The
Mind of the Paso Fino
What goes on beyond the eyes of the Paso Fino when your horse looks at you, calls out, chews and stops, or simply snores and daydreams like a human being? What goes on beyond beauty? What goes on behind the brio and the elegance of the Paso Fino horse in motion? Paso finos do attract by their lively reactions, not only by their lateral movement but also by their behavior close to intelligence; they would talk if they had the keys to our words! Standing or in motion, while in training or fully trained, the Paso Fino horse's subtle reaction to each new environement and to certain people around him or her remains a mystery of the mind. Especially when a new Paso Fino horse arrives at a new place. The mystery translates into surprising moments, each and every minute or each sequence of minutes can bring another joy or another frustration, that will become a habit with repetition, depending on the mistakes or the ability on the part of the handler. Therefore both the handler and the rider need to remember at all times that this mount is indeed alive and in a way, thinking! Otherwise the mind of the neglected or fearful Paso Fino horse gets dull, bored, and a stubborness totally alien to nature occurs. It becomes the end of a dream, the end of communication, period. Most Paso Fino trainers unfortunately seem to use their mounts as machines, with individual needs and problems, but the root of their training is finding mechanical solutions to mechanical problems, not really to fill the affective needs of the young Paso Fino or the older horse in re-training; the fino soundboard becomes the only measure of perfection. There are so many other techniques to keep the fast-track mind of the Paso Fino active and happy. Some have found barrel racing, cow herding, or trails as an escape from shows even for show champions. Pat Parelli's brideless style or John Lyons round-pen techniques can be successfully applied, in a special way however, to most Paso Finos. Anything that works for your horse and contributes to a healthy relationship is worth a try! In the end, it is the good and the lasting relationship that establishes between a Paso Fino horse and his owner/ trainer that makes the most rewarding benefit, beyond the ribbon or the trophee. Let's remember to develop the dialogue and the trust between the horse and the rider! Let's dig deeper and farther than regular trainers. Trainers using dressage foundations in their paso training methods, like Dairo Chica in Colombia or Carlos Tobon in the States, do make use of the mind of the horse and do strive for communication at all levels. It helps a lot! Whoever is lucky enough to be let in the wonderful world of the Paso Fino can suddenly and in a suble way enter the mind of the Paso Fino horse and find treasures, without loosing the respect. There is a fine line that has to be drawn when you love your Paso Fino for its mind and for good; and when you get a reciprocal love from your Paso Fino horse, as owner, trainer or amateur-owner, you'll never part with your paso! Blessed those riders who have reached this true paso bond. It is paradise! Please contact us with your true paso stories! |
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