Paso
Finos and Reciprocal Love
My mom found her issue of the Paso Fino Horse World magazine, September 2001 - I hadn't read it yet. Your article "The Mind of the Paso Fino" really hit home and helped me clarify my direction with my newest horses. My first Paso was a mare, "Katy", who I had a Vulcan mind meld type relationship with. We spent many glorious days trail riding, usually alone as she preferred to gait more like this. In a group she was patient and we often got left behind when they took off for a gallop - Katy was smooth, not fast. She figured we'd catch up eventually and never got rattled. I often rode her bareback, and during one ride with a group, we again got left behind. Her smoothness and surefootedness lured me into letting the reins go and I raised my arms out to my sides - no reins, no stirrups, just me flying with my mare. Katy knew the park inside and out where we rode and I could tell her "we're going to Woodstock" or "the League" and she would get us there. I wouldn't have to think about directing her and could enjoy the scenery from the best seat in the world. When I did direct her, I barely had to think about it and she went - and I never thought I would be able to experience this kind of sympatico again. Katy went to Heaven October 2, 1997 after a bad run with a pituitary tumor - she was only 11. I still grieve, I always will. This past year finally got me back onto Paso Finos. Yvonne Bullock gave me a beautiful filly in honor of Katy's life last February. "Indi" is dear, and we soon had a very similar relationship. While she is not ridden yet - have to wait another half year at least for her to grow - we do have a fine bond, and I think this is the filly Katy would like to have had, a special gift from her. A few months ago I noticed a barely visible white smudge on Indi's nose - it has grown into a snip that is a small version of Katy's - I call it her Katy Kiss. I shortly thereafter purchased a colt, and in a bond that was formed as he was preparing to enter the world. Yvonne's mare, Pavlova, was due to deliver a foal by her stallion Embajador de Resorte. I told her that if it was a colt I would like to buy it, as I was sure this would be a fine one for me. It was really an impulsive suggestion but a Force greater than I prompted it. I went out and bought a Spanish dictionary and poured over potential names, so sure I was that I would soon be owning a colt. A few Saturdays later, I took my gelding to Yvonne's for a trail ride, and as we entered the barn a very protective Pavlova made it clear that she did NOT want us there as she had by her side a 2 day old …filly. I felt like someone had pulled the rug out, cheated, and confused. Where was my colt? I could feel him breathing on my neck! We enjoyed a fine ride, and after that ride Yvonne informed me that Gabi's mare, Que Mante, had delivered a colt the same night as Pavlova had the filly, and he was for sale. Que Mante is also the very first Paso I ever rode over 10 years ago. Of course I went over there - waiting a day nearly choked me. I narrowed down to 2 names as I got in my car, and by the time I got to Gabi's, "Encantador" had stuck. He walked right up to me without hesitation - this rather surprised Gabi, but not me. He's been after me ever since. He is only 7 months old, but I am daily reassured that this colt is just what I thought he would be, and will one day "run the farm" as my main stud. Domingo came along this fall. She is a big mare, thought to be lame for life by her previous owners, and I bought her mainly as a broodmare. Her quiet nature with foaling and experience makes her a great mare to start with, as I am new to breeding. After I got her home, I did have my vet give her a thorough going over, as what I was finding on closer inspection did not equate in my mind to permanent lameness. The vet verified it, my farrier has been doing a great job reordering her very contracted hooves, and her weight is up to conditioning now. It's been hard on her not having the amount of contact I had promised her, but between the winter weather and being limited by her need to toughen up a bit, full scale attention hasn't happened yet. We are both looking forward to it. I have tasted her gait for a few minutes, and her tremendous zest for speed - and also her willingness to settle down and keep her speed to a minimum as we were in a small paddock. She is another amazing personality; a pleasant surprise considering I originally bought her just for breeding. I love the way she softens into my touch, her willingness to please... Then there is Brillante de Magarita. This is the horse your article spoke to me about mostly. I have had him only a few weeks at this point, and we are getting through some very inscribed fears on his part. This is my first stallion; again a purchase based on his experience and purported manners about breeding - a good starter for me. Besides, he is built like a brick you-know-what, and has a nice tight gait, a plus definitely! Our journey is full of surprises, and I am spending incredible amounts of time with him, just grooming, playing, leading and loving him. He is learning that I am not a scary monster; that "work" can be fun, especially if lovin' and treats are involved, and that life ain't a bad place to be. Your article really helped me to connect with his individual-ness. I have honored this in each of my horses, yet with Brillante it seems to be even more important than with your "average" (for lack of a better word) Paso Fino. When I close my eyes I can see the wind in our manes as we stand together at the edge of a new world; I can feel his presence under me. I know that while we have a road to tread that is not entirely smooth at this point, we will arrive at the same place together. After 11 years this horse is HOME, and I think he knows it. As I try desperately to soothe him and smooth his feathers, he reciprocates in kind with all his heart, as hard as it may be for him sometimes, he just tries like heck.
Most folks would laugh.
Most horsemen would scoff at the idea of a horse having true emotions and
abstract thought, but Brillante has proven it to me so well. I finally just
this evening got to pick up a problematic rear hoof - lots of gooooood boys
and a few treats. For who knows what reason he was terrified of me getting
hold of that leg. After I finally did, he must have remembered that it is
me back there, and calmed. We repeated the act - he was even more afraid,
but calmed that much more after I got it. As I turned him back into his stall,
he looked directly at that leg, looked right at me with what I now call his
"Romeo" face, and woofed into his hay. If that isn't thinking, my name is
Mud. He also made it a point to remind me that in my eagerness to resolve
this hoof issue, I forgot to brush his face. He then rubbed it all over his
hay manger, something I had not seen him do yet and I won't forget again!
"They would talk if they had the keys to our words" - you bet! And you ain't
been loved 'til you've been loved by a Paso Fino! |
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