Training Aid or Gadget? - Pessoa Lunging System

Sometimes I hesitate to put up pictures or write about something some people may find controversial.  (Not that there are that many people reading this.)  But this is my journal, so I'm just going to go ahead and say that I got a Pessoa and have been lunging Cupid in it about once a week to help encourage him to use his hind end.

The first time I used it I let Cupid warm up in the walk and trot without it.  Then I put it on with my trainer there to help me adjust it correctly, and he was pretty accepting.  We trotted both directions, and it was easier to get him forward and stepping under himself compared to when I just use side reins.  He bucked when I asked him to canter, but was fine after that.  

I am using the Pessoa the same way I am trying to ride him, with more push from behind into a steady contact.  Except unfortunately when I ride I don't think my contact is steady enough, which is why I thought the Pessoa will help Cupid figure out what we're trying to do.  I think he's looked pretty good with it and doesn't seem to mind.

I've heard the arguments against it, but I consider the Pessoa a training aid, and a useful tool if used in moderation and with knowledge.  Which is how I feel about most gear - some things I wouldn't use myself, but it could be useful for a given horse with the right rider/handler.  For instance I'm not opposed to draw reins under the right circumstances - but it is not something I would use myself because as I said my hands aren't steady enough and I wouldn't really be comfortable right now with 2 reins.  Even bits that may seem unorthodox I feel like for some horses and with a very quiet educated rider they are fine.  So I hope no one is judging me for trying the Pessoa!

Neue Schule Verbindend, Splurge vs Steal

Eons ago, last fall, my trainer lent me her NS Verbindend bit ("NS") to try on Cupid and she thought it was an improvement and I should get one.  At the time, I was a little uncertain because it felt like some of the ride was very good with Cupid feeling quite round (still a struggle, especially at that time) but he also came above the bit with more reaction then either the single joing snaffle or Herm Sprenger double joint I was primarily riding him in.  But I trust her judgment and bought one during black Friday.  Then unfortunately a few days later I got a message that it was back-ordered, delivery date uncertain.  

I thought about canceling the order and trying a different retailer, but I didn't want to lose my black Friday promotion.  I scoured Facebook tack groups but unfortunately did not find any the right size.  But then I came across UK-based Expert Bits that makes something that looked quite similar.  I was a bit hesitant to buy something I wasn't familiar with that didn't have many reviews.  But the company seemed legitimate, and I like that it's a family owned company, and at 1/3 the price of the NS I figured it was worth a try.

I placed my order and received my bit a week later!  My first few rides in it felt pretty similar to the NS - the good parts were very good but there was still some resistance where Cupid threw his head up in protest, more reactive then our old bit.  But after a few rides I was quite happy with it.

Now after long last I finally received the NS and laid it by the dupe for comparison.  They really are quite similar.  One difference is the width - NS comes in 12mm or 16 (mine is 12), and the Expert bit is right in between at 14mm.  The center link is slightly smaller on the NS, and the holes in it smaller.  The NS is also a bit more sharply angled.  Both bits are a copper alloy but I don't know the composition - the NS is shinier and I think maybe a bit softer (I've only had one ride in it, but you can see some light teeth marks which wasn't the case with the other one.)

I've only had one ride in the NS, and it was good though I didn't really notice a difference from the Expert.  Our rides have been a bit inconsistent lately, so it just felt like any of our better recent rides.  Since I'll probably be using this bit for a while I don't regret buying the NS, but I think the Expert is a solid alternative.  Especially if you aren't able to test a NS before buying it and aren't sure it is right for your horse, or for young horses especially ones that chomp the bit, or just as a back-up to keep in your trailer, which is what I think I'll be doing with mine!

Catching Up

Once again my blogging has fallen to the wayside.  Which also means I don't remember any details since I can barely remember what I ate for breakfast this morning.  So I'm just going to make a random list of some stuff I remember from the past few weeks.

-Cupid and I went to our first show since last fall.  He must have been picking up on my nerves because he was kind of tight through his body.  It wasn't great, but not a total disaster either (aside from a swapped lead and a few exuberant canter departs.)  We once again got an 8 for one of our halts, yay!  Plus I think we got the last needed score for our Regional Adult Amateur Competition this summer, so we are going to aim towards that!

Red ribbons for Valentine's Day

-We went on a trail ride, again at Wunderlich with the same pair we've been going with last fall.  My friend's mare has been doing very well her first few trail rides, but she does get nervous with wet ground or footing changes or sometimes just large objects near the ground (like stumps).  We took these two horses to a desensitization clinic, and discovered that the best way to help her through these situations is not by me riding ahead and hoping she follows, but by having Cupid stop right in/by the water/mud/scary thing and then have her come up alongside.  Discovering that in the arena has given us a very helpful tool to use on the trail!

Wunderlich

-I've been continuing to ride with rainbow reins, and still find it very helpful.  The first few times I rode in them my hands felt tired by the end (since now I'm actually holding myself accountable for not letting them slide), but now I've come to prefer the added thickness and have ordered thicker black reins for shows.

-We've been blessed with nice weather for the most part.  Cupid's pasture is still muddy, and our outdoor arena has been closed several times, but overall it's been an easy winter so far.

The dark bay OTTB club

-I haven't had a biomechanics lessons the past few weeks, but hope to start back again soon.  I've also been having some trouble coordinating my regular lessons between my trainer's busy schedule and mine but hopefully we can work on that.

