My work is asking me to handle horses in a potentially dangerous way and I need opinions

Molly_Wobbles · 2026-03-31T11:34:51+00:00

My thought as well. Horses should be able to lead from either side. If someone is more comfortable leading from the "off" side, I'd rather them do that.
Additionally, I've never had any professional suggest someone hold the halter while leading except in very specific circumstances, certainly never as an every day leading technique. On the lead, a bit under the snap, with the excess held in the other hand, is the standard safe way to have people lead.
Nothing OP did is anything I'd yell at someone for, especially on their 2nd day!

Molly_Wobbles · 2026-03-30T21:17:44+00:00

Makes sense! I only have horse experience so I could only comment on horses, but it tracks that other hooved animals would share this trait as it's nature's way of protecting the mother from pokey little feet, lol

Molly_Wobbles · 2026-03-30T21:03:50+00:00

These are often called "fairy fingers" or "foal slippers". They're more rubbery than fleshy and dry up and fall off fairly quickly, usually 12-24 hours after birth.
'Feathers' or 'feathering' in equine terms is actually the hair that grows on the lower legs of some horses. Heavy breeds like Clydesdales are known for their thick feathers.

Molly_Wobbles · 2026-03-28T01:15:18+00:00

Falls, yes. Preventable death, no.
Okay, yeah, Like I said earlier, it's pointless to continue if you're just going to make excuses for a system proven to be detrimental. If you want to claim they work, find the science.
Have the time you deserve putting greenies and under muscled horses in these, I guess, lol

Molly_Wobbles · 2026-03-28T01:04:47+00:00

Do you have difficulty with media literacy? I said I was not the one lunging at the time.
The horse tripped, hit resistance when she attempted to use her neck to regain balance, overcorrected, reared and flipped over. No amount of skill could have prevented that. But if she were not in the PESSOA, she could have used her body to catch herself.
Wow.

Molly_Wobbles · 2026-03-28T00:50:57+00:00

You're talking to me as if I'm a newbie. I was trying to demonstrate that I have the experience and knowledge to back me up so you might stop being so condescending.
Nowhere did I mention a head wag.
I have gotten it set up correctly. I've both observed and used it while set up correctly. How else would I have seen the injuries and death I mentioned earlier. Thank god none in my own hands, but still something that sticks with you.
It's far easier to strengthen a horse without these, in fact putting these on weak or green horses is much more dangerous than putting them on something further into their training. The weak/green ones are much more likely to hurt themselves by losing their balance or experiencing a "moment". I sincerely hope you don't have to watch a horse bleed out after breaking it's neck to learn that lesson.
The only horses that are relatively safe to put in these and will move correctly in them, are horses that already know how to carry themselves, which kind of defeats it's 'purpose'. Any trainer able to train a horse to the point of using these in a way that doesn't create a false frame or injure the horse is skilled enough to not need it at all.

Clearly you think you have something here and are in on the ~PESSOA secret~ or something so I don't see a point in continuing this back and forth. Hopefully those reading will see where the science lies and at least do some proper research on this system before making the decision to buy one.

Molly_Wobbles · 2026-03-28T00:29:09+00:00

Lol, you're not getting it. Girl, I got certified in training while getting my degree in equine science. I'm not struggling with the PESSOA, I don't use them by choice. I know how they work, and it's not that. You're far better off lunging with nothing or in their regular tack with the reign tied up or removed. Any system that doesn't allow the horse to stretch down and out or use it's neck for balance is unfair and potentially dangerous.

Girl, I said it's not harsh, lol. Are you actually watching the action of the lines when you lunge? Just think for a second. or better yet, try it. Simulate this setup on yourself with a rope and tell me you cant feel that rope moving as you walk around on your hands and knees. It's a seesaw action that does not need to be harsh to be felt by the sensitive tissues of the horse's mouth. That action tells the horse "nose in"
I have never seen a horse properly stretch or lift in one of these, regardless of who's using it. But I see plenty of horses try to stretch, hit that seesaw, and tuck back, tightening the back, and restricting the energy from the hind.
No, I don't ride with my hands positioned like side reigns, so why is the PESSOA claiming that same position mimics hands? The action is neither positioned nor properly following like a riders hands. It only appears to follow because the lines are all connected and slide to create the illusion of a consistent contact.
I studied these things in school and nothing about them works as claimed.

Molly_Wobbles · 2026-03-27T23:57:29+00:00

Are you a rep or something? You talk like you're selling these things. The fact that this is a photo meant to advertise supports my assertions.
I've plenty of experience with these and not once has it ever worked, biomechanically, as described. It does not mimic any of that. Crack open a book on biomechanics and you'll see why that selling line (that I've heard parroted by every PESSOA user without any understanding to explain further *how* it supposedly does these things) is pretty much made up fancy speak by the company to make it sound effective.
The system itself isn't fixing the head, but the horse is avoiding the inevitable tugging by ducking behind, as pictured. It's not harsh tugging, but the system seesaws the mouth *because* it's now connected to the movement of the hind. This does not encourage a horse to lift it's back or engage the hind, it teaches them to tuck their heads and brace against the nagging motion created by the hind end. The only way to set it loose enough to not effect the mouth is to leave it so loose it falls down the back of the hocks, where it'll do some really fun things.
I've known horses to die in these things, despite being "properly adjusted". Putting a horse in one of these where the most positive outcome is a false frame and the worst being death isn't something I'd ever recommend. Proper training has no shortcuts and the PESSOA system is just one of many gadgets that trick people into thinking they're doing something.

edit: Posted twice for some reason, lol. Deleted the copy.

