please note a mere 51% were able to complte this ride and one of ours finished 38th out of 172 rider/horse( or mule) teams
http://www.teviscup.org/the_ride/the_ride_list2009finishers.html
this top half placement by the paso fino Tomaria's Juan Luis is the second time in a row and he is going to the AERC nationals when his rider comes back after riding in the famous Quilty Australian endurance ride.
_________________ yes we are out there/ WAY/extreme sport riding where serious horse riders see paso finos.
His dam is Tomarias Sophia who is sired by Faldero que tal (Baron que tal x Guala) -- IPFS/APF National/Res. Ch in Performance/Versatility Stallions, out of a Majestuoso daughter
An interesting observation from a member of another Board stated:
"...Anyone who saw the awesome video years back of this horse tackling Cougar Rock on the Tevis Cup will know what I mean when I say he is an IMPRESSIVE athlete. The video shows various horses coming to this very rocky treacherous pass called Cougar Rock, and some carefully pick their way up the winding trail, some balk and flounder and then this little buckskin Paso comes along and literally runs straight up the rock (no winding trail for him)... it was totally mind-blowing!"
Here's the link to the Cougar Rock video....the Paso shoots up the trail at 4:21 minutes .....truly amazing footage....he's better than any of the other horses, IMO. The whole video is truly worth watching. It gives you just a hint of how amazing any horse that finishes the race must be....
Yah, he was good. Some of those obviously wern't accustomed to scrambling over rocks, looks like one lost a shoe at about 2:39
So is it the gait that gives better stability on rough ground or experience? (or both) I've heard those horses raised on and accustomed to flatland don't do well immediatly when taken to rough mountain trails untill they get some experience and learn how to handle the footing.
Economic difficulties may well come to anyone at any time. I understand that very well, and if one has a horse that's potentually worth quite a few thousand it'd be well to sell and then (if their situation in life isn't too bad) buy and condition another for the same job if they want to continue.
I took two Florida born, flatland Paso Finos to Las Vegas, NV in 1997. They had never set foot out of Florida prior to this. Other than having to put basic iron shoes with no pads on them we never had a problem. They took to the high elevations and hard, rocky ground very well. IMO, and it is my opinion based on first hand experience, the stability of the PF gait is very significant on the steep, narrow mountain trails. Also the fact that most PF are on the smaller side (14-15 hands), can turn on their haunches, stop on a dime, are generally sensitive to leg
yields and so on, makes them safer than many breeds, again, IMO. I rode Arabians and I rode Tennesse Walkers a couple of times while living there and I will tell you, compared to the PF they were "clumsy", no where near as sure footed, and seemed to struggle more with the terrain. One almost put me over the side of a cliff because I forgot what I was riding and tried to turn on too narrow a trail (at least, too narrow for that particular horse!). Our Pasos must have had a "genetic memory" for that type terrain is all I can say as they took to it like they'd been living there all their lives. My stallion, especially, charged up steep trails, did 180s on single track swithbacks, hauled butt up and down washes. He had much more experience in the flat than his gelding son (he was 16, the son, 5), but by the time the son had 3-4 months on him (had been ridden twice before shipping to LV) he was almost as good as his old man. They both did well on the notorius "slick rock", too. In fact, the son participated in the helicopter rescue of a rider who fractured her leg on a remote trail when her Arabian slipped on rock and crashed down on her. There was no cell phone coverage so Ed and Obi back tracked 4-5 miles to the base camp and then, when the on foot rescuers arrived, led them back to the site of the accident. So, I would say gait, compact build, experience, responsivess, in that order. Actually, the latter two are probably interchangeable IMO.
_________________ yes we are out there/ WAY/extreme sport riding where serious horse riders see paso finos.
Hola Ed! a moderator on this forum really doesnt do much! We keep a very good control making sure that SPAMS aren't filter in! and as you can see WE ARE ALL ADULTS........ and if posts aren't heated like at other "Forums" places of entertainment!
Here at PASOVOICE each member takes very seriously the breed! and we have kept it that way too! PV is not a place where people come ONLY TO KILL TIME.........................
But the Mods roll! is to assure FORUM RULES are followed!
I hope i have answer your question, if not feel free to private message or Email me!
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