.

Answer 4

I use a John Whitaker Training System and it really helped us with starting off our youngster!

I would never lunge in side- reins as I find them completely unforgiving on the horse, but the JW Training System encourages her down rather than forcing it. It also encourages activity of the hind legs and throughout the back.

My pony is one that wouldn't do something if she felt it was forcing her, the first time I lunged her in this we did it up rather loosely and she still trotted around with her head up and her back hollow, by the end of the session (even though it was too loose really, now I think back!) she had accepted it and wasn't moving in an 'outline' but rather stretching through her back and moving freely behind!

I'd reccomend it!

Answer 5

While a month's holiday is possibly a good idea, lunging and artificial aids is not.  Pinning his head down with side reins is not going to encourage him to use his back and work from his quarters - he will simply do what he has become used to doing and stick his head where he thinks you want it to be.

If he was mine I probably would give him a couple of weeks off to destress, then just get on him and start riding.  Go for long walks, and keep your reins long but not loose; he needs to learn to work correctly and he's not going to be able to do that if he's hemmed in or ridden on a short rein.

It won't be impossible to change his ways, but he needs time and patient riding not further falseness.

Answer 6

I've used the Pessoa system and love it! As long as it's adjusted properly, it encourages the horse to use his hind end, and when the horse is properly framed with his hind end under him, it relieves the pressure on his head and naturally sets it where it should be. Just be sure to use a very light bit. I've always used a rubber snaffle. Side reins are no good. They just tie the horse's head in place. The Pessoa system incorporates the whole body into the workout and gives great results :)