Bella Forma

[Sharon]

:smile: I hope someone can help me . I would like to know how to train my filly for Bella Forma. Izzie just turned one year old and could be in the breeders sweepstake . Thank you for any help,Sharon

[Pasogirlz]

I asked this question about a year ago on Paso Pedigree. I took forever for anyone to finally answer me.

Noone could give me specifics, but they did say that Pat and CeCe Figueroa are some of the best bella forma folks around. They suggested that I contact them for tips.

Here is the contact info
Pat & Cese's e-mail is TuckawayF@aol.com.

(I never did end up contacting them.)

However, I have also got Carlos on a mission to see if he can help get someone in here to break it down for us. (Just be patient...it might be after Spectrum show). :smile:

[Sharon]

Thank You for the information. :smile: I wonder if there is a book out to teach you how to train your horse for Bella forma. :?:

[Pasogirlz]

Bella forma is kinda contraversial. Please note that I am not taking sides, I am just repeating back to you the info that I have gathered from different folks. You can make your own assertation from there.

The Colombians generally do not care for bella forma because they say it causes the horse to learn to engage from the front and not the back end, then after it goes under saddle it is hard to teach them to engage in the back end.

The Puerto Ricans generally do not feel this way. They say if the horse is taught properly, it does not teach them to engage on the front end. (Some also say that the col. made up the stuff about it being bad to teach a young horse bella forma because their horses couldn't do it as well.)

What is the truth and what is myth...I do not know.

Anyway there is what I have gotten so far.

I did speak with Carlos and he also recommend Pat and CeCe Figueroa to help you. He said he would introduce me to them at Spectrum so maybe I can get them to come over and help us out.

[Tami Pinell]

Teaching Bella Forma to a young horse is not much different than teaching them to drive. The major issue is to teach the young horse to stay in gait in a self carriage without having them lean or pull ( a heavy front end). The Lipazzians are taught in this form early in life so they can have the basic training for saddle work later and it does not mess them up. Pat and Cese have beautiful Bella Forma horses however I have not followed any of the BF horses to see what they are like later on in life.

[GeorgeGuns]

Carlos addressed this at a clinic last year. Here is what i remember:

Yearlings are not expected to be shown in two lines, nor should they even be collected. They should gait, have good confo, and behave reasonably well. He recommended making sure your yearling leads, and will lead in gait for a few minutes, and be consistent, work at it for a week or two for about 15 minutes at a time, and then let them play til its time to show. He, and many others, do not recommend using two lines for BF til a hore is at least 3 or 4, its too easy to scare the young'ns and wreck their hind parts, also makes it hard to get correct frame later. He also stressed that turnout is important "show the judge that you care about what you are doing" and trim those ears, whiskers, shine them up and present them well.

[Abejita]

Also in Breeders Sweeps they must gait on the BF line in a circle I think..And make sure they are OK with a stranger looking at them close up ..three people walking around them ,someone checking their teeth (its a BREEDERS class they look for those over/underbites) and they may even check the testicles on a colt.. ( I know you said filly!)

[CarolU]

Sheri and Coreen are correct. For yearlings you show with one line. The youngster has to demonstrate gait when led and are sometimes led over the Fino board. They have to stand square in line, gait while being lunged and stand for their teet to be inspected.

They also need to be groomed to perfection and so get them used to that and bathing.

I have heard the same thing as PasoMom about the problem with Bella Forma, teaching the horses to drive. But, I have not seen it hurt El Chino and other BF champions. I believe that those who train it well, train the horses to collect off the rear end, even in BF lines. I do agree however that if you train with a heavy noseband, you'll have the horse leaning into the pressure and getting heavy on the front. I disagree that this translates to the saddle though. My BF mare seems to KNOW the difference, just by the tack I put on her.

[Sharon]

:D I would like to THANK all of you for the information. I really appeciate it . Thank you, Sharon Proud owner of Four Boys and Two Girls :D

[CarolU]

Good luck Sharon. I should tell you that Bella Forma is a GREAT weight loss program too! It takes a lot of practice to behave in long lines (I usually show alone).

Now, I'll tell you about the BF class from h@ll....!!!! I was in the Charity Show here, which is an open show using a multibreed judge. They read the card for Pleasure, so the class went like this...corto in, around and around and around...then they called for LARGO!!!! Then walk...then reverse, then corto, then LARGO again, finally walk and line up! I have asthma and you can imagine what color I was!

I have to tell you this is where practice pays off, Zar did fine through all of it, even though I've never reversed her in lines before.

[GeorgeGuns]

OMG Carol! What breeds do all that work normally for a confo type class? Egads.

