Dressage:Its now "official!"

[stella]

Well, South Carolina has now seen the first gaited Dressage classes with PASO FINOS, judged as Paso Finos! I'm proud to say, I was the first entry into the ring(the TWH scheduled before me, scratched- hmmm!).

There were a total 11 entries in 2 classes, Preliminary A and B, 10 of which were Paso Finos(and one Rocky). The judge and show manager were VERY pleased! Also, with our performances...
I only showed in A, and won it on Angelica del Reino, the VERY last Favorito foal ever born, and Painted Horizon got second on her perennial favorite, Rita de Trebol.
I'll have to get Mike Prevatt's info on his PPR gelding, he won test B! So, it was all pretty even representation, Angelica is 7/8 Col/1/8 Cuban("American"), Rita is full Col...all very interesting!

Apparently the yearly state judges' clinic for dressage is held at this farm (who knew? Its 1.5 miles from me!) yearly, so next Feb I will be giving a demo/clinic/info on the Paso Fino breed/gaits/etc for the judges! YAY!

THE BEST part about showing dressage- you get a class sheet back with not only your score, but the judge COMMENTS on EACH SECTION of the test, positives as well as what needs improvement,and then at the end, OVERALL comments. EVERY entrant gets this.....and the judge was very willing to talk to people on how to improve for next time!

Alot of "show moms' were really "checking out" the gaited classes, and I heard some very positive comments....
But we all had a WONDERFUL time! PH should have some pics up soon.

[CarolU]

Stella, you KNOW the drill!!

:PICS

BTW...congratulations...I'll tell Zar about her sis. (BTW, it's her birthday today Grandma!)

[stella]

Thats right, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Zar and her momma!

I used Painted Horizon's camera to take pics, and SHE has 'em- her mom came down from Wilmington NC, to watch her ride, babysit her baby(who ALSO rode Rita later, age 18mos)-she took some video too....so I think this evening she's spending time with her mom and family, and tomorrow she'll play on the computer! There was a pro photographer there, the pics are supposed to be up by noon tomorrow....be interesting to see!
I'm sure PH will post some tomorrow, too!

But when I rode, it was drizzling, and THEN the sun came out!

[SandyMM]

Congrats on the win(s)!

[motorgypsy]

Congratulations! Can't wait for the pictures!!! It sounds like great fun and of course we knew you two would win! Wish we could have been there.

Hopefully we can make the one in June if they just make the class a bit later. We just don't load horses in the dark on our farm. Too dangerous!

[paintedhorizon]

It was a blast!!! Even if it WAS raining during our part!!!

Stella, that is TOO awesome about them wanting you to do that thing with the Judge's clinic! I say a huge resounding YES!!!! I'll help anyway I can!! And by next February, I should know more too!

I was so happy to get second! But what REALLY made my day was JACOB (my 19 mth old son) RODE HIS VERY FIRST HORSE EVER TODAY!!!!!!!!!! My mom came from NC to watch the show and Jacob and after my ride, I told her to stick him on the saddle while I held Rita. He did great! Just kinda sat there like...um...okay. So I told her to go ahead and pull him off, didn't want Rita to do something to scare him. So untacked her and we went to watch the rest. Well, then we went back and I got my camera and mom put him up on Rita again while she was tied to the trailer and I took a bunch of pictures!!! I'm so ecstatic!!!!!!! Can you tell?

Professional PICS!

Stella's are the first ones.

Okay, I look fat, so no laughing! My pictures start at the bottom, number IMG_5745

http://www.printroom.com/ViewGallery.asp?userid=pwcarr&gallery_id=353262
Group of pasos

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/jklawitter/Paso%20Fino/Picture007.jpg

Stella, Angelica and their first place ribbon!

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/jklawitter/Paso%20Fino/Picture024.jpg

Me, Rita and my 2nd place ribbon! I'm still shocked!

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/jklawitter/Paso%20Fino/Picture028.jpg

And here it is!!!!! MY JACOB RIDING RITA!!!!

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/jklawitter/Paso%20Fino/Picture018.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/jklawitter/Paso%20Fino/Picture019.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/jklawitter/Paso%20Fino/Picture020.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/jklawitter/Paso%20Fino/Picture021.jpg

[motorgypsy]

AWWWWWW he is so cute!!!! And LOVE that grin on Mom's face!!! I sure hate we couldn't get there to see you guys. Hopefully soon!

