Opinions, please

[jmtw]

I went and looked at a Paso today and would like some opinions.

He's 6 (7 this year) and a gelding.
Very calm on the ground. Stands still for mounting.
Picks up feet easy. Likes attention.
Under saddle, he's super responsive to rein pressure, leg pressure, and kissing. Reins very well.
Doesn't back up undersaddle ( he will on the ground).
Has a very rough gait. Feels like a trot, but doesn't look like one.
He's also short, maybe 13.1 tops, but stout.
Supposedly registered, but lost papers.

My question is, if I decide to buy this horse, what do I do to get his gait to smooth out? Also, he'd rather canter than largo.
And he was once used as a barrel horse. I wonder if thats why when you start off, you have to hold him back to a walk or he wants to go go go?
BTW, his price is $700.
I have no idea on his bloodlines.

[appyday]

Offer them $350 or pass..

[jmtw]

Ok. Thanks :)

[nola]

We have gotten in ( or have been sent) a lot of Paso's like the one you are describing. Most of the time they turn out to be fantastic horses that just need a little work and TLC to get back into a 'Paso' frame of mind. Generally, a lot of walk work, flexing and serpentines set you onto the road to success to get them back into gait. You'll be able to teach him to back, have someone on the ground help while you are in the saddle. He may be a little 'diamond in the rough'

[jmtw]

Thanks, Nola. :smile:

[cowboy ed]

he might not gait at all, regardless of what you do. but it's possible.

if he doesnt back under saddle, could be he wasnt taught, but it is also possible that he could have a bad leg, which makes it painful to back up. you wouldnt notice this without weight on his back, though.
is he a buckskin or dun? just curious.

[Terry Wallace]

Got pics?

[Barbwire]

What you have to ask yourself is, who is the horse to be ridden by? Is the horse suitable for this rider? If not, how much will the training cost to get the horse to where it will be? Then see if $700 is really such a bargain afterall.

[jmtw]

Sorry, forgot to check for replies. :roll:

Anyway... he's a bay, and the girl said he doesn't like to back because that was his punnishment by the owner/previous owner or whatever.
Doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

Barbara, you're exactly right. And I reckon i'm going to pass.

Thanks for the opinions :smile:

[Barbwire]

Holy crap in a bucket, Batman, somebody took my advice!!!http://bestsmileys.com/fainting/1.gif

[jmtw]

freaky, huh? :lol:

[DSDECKERT]

Hey, maybe you CAN teach an old dog new tricks????
:rofl

[jmtw]

deb... barbara ain't no dog :razz:

[CarolU]

Well, I think the back can be fixed easily and so can the flat walk.

I think what you have to decide is if you can get the gait smoothed out. Chances are he isn't gaiting at all, and since he's been raced and cantered, they probably haven't worked on it at all.

I'd give him a trial period...do some collection and turning work with him. See if you can get him to work more off his rear end and get some moments of gait. That may be all he needs is some time with someone who knows how to get him in condition and working right. He might be a great horse then.

But Barb is right...$700 is no bargain if he'll never be able to do what you want him to do.

BTW - I have a horse with a tight step and no largo...he canters beautifully though and is great now at Reining.

Only you can decide if he's a challenge you want to try.

[motorgypsy]

The alternative is to get a good paso fino trainer to ride him. Our PPR mare didn't gait because we didn't know how to ride a fino horse. The Puerto Rican trainer at our barn got on her and had her in gait in about 10 seconds and now she's awesome. Once you know he will gait you can get him to gait. The same thing with our Florida Cracker. If you rode him in that big trot you'd never think he'd gait but the same trainer got on him and said yes indeed he gaits.

[jmtw]

I appreciate the advice, but he's been sold. :)

[Boyd R]

You need to head to Ga for the weekend I may have what you need.

[jmtw]

You know what? I was in GA today. Went over and bought a gooseneck horse trailer.
Boyd, I hear you have wonderful horses. But they're generally out of my price range.
And before everyone jumps in and says 'you get what you pay for', I realize that, but you still have to do the best you can with what you have to work with. :smile:

Now Boyd, if we could do some horse trading, we might could work something out. :)