Good Things Come in Small Packages

by Karen Langthorne, MA

Lately I have been having spurts of happy memories from my childhood love of Paso Finos. At Christmas time I would be so upset because I never received any of my presents in the sufficient size box I thought they should be in. BIG! Big enough to fit a horse into! Of course, my Mom was right there, telling me, “ good things come in small packages.” But I didn’t want those good things in a small package. Of course I had no idea what the good things were that she was referring to at the ripe old age of five. I just wanted “THAT” horse on the TV as I watched the horses on the New Years Day Rose Bowl parades on the television.

Wow, I would get so excited and then turn to my Dad ask if he could pleazzzzze buy me one! I tried my best to convince him that I really needed that horse! And then came more brainless words out of my mouth, “I could keep him in my bedroom!” Oh yes, my bedroom would really be big enough for the both of us. I made mention that I would take the horse over to the aqueduct and let him eat grass there. I was throwing everything I had at him, why couldn’t he get it for me? My Dad’s next question was, “who’s going to lift him over the fence?” My life was on the line with my next answer; “We can walk him thru the hole that all of us kids from the neighbor hood cut out so we didn’t have to climb the fence.” Ooops! That was the wrong thing to say with ones older brother standing there with daggers in his eyes. If looks could kill I would have been dead twice! Now my poor father was in the middle trying to separate the two of us kids, and saying to me, “honey bunch don’t worry when you get older, you’ll get that horse”.

Little did I realize at twenty years of age I would get my horse, just not the right one. I picked up a very sweet quarter horse. Don’t get me wrong, she was great but just not “that horse”.

So now, at the age of 50+years, I can see clearly the wisdom my Mom had shown to me through a very special phrase; “Good things do come in small packages.” I also see my father’s insight in saying to his little daughter, “one day his little girl would get “that horse.” As they say, one should listen to their elders!

I have just received my good thing that comes in a small package - “THAT HORSE”! One sweet and handsome 15 year young, bay colored, 14 hand Paso Fino! He was advertised with a gait as smooth as glass. Wow, does he ever! His largo is great and the corto, well his is out of this world! Thanks go off to Elaine Dustin (owner of two Pasos) for her help in training me to understand this wonderful breed. I have had him since November 2003. We have had such a terrific bonding going on since day one, straight through the cold winter months up to the present, here in Massachusetts. He loves to go out in the snow and push it around with his muzzle as if he were snow plowing and of course one has to get a good roll in it too (with a blanket on of course). His wardrobe is greater than mine! He has a little twinkle in his eyes when he’s being foolish or just playing around. He reminds me a little of George Burns’ personality. Just too cute to be bad. Anyone can do most anything to or with him. He’s beyond my imagination; I think he is just fantastic. What a love. The Paso breed is such a wonderfully devoted, sweet and gentle horse to be around to enjoy to the full meaning of the word enjoyment, be it on the trail, in a parade or in the show ring they have it all! What this horse being has shown to me with his compassion, respect and over all sweet disposition is exactly what a horse and rider should be like together. Of course, I am the novice with the breed and with no real riding skills. He knows all the tricks and he’s teaching me all about them! Gently I must admit. What a guy! I honestly lucked out with him.

So Mom and Dad, even though you have passed on, I just wanted to say, thanks for the wisdom and perseverance that you had shown and instilled in me and also to have let this little girl of yours have a dream of “That Horse “ through all these years. Dreams do come true. I would like to take this opportunity to thank both Michele Londono for all the many phone calls and emails that were put in her path from this very much “I want it yesterday” type of person and answered so many questions for me and also to Ginny Pace, the wonderful lady that passed her old friend over to me. Ginny, was always there answering multiple questions for me either on the phone or emails even though I knew and she knew this was tough on her to sell him. She wanted the best for her boy and believe he has it.

So, to who ever is as blessed and as proud as I am in being an owner of a Paso Fino, may I wish happy days and fond memories to all. Don’t forget to give them all a kiss and hugs now and then, more now than then!

Karen's best friend “Camper,” THAT HORSE!