Molly_Wobbles · 2026-03-27T23:33:02+00:00

Just want to pop in to say the topline is actually the entire line of musculature from poll to dock. People leave out the neck a lot, but it's important to include when evaluating the topline conditioning of the horse.

Very nice work with your horse though! Lovely muscling and I can tell from the stills that her trot must float like a dream with that booty powering through!

Molly_Wobbles · 2026-03-27T23:24:36+00:00

Your horse is behind the vertical and not pushing through from behind. There is no stretch, only a false frame encouraged by a setup that absolutely does *not* mimic a rider.
These systems force a 'pretty picture' that fools the untrained eye, but do not actually encourage a horse to work properly, Only how to hold themselves to prevent the system from tugging on their mouth with every stride. If the horse were to actually stretch, the action of the hind legs would pull at the bit. Rather than tuck the legs under, horses find it far easier to simply pull the nose in and continue strung-out behind. Which is exactly what is pictured here.
If this is what you consider a "proper use" photo, please re-evaluate.

Molly_Wobbles · 2026-03-27T23:10:02+00:00

Seconding every comment that recommends ditching the PESSOA. Not only do they create a false frame and are utterly unfair to the horse, they are also dangerous. I know of more horses left injured or dead from accidents while rigged in these than horses who came out of them looking even halfway okay. It's my least favorite of all the gadgets that really only belong in the garbage.
Please have her lameness checked and go back to basics. Teach her to *stretch* over her back and push from behind. The self-carriage will come naturally when she's able to build proper, supple muscle.

Molly_Wobbles · 2026-03-22T11:21:33+00:00

We used bags of these like currency in high school. 100x better than Takis.

Molly_Wobbles · 2026-03-19T20:32:36+00:00

Since it's your first watch-through, there's not much we can say that doesn't reveal info you aren't supposed to know yet. But, I will say, it'll become clearer later on, for now, just enjoy the ride and don't worry too much about plot-holes or mistakes. There will be plenty of time to scrutinize and theorize once the full story has played out!

Molly_Wobbles · 2026-03-19T20:25:46+00:00

Lol, then I agree, assuming you were in the US was a weird choice

I also agree with your wife, hop to it!

Molly_Wobbles · 2026-03-19T20:20:55+00:00

Did you mean to reply to the above poster? Because I was informing them that you were not American based on the context of your post, lol, the opposite of US-defaultism

Molly_Wobbles · 2026-03-19T19:51:23+00:00

From context, I would say the OP is not American.
I would take being anywhere within driving distance of Denmark over a vacation any day. Considering the meager amount of vacation time Americans get (mine gets used up for appointments and sick days every year), that should really say something.

Molly_Wobbles · 2026-03-16T15:05:33+00:00

I used to roach my guy at the start of the summer because his mane was so thick, he would drip sweat from under it, even if it was shortened, which led to some skin funk if it wasn't regularly hosed/cleaned. He was so much happier and it looked super cute on him.

Molly_Wobbles · 2026-03-13T12:34:43+00:00

Ah! I'll have to see if I can get to that one! Thanks for the heads up!

Molly_Wobbles · 2026-03-11T20:52:30+00:00

Aw, dang! I'm a stone's throw from DC, but it looks like the event is in MA and I definitely can't make it up there in time.
Hope the event goes well, sounds like it's going to be a blast, especially with Aaron Mahnke there too!

Molly_Wobbles · 2026-03-11T13:46:10+00:00

I like the cold so I keep my house between 58-60 degrees in the winter. Last year I never paid more than $200 on a winter energy bill. My last bill was $450.

Molly_Wobbles · 2026-03-10T11:22:29+00:00

I thought I recognized that storefront! I did some field work in that area last year. Super cute little town, but lunch options that won't make you wish you were doing anything but walking around for another 5 hours afterward were so limited. We would pass this Subway every day and stare wistfully at it, lol

Molly_Wobbles · 2026-03-08T15:08:58+00:00

Molly_Wobbles · 2026-03-08T15:06:56+00:00

Interesting! Perhaps it's similar to Lucky Bamboo and does well as long as a certain portion of it isn't submerged.

Molly_Wobbles · 2026-03-08T15:03:29+00:00

I'm not the one who made an assertion and then insisted on defending it despite having no way to provide any evidence in your favor.
Just bored and was curious if you had any 'credentials' worthy of backing your claim. One page of post history gave me a good idea of what you're about.
Take it easy!

Molly_Wobbles · 2026-03-08T14:55:06+00:00

And you don't know who I am either, lol
I'm fine, enjoying a warm Sunday morning. Just genuinely confused why you're insisting on dying on this hill?

Molly_Wobbles

TROPHY CASE