Developing Feel With Rainbow Reins

So after doing dressage almost exclusively for what, like 3 years now? I am still working on developing feel.  Unfortunately the last 3 years are pretty short compared to the rest of my riding "career" where I basically lived by the rule of don't touch the horse's mouth.  So as much as my trainer has told me to shorten my reins (and yes, I do understand that roundness doesn't come from the reins, but you do need a consistent contact which I generally lack), it never really sunk it.  So finally I resorted to good old fashioned rainbow reins.  Not just for 8 year old pony kids anymore. 😆  

It has been a huge help!  Now I know, generally in working gaits my hands should be right in between the green and pink (and no cheating with straight elbows!)  And then once I'm there, it really helps make sure I don't let the reins slide longer, which I usually do.  It still feel weird to me to be riding with that much contact, though Cupid generally does go better.  He does resist sometimes, and I think it's going to take him a little while to trust it fully since the poor guy is used to me dropping him constantly over the past 5+ years. 

So even though I thought it might be a little silly, I'm really glad I tried this.  Hopefully this will help me develop the feel and I will be able to replicate it without the colors to guide me!

Saddle Box Subscription Review

I received a three month Saddle Box subscription from my sister as a birthday gift, and this is the first box I received.  I wasn't familiar with this product, but it seems that they make their own brand of horse treats and combine that with a few other products.  My particular box contained: 3 types of Saddle Box horse treats; a comb and small spray bottle of Fiebing's Satin Sheen, and a Tough-1 brush.

Cupid is a somewhat picky horse, though he has gotten a little more adventurous over the years.  He loves carrots and apples, most commercial horse treats (originally not liking peppermint but he's come around to them), and doesn't even mind bute or antibiotics in his food.  But he won't touch most people food, and even most fruits - he's a firm no on bananas and watermelon.  He did eat grapes and blueberries the first time I offered it to him, but hasn't since.  So he's a pretty test subject!

So first up we have the "Sweet Saddles" which is a hard candy!  I haven't seen anything else like this for horses.  I would say it smells like anise.  I did not think Cupid would try this, but to my surprise he ate one right up.  The big test was the second day (as I said, sometimes he will eat something once but not again), but he ate it the second day too so I call this one a win.  And I'll admit I tried it too - it is pretty herbal and reminded me of a Ricola!

Next up we have the "PonyDoodles" Honey Sticks.  These are small, they are crunchy but not too hard, and don't really have a smell.  Cupid ate a few day one, and I thought we were 2 for 2.  But alas, on day 2 he was no longer interested.  So I'll admit I also tried these (and yes they do say not for human consumption.) 😊  They remind me of the Trader Joe's honey wheat pretzel sticks just without the salt. 

The third treat is some sort of mash, which I haven't tried yet but Cupid's birthday is coming up so we may save it for then.

The other products don't really need much explanation.  I hadn't tried the Fiebing's brand detangler/sheen before but upon first use it's comparable to other similar products.  I don't use these types of products on a regular basis, but every few weeks when I go through Cupid's tail I use a bit and that's how I tried this.  It has a light, pleasant scent.  

The Tough-1 brush has medium stiff plastic bristles and is not the type of brush I use on Cupid, but I used it to knock the dirt off my boots after I rode. 

The box was a fun surprise.  I wouldn't say it's worth getting for yourself, but I do think it makes a good gift for a horse lover and I am looking forward to seeing what's in my next box!

Lesson Notes

I've been continuing to take weekly biomechanics lessons on a school horse, as well as a weekly session with my regular coach.  My SO asked about this (possibly trying to wrap his head around how much I'm spending on this hobby 😂) so I came up with a sports analogy to explain it.  I said my biomechanics instructor was like my QB coach, who works with me on the finer points of technique.  My regular coach is like the offensive coordinator, who looks at the big picture and how Cupid and I work together as a team.  So I guess I still have room for a head coach?!

My last biomechanics lesson focused more on the arms and upper body, since I think my lower half is starting to show some improvement! 

-"Soggy arms" is what my instructor says I have.  She says my whip is a dead giveaway, as it flops around when my arms are soggy.  So she basically grabbed my lower arm with both her hands and told me to get the feeling of lifting her off the ground (but without actually lifting my hands).  

-Opposing forces: keeping my elbows back, but get the feeling of pushing my hands forward at the same time.  Suggested imagery was thinking of pushing a wheelbarrow.

-My tendency is to make my front half longer than the back.  Need to make sure I'm not arching my lower back.  Think about pilates, pressing my lower back against the mat.

-Post through my thighs, not my feet.  To get the feeling, my instructor will put her hand under my feet (at the halt!) and tell me not to crush it!

-I tend to sit more on my right seatbone.  Especially tracking right, make sure I'm balanced on both seat bones and my chin is in line with the withers (which may mean I need to think about looking slightly outside the circle - which may explain why Cupid can overbend through his neck to the right and my lesson horse was drifting in on the circle!)

-Continued working on the "slapkick" - a quick touch with the lower leg making sure I don't turn in my heels.  Think about the stirrup touching the horse, not my heels.

Getting better!  And oh so serious 😂

My last lesson with Cupid seems oh so long ago so I'm having trouble remembering details, but I remember having a great feeling when it ended!  The primary objective is still getting Cupid rounder, as well as making sure he's in front of the leg / prompt transitions. 

Also in other news, Cupid's been a bit of a lesson horse himself, as a young lady at my barn has ridden him a few times with our mutual coach.  Her horse unfortunately had to be retired, and her new OTTB is getting some time off.  She is a very nice person and hard worker, so I am happy to help out and know Cupid will take great care of her and start showing her the ropes what she can expect with her own horse down the line!

Estate Planning for Horse Owners (under California law)

What would happen to your horse if something happens to you??  I've still been struggling with motivation to write, but I decided to put together a basic primer on estate planning for horse owners.  This is very generalized (contact an attorney for your specific situation), and based on California law, but may give you some options or at least something to think about. 

Disclaimer: this is not intended as legal advice, and does not create any attorney-client relationship.