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the Pessoa is brilliant if you have a horse that needs to work its topline and tends to lean on side reins or for a young horse that has a little bit of difficulty balancing themselves.

It makes them work in a natural outline and if they raise their heads, the fleece round there bum applies pressure and they learn to go in an outline to avoid this - a bit like when you take your leg off and soften your arm when they're going in a correct outline and working into the bridle.

It doesn't work if not fitted correctly though, so be aware.

Hi

the pessoa system is meant to "persuade and suggest" rather than force, but very often they are not fitted correctly and the ones that are fitted correctly appear to jab the horse in the mouth as he works his hind legs.

I have never used a pessoa or any other training aid. There is nothing to beat correct and sympathetic schooling without unnecessary short cuts by the use of gadgets.

Avis

Coach & Trainer for 40 years

They can be reasonably useful if used by someone who knows what they're doing - it can be a lot easier and cheaper to just tie a tail bandage round the horse's bum to remind him where his legs are, though - and although he might attempt to understand what you mean when he's in the pessoa, don't expect him to suddenly be able to translate that to what is meant under saddle. It's far better to have a rider fit enough and good enough to be able to ride the horse from leg to hand and have the horse learn to carry himself properly than throw money at "training aids".