[Brigitte]

Congrats, well done!!! And your son is soo cute!

[sporthorse]

Stella,

Congratulations on your good showing. Sounds like you had a great time. Was Diane M there?

I would love to see a Paso dressage class sometime. I did a little dressage on my horses before I got pasos.

Lindsay

[stella]

Yes, Lindsay, Diane M showed, got 3rd in prelim B, taking a mare she VERY recently bought from me, but spent last week at an endurance ride, so she didnt have time to practice much dressage!
Maybe you were on the same ride?
Ron and her daughter showed too.
One day, we have to finally MEET!

[DebbieS]

I love all your pictures! You and Rita look so good together (how did you get pants to match her so well?)

Stella, you look beautiful and so do your horses!!

Jacob is too cute up there on Rita. My nephew went through a scared stage. Now he's 4 and loves to be in the saddle.

I got in trouble at the Mile High show last summer. I put my daughter up on Listo to go up to the show arena - it's quite a walk for short legs! When I got up there, the show steward caught me and said she should have a helmet on if she's on a horse. It's not like I let her ride by herself.... I was leading the whole time and Listo was a perfect gentleman. :roll:

Great pics!! Thanks for posting them!!

[sporthorse]

Stella,

No, Diane and I weren't on the same ride.

What mare did she buy from you?

If you want to meet, I plan to go to the Halleluja Moonlighter in Camden. It will be in May, a night ride during full moon on the 13th. I should arrive at camp at Camden Hunt on Friday the 12th, probably around 2pm or so. Since it's a night ride will be hanging around all day Saturday cooling my heels until ride time in the evening. Come visit!

Lindsay

[stella]

Sorry it took so long to answer, Lindsay!
I would love to meet, I know Diane is going on that ride, and Ron. Maybe I'll follow them up there, Friday night sounds good.
She bought Amatista, a daughter of Embellazo out of a Favorito daughter, the one currently owned by Brenda Hall. (I have that mare's mom here now, 26 and looks 10....and she was an endurance horse in California)

Amatista is very willing, foreward, a bottomless pit of energy and willingness, totally correct brio, and very, very well-gaited, with multi-gears! I've NEVER had her blink an eyelash at anything, just point her and she goes! Fearless....Diane just loves her, so next season, when she has her conditioned, look out!

I'm looking forward to meeting!
I'm planning to go on that national ride next week, near there, too.

[JennLM]

Congrats to both of you on a job well done. Really neat they are including gaited horses in Dressage now. Is it only there or are most states following suit?

Your son will be hooked. Pretty soon in the future he will be asking for his first pony..

[Serendipity]

I have alway's liked the score card idea,I would love to see them in PFHA shows.some times there is just not time to talk to a judge after the classes or show day and if you show again the next day and judge is the same can't ask questions.

[stella]

There's several states where shows are including gaited dressage classes lately, like Missouri, Ky, Texas, but I believe SC is the first one where the State association is giving high point awards.

I like the scorecard, too......and yes, I think being there's SO many classes per day, its become harder to find time to talk to the judges at shows, and its really the best way to help improve for future shows. Its that opinion you pay for(more and more lately)yet harder to get those helpful "whys."

[CarolU]

Don't forget that FOSH has gaited dressage in their shows too. They have shows all over the country and very THOUGHTFULLY alter their National show between the west and east every other year. I think last year it was in Kentucky, so will probably be in Nevada again this year.

Very nice people there too.

[paintedhorizon]

Jenn, I sure hope so!!! We're still not sure if we're going to try for another child, and I sure want my child to share in my passion.Your son will be hooked. Pretty soon in the future he will be asking for his first pony..

[Soltera]

Stella? Did I miss where you came back and posted pictures? Please don't get tired of me asking you.....on the "other" PF forum, too.

What were the elements of the Dressage Test? Were there lateral moves? Corto half-pass? Fino haunches-in?

Thanks,
Soltera

[Pasogirlz]

http://bestsmileys.com/welcome/7.gif
Glad to have ya here! Tell us about your horses!

