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
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.
