First of all I am no expert, but I thought it might still be interesting to share the elements that go into training my endurance horses. So we're starting off with the most simple, Pessoa work. Now this is how I like to use it, there will be many other ways to do so, and I would love to hear your tips and pointers.
First of all I start by getting them used to lunging, the hind end piece and the front piece separately. Then I like to take them for in hand walks with the Pessoa on so they get used to the way it moves before moving onto lunging.
Once we get to lunging in the Pessoa I slowly start to introduce trot. So I would start with doing a max of 10minutes total, 8 minutes walk, 2 minutes trot and then work my way up to doing 30minutes of continuous trotting.
I use it mainly at the start of the season for the first 12 weeks, for the younger horses a total of once a week and once they have finished growing, are balanced and strong up to twice a week. Once they've moved onto the speed or stamina block of training I tend to use lunging much less as it's more a foundation block for me rather than a fittening tool. I also love to add some poles once they've got used to it so that it encourages them to use their hind end even more.
It's also a great way for me to see how they move, monitor their progress and for them to do some work without me hindering them with my own asymmetries. Taking video from that perspective and comparing it month to month is so satisfying because you can really start to see a difference.
Thanks for watching,
Beth
27 окт 2024
