I Have Been Privileged and Honored...Update..More Pics!!

[Carol Nelson]

to watch a true Master at work....
Yesterday my farm was graced by the visit of Mr. Miguel Batista from the lovely island of Puerto Rico. Mr. Batista is a humble and quiet man who has worked and lived with the Paso Fino all of his life. You will not find his name among the Greats or the trainers of the big farms in Puerto Rico. But yesterday I was privileged to watch a true "horse whisperer" doing what he loves best. The love he has for the Paso Fino is evident in every move he makes around the horses. The gentleness and inborn natural affinity with these horses is unmistakable as he moves around them and as they respond likewise to him.
Here he is with my two year old colt, Devante. Devante has been minimally handled during the last year but Miguel "spoke" to this horse and Devante today is a different animal.
I am at present negotiating to bring Mr. Batista to work out of my farm so say a prayer that he wants to come here. If he does, I am assuring you, you will be hearing his name in the Paso Fino circles in the near future.

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Miguel Batista and Devante (Rojo Tejas/Joya Luciente de Vison (Hilachas))
Devante will be put to stud next year (2008) to a few select mares only.

[Pasomom]

It is wonderful to see someone work like that! I'm glad he came, and I sure hope you can persuade him to find a home with you guys.

Carol, how tall is Devante? He looks really tall in the picture.....

[Laura S]

I hope it all works out for you!

[PASOFAN]

So wonderful! The way you described him reminds me of my trainer, Mark Allen. Who passed away 2yrs ago... He was a amazing whispher as well..

I sure hope he comes to your place!! What an amazing person he must be!

[Carol Nelson]

Pasomom...Devante is, at two and a half years old, already taller than his sire, Rojo Tejas. He is measured at 14.1 Hands tall already. By the time he is five years old, he may top out at at least 14.3 H. (Do I dare hope for 15 H.?? ;-) ) He is taller but still expresses the very tight, exact Paso Fino gait.
He is the epitome of the American Paso Fino. A careful blend of both the Colombian and the Puerto Rican Paso Fino, he has the shorter back, the more refined neck, the longer legs that the American public has sought in their Paso Fino. In his pedigree you find, of course, the beautiful and impeccably gaited Capuchino, you have the majestic and even-temperamented Castellano, plus other greats such as Ladrillo, El Picaflor de Casta, the top 10 mare Leyenda de Joya, and his mama is double Hilachas bred...one of our six Foundation stallions. But in his pedigree also you find the lovely Soltileza of Puerto Rican heritage, a very exceptional mare from the island of Puerto Rico.
While Rojo Tejas is the phenotype of the true Paso Fino (as expressed by Rick Meyer upon seeing Rojo in the show ring "Now THAT is what a Paso Fino should look like....") Devante is more what the American public is looking for.
Just one more step in trying to produce the best in Paso Fino that we can provide... ;-)


....and may I also add...these horse are bred for the trails...with the temperament to provide the ultimate in a trail mount...but being pretty enough to go into the show ring.... ;-)

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Devante - 2005 Paso Fino Stallion

[motorgypsy]

Aren't the "good ones" amazing!!!! I watched one work at a barn we boarded at for a couple of years. He was there almost daily. He truly thinks like a horse and they understand him perfectly. I was in awe.

[lovetogait]

Now THAT is a beautiful young stallion.....

[Carol Nelson]

Yes, Nancy...I remembered what you said about the true "horse whisperers" among the Latin trainers....and this man personifies that description. He is truly AMAZING...!

Thank you, Lovetogait...this is my "golden boy", my dream boy...and I am so proud and pleased to have him.

[Moniece Dickerson]

You really do have such beautiful horses!!!And WOW,that WAS an honor to have such a trainer/person visit your farm and work with your horses!!! I will definitely cross fingers and toes that he accepts and comes over to train at your farm!!!Your friend,Moniece

[Terry Wallace]

That horse is gorgeous Carol! You KNOW I like him! He's TALL !!!!!

[Carol Nelson]

Yeah, Terry, I kinda figured you'd like him. :D
And to have him so tall and still be well gaited makes me so happy. Now just to see if this boy passes on his good looks and his gait like his daddy does. ;-)

[Carol Nelson]

I have just been notified that Mr. Batista has consented to come work out of my farm. To say that I am excited is an understatement, to be sure. :D

[Barbwire]

That's great news, Carol! Take more pics!

[Pasomom]

CONGRATULATIONS CAROL! I know you are truly jumping for joy!

[Carol Nelson]

http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/data/36931JRvisit.jpg

Here's Miguel hosing Devante off and combing out his mane...Devante doesn't look so big here, does he?? I think he was shrinking down in hopes that this guy would just GO AWAY.
In reality, Mr. Batista was the utmost in kind and gentle and patient with this colt. Devante didn't even balk at anything he asked him to do ....until it became time to go back into his pen... ;-)

http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/data/36931JR_visit_031.jpg

[Jasfino]

Congrats!! :D

[Carol Nelson]

Unfortunately, I think I am already going to have to go bail my new trainer out of jail.... :-? ;-)

http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/data/36931JRjail.jpg

:lol:

This is Miguel when his friends took him to see the Fort Worth Stockyards during his visit. :D

Actually he is quite a very nice man. Here he is with Vilma, wife of the man who introduced Miguel and I. :smile:

http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/data/36931mbatista1.jpg

[Terry Wallace]

I hope it works out well for you Carol! I know you have been waiting a LONG time for some quality help!

[Carol Nelson]

Thanks, Terry....you said the key word..."help"...man, I was beginning to wonder if Doug and I were going to be able to continue to do it all alone. We weren't getting it done very well...will be a relief to turn the whole training thing over to someone else and we can concentrate on the "upkeep"...which on this place, is astronomical for two people.

[Brigitte]

Congrats!

[Carol Nelson]

Thanks, Brigitte...why he would want to leave some place as beautiful as where you live to come here to Texas (right now it is hot as Hades :twisted: ) I don't know, but he loves Texas so we hope we can keep him happy here! :D
We can keep him busy, that's for sure...LOL.