Paso help needed

[ambulance_Driver]

Well, let me introduce myself: I'm brand new to paso finos, but not horses. I've been riding jumpers and dressage for 10 years. I've exercise rode race horses at the track, bought two track thoroughbreds and successfully retrained them to win in the jumper and dressage rings. Unfortunately my back will no longer tolerate jumping or sitting the trot required in dressage. I bought a peruvian paso weanling last year, and thus far he isn't what I was wanting but that's a whole other story lol. I'm getting ready to go look at my first fino and really don't know what to look for. I've read the information on this site, and several others but any advice would be greatly appreciated.
My goals/needs for this horse are to have an agreeable partner who likes human companionship, and has brio but isn't a spaz lol. Unfortunately in the peruvian world some trainers confuse brio with being phsyco and flighty and have even been known to taughnt horses. I want the engery and willingingness but I want the horse to be sensible and enjoyable. I am competitive by nature and plan on doing endurance riding or competetive trail, with the enjoyable hack too.
Anyway that is a little bit about me and as I stated, any advice on what to look for would be very nice.

[Brigitte]

WELCOME!!! And I'm sure plenty of advice can be found here, maybe even a horse ;-)

[GeorgeGuns]

Welcome!!!

I guess its just like any other breed - ya have to keep looking until you find that special one, and there's good trainers and bad, good horses and not so good. I see you are in Iowa - post in the Paso Chit Chat to see who may be close enough to you.

BTW, when you find your Paso Fino, its mandatory that you post pictures! ;-)

[Boyd R]

I grew up in Cresco, Ia. in the NE corner just off of Hwy 63. Whishing you all the success in your hunt. Theyre are plenty of good Pasos out there. With the experiande you have you should have no problem. They can be a little hard to get used to even I was ready to get rid of my first 2 weeks after I got him. He just came out of the show ring and we both had adjusting to do. And now I look for those horses that newbies have gave up on and help them get together or find them new homes.
With your background in horses once you get settled in I can't imagine anyother breed you would want.

[Terri]

http://bestsmileys.com/welcome/4.gif

I too grew up learning to ride huntseat. Didn't think there was anything else. You are right there are many people that confuse Brio with spaz. There are loads of great pasos out there. (ooooo, so many horses, so little money!). My only piece of advice would be to avoid the "didn't-make it-show-horse-turned-trail-horse" and to look for one that was bred for the trails. I have a friend that bought a 3yr old Coral LaCe grandduaghter with only 30 days saddle training. Due to some sugery my friend had, the little mare sat around all winter. But in April she added another 30 days training to "restart" and now that little mare is one of the most sensible, willing little trail horses I know. I've seen her pick her way up steep rocky hills, cross creeks and lead the pack. As for Brio, the quarter horse I was riding had to keep trotting to keep up with her power walk. On the other hand I know someone who bought a "been there done that" retired show horse. Nice horse, but he is always looking for the sounding board. Getting him to flat walk is a chore.

I think there is a breeder out in Iowa. Isn't Trudy out that way? http://www.sundancerpasofinos.com I don't know how close she would be to you. I know Iowa is a pretty big state. Good luck in your search, when you find the right horse you will discover Paso to be "people horses" and loyal companions.

[ErinC]

Yes she is,

Welcome,

GO visit as many farms as you can, and ride as many as youcan before you shop , or before you set your mind on one kind of paso.

trust me it will save you a large headache of buying and selling till you learn what you really want.


good luck.

[Tracey]

Hi, I answered your other post about location. I can't help you much, as I am not a pro. I got lucky on my first paso, it did take about a month to 'gel' but she is perfect (for me!). I think the quickness of their movements is what throughs people off, the person we got our tennuvian from gave this as the reason, she just couldn't get used to how fast he could react and turn or spin (and she raised qh's!).
Tudy and Dennis would be a good start, I have not made it to there place, but juding from the pics, they have a VERY nice collection up there! There are a couple of farms in MO, and KS also.

[baileyholc]

Well Ambulance_Driver, what do you think so far? Do check out www.sundancerpasofinos.com I think you will find the trip well worth it. They are wonderful people. Just remember each paso is a different ride.