[stella]

True, the Sweepstakes are shown 'conformation Colombian style", so that you walk the horse across the fino board, lead in a straight line past people IN GAIT< and also LUNGE IN GAIT(the hardest part)....and square up, of course....
Bella Formas classes, on double lines, is the PUERTO RICAN way of showing conformation. It is, of course, based on old Spanish Andalusian dressage training, work on the lines, and between the poles, PRE riding.

Done incorrectly, with lack of experience, it can mess a horse up. Done correctly, so that the horse develops self-carriage, rounds the back properly, learns to drive from the hindquarters, it is a WONDERFUL way of teaching the fundamental basics of collection, the general balanced frame, and getting those muscles well conditioned, so by the time the horse is ready to go under saddle, its back and legs already are conditioned and in correct frame to carry human weight with ease....it can help get the horse optimally ready.
On younger horses, no one says you MUST force the horse to be quicker, tighter, fino furiously to win, asking the horse for performances beyond its age....corto is fine, too.
The horses most apt to win must have really good conformation, and show CONSISTENT and obviously natural gait. Horses over-collected (squatty, breaking because handlers forcing too much, etc)are usually taken down in points. Remember- always do whats most beneficial FOR YOUR HORSE, winning is secondary, its just a fleeting moment, for which there can always be a next time. A messed up horse can be for a LONG LONG time, and its potential ruined...in ANY type of training, so take your time, and also THE TIME TO LEARN to do it right!

[pasopleasure]

Guys, Another Figureoa is doing great in Bella Forma.....plus he will bring your horse on in anything from Pleasure to Fino as long as we predetermine we have no conflict on previously contracted horses. I refer to Ceses brother (Jose) Eduardo Figureoa. ANd dispite the southern HEAT we are enduring.....wanna come for a week and train? The guest suite is free. Eduardo will not just teach your horse, he will teach YOU. For Nationals, Eduardo is ONLY booked in Bella Forma for STALLIONS. If you have Bella Forma to get ready for Nationals he will be at Hattiesburg and COULD come to your local area. There is still time. BUt NO, No Bella Forma Stallions. You have mares or geldings, please, get back ASAP so he has time before Nationals to prep your horse.

[nosnow]

I had a bad experience. Years ago, I had a fantastic colt that was taken out and shown off in bella forma to farm visiters all the time and the practice was put into his training program and later on he wasnt as strong in the hind end. He also became more hyper and angry when being pushed so much. We all thought he looked great but I didnt know better. It wasnt until I took him to a very known trainer later on where the trainer could actually tell he had done alot of bella forma and said it was a shame becuase he would have been a great horse. Its frustrating when you spend so much money on a nice horse and things go wrong. Thats life I guess.

[CarolU]

Well, it may be the way the Bella Forma was done on your horse. There are many Bella Forma champions -- including El Chino and Jarenero, where it hasn't hurt a thing!

I'll be honest, I think the 'hoopla' about Bella Forma ruining gait is to get certain trainers out of showing in it. :shock: :shock: :shock: I don't buy that it hurts the horse at all! I just saw two of KK DuBois stallions shown in Fino before and after learning Bella Forma...no difference. They still tracked and gaited very straight...nice stallions. Now, if you put them in harness and drove with them a LOT, they MIGHT get muscle memory to push forward - but I've seen Resorte IV in harness pulling a cart. Didn't seem to hurt him.

I own a Bella Forma 'beauty queen.' Believe me, once they know it you don't spend much time practicing it. Lots more time under saddle getting in condition for saddle classes.

[Nito]

I've grown a lot more interested in Bella Forma, can someone please explain the basics? like what is needed and so forth?

thanks in advance :D

[ErinC]

Nito,
I kind of asked the same thing, in a round about way
http://www.americanpasofinos.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=43263&highlight=#43263

and some on here too

http://www.americanpasofinos.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=43509&highlight=#43509

[Nito]

Thanks Erin ,

How about tack?

[ErinC]

Carol U , where are you????

but I think was told just a nice show type jaquina.
for one handler, anyways.

I just look around at show pic's and try to get ideas from that.

[Terry Wallace]

I use a regular Bella Forma halter (leather) with the BF long reins.
www.casadosa.com sells them

It is a black leather halter, and the BF reins have chains at the ends.

[CarolU]

Yes, you can show in a jaquima if you are one handler. I also use a Casa Dosa halter - but would really like a nice rolled English Leather one. The kind they do for Arabs, but without the silver.

The reins from Casa Dosa have about 12" of chain on the front. You can either run a chain under the chin, or if you have a difficult horse, over the nose also. Or just run them through the sides.

http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/data/231151ZarHeadOnly.jpg

[Terry Wallace]

That looks like the same one I have...
My buddy Albert shows BF in a rawhide jaquima w/pisador...the lighter colored leather looks good on his horse.