ground driving//BELLA FORMA

[ErinC]

starting out ground driving/long lines,,,, ALONE!

I have started MANY babies so it is not new to me ...
But , the Paso Yearling I have is ready to try it, I take him for walks, and all.
I have used two lead lines, he has so much energy , GOOD energy he stops on a DIME when I say whoa and backs when I say back.
he learns real easy.

He leads in a corto nice, but I can not walk fast enough to keep up to his corto, while I am next to him , I end up making him turn into me to much....he is getting big too, and holds his head high, and tucks nice, so today while working him I saw him in a nice collection on his own and said HUMMMMMMMMMM, By gollie I think He is ready to ground drive/long line.

What I have NOT ever done, is gotten a PASO ready for Bella Forma, is it just training them in ground driving/long lines like I did with my Arabs?

PLEASE , I would like to hear how you all start and work into this stage, he will be 2 in April.
he has been walked every where around my area, down the ST. over to front end loaders, with ATV's, kids on skate boards, he has been de-spooked, on and off the trailer, and walked into and through water.
he stops, backs, and lifts his legs all by voice ,,,, I just wanted to let you know where he is at, I KNOW he is ready for something more, but I will not do circles yet... I live in a LARge OPEN area, so I can do ground driving/long lines in a strieght spot ..


Please , ALL, where do you start , NOW????

[Terry Wallace]

Be carefull with driving in long reins behind them, what you DON'T want is a horse who tucks his hindquarter down, or "sits down" on his rear legs for Bella Forma.... be sure to maintain a flat topline. Don't let him crouch down in the rear, which he may deveolp a tendancy to do if you are staying behind him all the time... When they crouch, they do not track straight, tend to have more toe-out and if the rear is "tucky" you will be counted down for that.

What you want is a good headset, (high head, not down) and a flat topline, with a spring in the step, tracking correctly, and moving straight.

[ErinC]

oK< so how do you suggest I start him, and work him?

[CarolU]

Erin, I can tell you what I do...hopefully it'll work for you. And I do find voice commands VERY useful!

I start with driving from right next to them in Zone 3 (about where your cinch would be) one hand on each side of the withers and get them used to driving from there first...to move out, turn both directions, stop and back.

Once they are proficient at it, I work farther and farther back until I am where I want to drive from. Then start pushing them up into the headgear with clicks. At first you may want to run to keep up with them until they know to corto, but gradually you want them to corto in collection while you walk fast, so gradually work to get them more and more collected under the lines.

If he starts to push into the bosal, use the chain on your lines UNDER his chin (I like to use my outside line this way, so I have more control on that side). This will get you a nicer, tucked head.

Make sure to practice, practice, practice at home and at the show in the arena. It really does pay off.

Normally in Bella Forma, you enter at a corto, corto to the right 1/2 way around the arena, go to the far side, stop and line up. Also practice going down the board in lines. Don't forget to train them to stand square and behave in the line up. I've had THAT win a class for me before.

[ErinC]

THANKS<
I can see it, in my head,
but the chain under??? I thought that won't that make his head go up and nose go out.

I want to start working him with different things, we have done the Parelli games. and do them every time we go for a walk.
he is very quick at learning, almost like he know what I am saying to him.
He got his head and neck stuck around a rope the other day, ( just a dump yearling thing ) but because we have worked together so much ( I feel ) he just stood there and waited for my help, NEVER tried to pull, move NOTHING! it was great. First mishap, so I know the work is going to pay off.
He knows to trust me. I love that feeling.

THANKS for the help.

One more thing, You can show Bella Forma on one line correct?? One person?? It does not have to always be the 2 lines??

[GeorgeGuns]

Yes young Pasos can and should be shown in one line. Two lines can over collect them, not a good idea before 3-4 years old. I've nothing against putting a young horse in driving lines, but at a walk only, and just to teach cues

[ErinC]

OK, thanks,
Still learning....
THANKS...
My last young Paso, I did not get alot of pre- training done with him he was not as willing.
But this guy is easy to work with and willing to learn.

[CarolU]

You can legally show a horse, any age, on one line, OR one handler with two lines, OR two handlers and two lines. What you need to decide is how your horse shows best. Many horses will not gait if shown with one line. Some need the collection of two lines to gait well.

When you show in the older age groups, you'll be up against most the horses in two lines and that level of collection. So you definately do want to teach two lines if you plan to show Bella Forma for many years.

But, just the opposite is true if you have a youngster. The judges expect more collection on two lines. If you have two lines and no collection you won't show well.

But, not showing well is still better then not being in gait. You will be DQ'd if you don't demonstrate gait in the class, regardless of how beautiful and perfect your horse is otherwise.

You have to work with your horse and see how he does. I can tell you I have seen fully collected 2-year-olds in Bella Forma. So, know your competition.

[ErinC]

Thanks, so much…..

I want to work him on the ground as much as I can with as many things as he can handle.

I might show him next year. As a 2 yr old. At the local paso show, and a few open ones around here. No other Pasos to show against but I would just like to get him out there, and get the exposure and training.

I am not even sure if I can enter an “in hand” class at any of the local shows or not.
But if I can. Then I will. He is a looker, and fun.

I can tell you if he was not a paso I would be at EVERY Sunday show that my local area holds , in hand, because I know he would do well in western pleasure.
But I am scared that because he is gaited it is not what they want.

HAS ANYONE else shown their young Pasos in hand ( bella forma ) in reg. Open shows, where everything on the grounds is a QH, Appy, Paint, or Arab , Saddlebreed, Morgan?