[PASOFAN]

That is so cool!! Loved all the pics

[Soltera]

Last June a friend of a friend invited me to the Asheville Piedmont Classic. Darndest thing I ever saw. Every one of those riders, even the ones who looked like relative newcomers to riding, were collecting those itty-bitty ponies into not only keeping a very collected frame but were somehow communicating a blistering footfall rhythm even with their legs oddly in front of the girth. And those bits! Spoons? Never saw such a bunch of long shanks on a breed, but no running martingales or tie-downs. The ponies seemed terribly unhappy under saddle, yet their bodies were relaxed and supple. What on earth?

Fortunately, my friend, Brenda Sparks of Centellas Paso Finos, had a young broodmare for me to ride after the show, and I began to understand a little better. Then she took me to meet Juan Carlos Iriarte, who graciously allowed me to ride some of his young sale and show horses.

Then he brought out Destina de Dictador…… I still have facial cramps from the stupid smile I wore all the way home! I’ll never forget riding her on that paved track around the house, grinning like a fool, completely hooked.

Juan Carlos invited me to come out any time and ride, and I put it off. I’d give anything to have taken him up on his kind offer, and learned from such a master trainer of the breed. I pray (and I mean that) that I’ll be able to ride for him again some day. Be well, Juan Carlos!

Meanwhile, Brenda’s regular trainers, Pat and Cece Figueroa sold me a lovely gelding, Vesuvio Bien Vee, and I work for them as show groom when I can. He won Bellas Formas National Championship as a 3 yo gelding (five years ago), and has since been mostly a performance show horse, but is taking to trails quite nicely. His favorite thing to do is lick my neck while I hug his head. And brio? Got some to spare if you need any; perhaps I can email you some? Fed-ex?

I come from a dressage (student) and hunter/jumper (instructor) background, and have mostly made my living from barn management. But it’s going to be Paso Finos from now on!

Will be happy to communicate in Spanish if anyone prefers.

¡Abrazos!

PS Sorry for such a long post.

[CarolU]

Welcome to the BB!!!
Performance horse indeed!!! The one in your avatar??? He looks BORN Performance to me, what a show off! Do you have a larger version of the same picture to share?

Anyway, welcome to the wonderful FUN world of Paso Finos and our BB. We all speak English here so no need to translate.

[Pasogirlz]

Ya never know when we might need a translator around here, so keep an eye out for our lation guests who drop in from time to time. We invite them to post anytime. Thanks for the help. 8-)

Sounds like you are one of the lucky ones who got good help right from the start w/your pasos....That is great and it helps so much.

[paintedhorizon]

Here's a link to the pics

http://www.americanpasofinos.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6370&highlight=dressage

http://www.americanpasofinos.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6190&highlight=dressage


Stella doesn't have much internet time anymore! :lol:

[baileyholc]

You are so luck to already have your Paso. I have not gotten mine yet. :cry But have several that I am looking at. Im not interested in show thou, but love to take the trails.

[paintedhorizon]

Soltera, so how does it feel to be the OFFICIAL owner of your boy now??

[Soltera]

Wonderful to meet you at the Nationals! Hope I didn't look as frazzled as I felt: twenty-one horses was a heavy load, but what a priviledge to work for Pat and Cese! And some of their clients helped me every day, and in so many ways. Their generosity of time and assistance was beyond belief.

As for Vesuvio being mine, it's funny. I haven't owned a horse since the early 80's. Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free? There've always been folks with horses to train or exercise or evaluate or sell.

Now, however, I have finally been able to "allow" a horse to seriously "bond" with me. He comes running when I whistle, and gives the sweetest nuzzles. I'm his first bonded human (Pat's a busy pro trainer, and the 2 other people who tried him out did not like him.) He just needed a person to call his own. (sniffle, sob)

And do we kissy face huggie neck? Yeah, big time. He gets LOTS of sugar, and not the kind that rots his teeth, if you know what I mean. I'll post some more pictures ASAP. And thanks for asking. You are all such a great bunch of people!!!! (sniffle, sob, grin)

[paintedhorizon]

You looked energized, not frazzled! I don't know how you still had any energy left! And yes, we MUST have pics!!!!

It was equally great to meet you and for you to take the time to introduce me and my friends to "your" horses!

[Trudy]

What a cute little boy and great pictures.