Gancho's First Time @ Speed Games

[Mystic Fire]

So I decided to take my Paso Fino gelding, Gancho Rojo, to the local arena for some fun and excitement. Though he has had no prior experience running the games (not even goofng off at home) he is a bit of a speed freak and likes to go fast. Since I'm always trying to keep him slow when schooling at home and out on the trails I figured running the barrels would be the perfect outlet for his "need for speed".

Surprisingly Gancho did very well. Though he went wide on the barrels and I made sure to keep him in check on the poles we weren't so slow as to be deemed an embarrassment. We'll need to shave about six seconds off our time on the barrels and around ten seconds from our time on the poles to be "competitive", but fun will be the name of our game. Afterall, Paso Finos have a reputation to uphold of being "prissy prancing ponies". How dare we try to outrun the Quarter Horses.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rB1mzMi3nOY

D.

[motorgypsy]

Congratulations to both of you. Speed events are VERY addictive and paso finos are REALLY good at them.

We ran them FLAT OUT, top speed, full gallop the season we did speed events with our guys and a friend won the high point speed events award for the season on his paso fino and was running 15 second barrels on a Capuchino son. THAT's how good they are. The ONLY reason there aren't more of them in speed events is because most paso fino riders aren't usually "speed freaks" and just don't even enter speed events - or if they do - they don't run flat out at full gallop. These guys are AMAZING and SO quick. Speed barrels was Chinook's best event and she got high point in show once. She won this GIANT rainbow halter. Big enough for two of her:biggrin:

[pnalley]

I agree, speed events are addictive. The adrenalin rush you get from each run is awesome. I also like the fact that you are really trying to improve your time with every run.

Looks like he did pretty good. If you school him nice & slow at home so he knows the pattern, you'll shave a lot of time of your end times.

Looks like fun!

[AliceG]

Some years ago, we went to a local fun show. My husband entered his paso in barrels. That little horse was the hit of the show....my husband knew jack about speed events so he went around each barrel TWICE - he came in second -over quarter horses & arabs. They gave him the ribbon despite running the pattern wrong (it was a very casual fun show). Plus, it was good for a lot of hooting and hollering!

[Linda Y]

Wow, that was a nice pattern in the barrels for never having run them before! Nice run!

[Mystic Fire]

Of course we intend to get better... he he he... and give those Quarter Horses and Appy's a run for their money. I know Gancho can do it. He really felt like he enjoyed himself, especially at the poles. He got to show off how fast he could gait between them. I once clocked him at 20mph at the largo.

I ran into an old friend at the arena who I sold one of my half Paso foals to years ago. She has since sold the filly but she keeps track of her progress. She told me the mare is currently running just one second off the top 2D times on barrels. Not bad for a 13.3h half Paso pony out of a Arab/Mustang cross mare. The lady agrees that Pasos are quick and handy.

D.

[JennLM]

Great job!

Did you get any feedback from others who saw? Or inquires as to the breed?

I hope I do as well when we try it Aug 2nd :v: We've never practiced either. He hates to canter or run at home with me on him, but will do it once we go out the front gate, go figure.

As long as we beat the Friesian who trots around them, I'll be happy hehe.

[motorgypsy]

Now you know it's fun to gait the patterns but you have to gallop them to really get the " rush"! And they can do poles at a full gallop. Chinook did speed barrels at a full gallop and they are closer together than poles. You won't believe how agile and fast these guys are. I can't wait for our local association speed shows to start up again. They stop the shows in the summer. Too darn hot!

[Mystic Fire]

Not very many people are familiar with Pasos in my area. I still get the "is that a Tennessee Walker?" question alot. I got a couple of inquiries, one woman said she has a Paso Fino down in Ocala, and the announcer asked if he was pure because "he's bigger than most". I raised plenty of eyebrows though, if not for riding a funny walking horse then for running the games with my Ansur Treeless Dressage saddle. I'm sure once we get better we'll turn a lot more heads. Back when I used to team pen my horses created quite a fuss with the staunch Quarter Horse enthusiasts.
D.

[motorgypsy]

Oh my gosh paso finos are sooo great at team penning. I'd love to try it but our local association went back to speed events so I'd have to travel fairly far to get to team penning shows.


If I ever tried barrels on a treeless I'd end up under the horse I know. I've been told - well you shouldn't even need stirrups and a saddle. Well maybe not - but I do. I tried doing some barrel turns with my orthoflex Aussie and it was NO WAY. I 'll fall off for sure. So I put my big horn synthetic barrel saddle on and was fine.

I did win rideabuck on bareback though on Chinook. And darned if she didn't fino the whole time. GRRRR