They do have the breed classes separate.

[Terry Wallace]

I haven't shown a gaited horse in a non-gaited class (QH, App, etc) but have shown them in the open gaited horse shows.... against Rockies, TWH, etc... that was done on one line, as both my husband & myself were showing horses in the same class....now, where I could, I WOULD show BF in two lines w/two handlers, because the "presentation" of the horse is much better IMO... You have the horse out in front of you, and you never get in between the horse and the judge's view.

I also like the one handler, two reins approach, IF the horse is well trained, and works well like that. Again, any time I could have my horse out in front of me, I prefer it. I want the judge to LOOK at the horse, I want to make that view as good and easy as I can....I want to stay out of the way of the judge.... wether I'm stanidng in the line up OR bringing the horse into the arena, presenting it.

When you show with only one line, I think the results are not as good. Two people can keep a horse positioned very well in the line-up, which is not always true when you are out there by yourself. One thing you want to avoid, is a horse that will not stay at your shoulder, and lugs behind..you don't ever want to "pull" them, and you don't want to drive them with the hindquarter "down".... you want them to gait willingly, pay attention, and keep the head up while doing so.... you want them to look as TYPEY as possible... to look and gait like breeding stock, as that is how you are being judged for the most part. Good confo, good movement and straight tracking... is the name of the game.... ;-)

[ErinC]

well as the time get closer I will take pic's before I make a fool of myself, and have you guys tell me if I should, or not....

It is a small show, and would still be worth it to get him the training even if he looks like crap. as a 2 yr old.

THANKS so much for all the help....

[Terry Wallace]

By all means...TAKE him....he will benefit from the experience, and you will see how he will act away from home, and in front of horses he does not know....BEFORE you anty up big bucks for a PFHA show....get him "practiced" at local shows.

[CarolU]

I am also like Terry, I have shown in open gaited shows and done fine (actually GREAT if count whoopin' TWH butts at Trail Pleasure - their class! - Zar is awesome!). I show Zar in two lines alone...it really is awesome compared to other breeds who plod in at a walk.

Every chance you get to show him, DO. It would help if before you enter the show you make sure the judge knows you'll be showing a Paso Fino and you corto and not trot, but otherwise do everything the other horses do. Also, most Trail classes are done at the walk and the breed is unimportant. Carol Steele and a group in Oregon do GREAT in their All Breed Trail competitions up there.

Go for it!!!

[ErinC]

I think if I can I will start with the LITTLE wed night shows. not many people, and a good place to start, then work my way to the bigger weekend show.
we will see.
I will be probably be gelding him in the spring, so he may be a whole different horse.

[Terry Wallace]

Do NOT let "how you think you look" keep you from taking him to every show you can....Showing is all about learning. All of us have learned from showing.... it will be great experience for him...and it will make a better "team" of you both.... just getting him out and about, without his "home buddies" will make a better, more tolerant horse of him.

Have you seen BF classes before? Just don't LARGO into the arena!!

Huh...Huh Carol U !!

[ErinC]

no I have never been to a REAL paso show.
I have only seen clips on line..

If anyone has an videos they can send me so I can watch and learn, I will pay shipping, and send it back!

[cowboy ed]

erin, nothing wrong with working him in a circle. just make it a big circle, 60 feet would be good. i like to work them in both directions, gets them used to having someone on the off side.

[CarolU]

Have you seen BF classes before? Just don't LARGO into the arena!!

Huh...Huh Carol U !!

ROFL...THAT was the Bella Forma class from H@LL! Erin, I was at an open show and Judi had given them the schedule for the Paso classes, enter at a corto, largo, walk, reverse, corto, largo, corto and line up. And that is EXACTLY what I had to do!!!! :shock: I almost died! I have NEVER largoed (well a faster corto really, I can't keep up with Zar's largo) or reversed her in lines! LOL...but she did it and did it fine.

Make SURE the stewards are given the order for the class. LOL

[ErinC]

I have another Question,
what happens and has anybody had this issue,
I can not keep up with this colts Corto, he is collected , well,,, the best he can be for a young horse, and he tries to stay at my shoulder but he just has a LARGE stride , and moves faster then I can, so he ends up ahead of me, then stops and looks at me like ,,,hhahahahah whatcha doing back there? I just start laughing.... I guess If I keep practising he will get more and more collected and we will get better at it,,,,

O ya and I tried the driving from the withers with my hand over his back , teo lead lines like reins on the halter,,,like as if I was riding, and at first he did not know he was suppose to go forward, but once he got it, then he did great, stopped when asked, turned left , right, etc...

I have so much fun working him!

[CarolU]

O ya and I tried the driving from the withers with my hand over his back , teo lead lines like reins on the halter,,,like as if I was riding, and at first he did not know he was suppose to go forward, but once he got it, then he did great, stopped when asked, turned left , right, etc...

I have so much fun working him!

That will help when you go to ride him too. I did this with Rosie and the transition to the saddle went without any hitch at all, she already knew exactly what I wanted.

You'll need to either slow him down or run to keep up - or a combination of both. It'll come with practice and time.

[ErinC]

O tyhis will be a good excersie !!!!
I will get in shape, he does have one heck of a stride.
HE is going to be a FAST horse.

[CarolU]

I will get in shape, .

Yes, you will. LOL Since you've never been to a Paso Fino show, you probably don't know how SKINNY the regular Bella Forma trainers are...but you can see why after training for it. LOL