Western Pessoa System

And what did we learn today, Bacon?

When Vegas had issues with a sticky front end a few years back, a trainer friend had me trailer her over to his place so he could show me a method to help move her forward and use her butt. I had been concussed at this point, so I was not allowed to ride, and given strict orders to keep up this new method I was about to learn daily for at least 2 weeks.

The trainer saddled up Vegas, tied a pair of long split reins to each side of her girth and wrapped a lariat around the base of the horn. He told me that she may not respond to well to it, but not to worry because he had never had a horse never figure it out. The lariat was then held around the back of her butt and he had attached a lounge line to her as well. He clucked to her and when she planted her feet, he gave a tug to that lariat sitting about a foot above her hocks.

Lariat just barely putting any pressure on the sensitive creature.

Off she went! She did better than I expected her to do, but still through in some bucks in protest of having something hanging out around her hind end. He just continued to urge her to go forward with the rope. Any time she tried to fight or slow or get sticky, a tug tug, and she tucked her butt under and pushed forward. The session didn't last long, but gave us a great start and gave me something to do while I sulked about not being able to ride.

We did our buttwork session every day for a month. When I got back on my horse, it was the most balanced, soft, and slow moving she had ever felt. She collected and held herself and it was magic. I was so surprised, but also excited. She was no longer sticky either. It was just so cool.

So western.

Part of western days with Bacon now includes this same method. It is pretty similar to the Pessoa system, though I have control of the hind end pressure and it is not connected to her mouth. Instead of split reins, I use side reins, still set at the longest point. We do a little bit of this style lunging in the beginning of our ride in hopes that I can have her using her hind end even more and stepping under herself more in the trot. Though her hip angle is pretty steep and sets her butt underneath her, her hocks are camped out, so I have noticed that it is harder for her to get that steep step under in the trot.

I have to be a little more careful with using the butt rope with her, as she is more sensitive, and if I increase the pressure too much, she is more likely to speed off and fall on the forehand. Most of the time, it just lingers above her hocks as a reminder that there is something there. If she doesn't immediately canter when I want her to, I give the rope a tug. If she ends up cross firing or counter cantering, I give it a tug. So far, it seems to be doing fairly well, though I have only used it a few times.

Reeling out the lariat and lunge as the horse increases the circle size.

Here are a few tips for those interested in trying this method themselves:
- I like the use of the lariat. It is stiff and tough, which makes it less likely for them to lean against.
-Be careful when doing this the first time. Often horses will get the rope stuck under their tail, and then clamp the tail down. Eventually this pisses them off even more, and bucking may occur
-Hell, bucking may occur anyways, because you have a rope around there ass. Keep it loose to start and work with what pressure works best for your horse. When in doubt, let them buck it out a little bit. Unless it gets a little too dangerous!
-USE GLOVES. You probably do anyways for lounging, but it is especially important when holding a lariat. You don't get any extra points for major rope burns.
-Like anything else with ponies, this takes some time. It is hard to finagle the lounge line and lariat and watch and work your horse. It takes time to have your horse develop from this.

You have to play a little bit too.

And there you have it. It may be a little rough or westerny for some tastes, but if done right, it is a very effective and kind way of teaching a horse to use their bum. Let me know if any of you give it a try!

It is always fun to have helpers too!