In August, I sent an email to a woman who had a Paso Fino for sale on Dreamhorse inviting her to the annual Paso Fino fun day at the Reed's Ranch. My email opened a dialog where I quickly discovered that she was 'over horsed' with a young Paso Fino gelding named Santana. He was sold to her as a trail gelding, but his sensitivity, energy and general 'pasofinoness' were not what she had expected. He was her first Paso Fino and he was purchased off a video.
She and I communicated quite a bit over email and via phone and I offered to come ride her horse on our weekend trip to Portland. Santana is an adorable almost black bay with 4 white socks. When I greeted him I decided to put on a bosol in addition to his bit. He stood well for mounting and walked off nicely. He quickly went into a trote like trot, I circled him and quickly he got the idea and walked nicely for me.
I asked him to gait he trotted. I collected him a little more, more trot, I pushed with my seat asked for a little more collection and VIOLA! he was in classic fino. But he sure didn't want to do it more than once and kicked out the next time I asked for it. He was fun, fabulous and quite naughty. I was excited.
His owner had just broken her foot and had 3 other horses to care for. I offered to work with Santana at my barn if she would pay his board. My young gelding was staying some friends who could get him some trail exposure, so I had one horse and at the time, no job. I had plenty of time to work with another horse and was excited to work with a fino horse. But most importantly, 3 years ago I had serious injuries and too many horses. It was the kindness and helpfulness of friends that helped me get through that difficult time and it was a way to give.
When Santana came to my place is feet were marginal and after about a week, one of them chipped. It took some time for that to heal, then he was very sore in his back. I did Ttouch work and massage and in no time he was feeling better.
Now Santana is working quite a bit in fino and I am trying to get him softer and supple while still teaching him to relax. His owner is selling him to her sister who is a novice rider. It will be a challenge for her, but she loves Santana and I think is willing to work at it as needed.
Santana needs to be back on the bit, but he is not thrilled about it. He is acting out the same way he acted out when I started acting him for fino. He is now carrying the bit and soon we will be on it again. With continued work he will work more responsively and I will feel better about putting him on the bit.
I think the video will become more impressive over time. I must admit, it is a pretty fun ride!
2 comments:
Hi Jerri,
Santana in classic fino on the board, looks great.. one comment is, that in profile, he looks, like he is not quite as collected.
That is, I noticed he pops his head up, a few times. But he has progressed enormously. I am so proud of your work, and you look great on him. I am sure he will only improve more.
Marianne, previous owner of the "Classic Santana"
I am not sure if you are commenting on this video or the new one. But yes,to evade and to not work, he will brace himself. He clamps onto the bit, throws his head up and trots. He does this a LOT less than he used to (which is good, coz the trotting was kiiling me).
We are working on making it better.
Jerri
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