Back on a Paso

So this is way, way, way overdue (I'm talking almost five months!) but Mike is out plowing and I'm sitting at home looking through old photos, and I realized that I never talked about the fact that I got back on a Paso this summer!

After I broke my leg, I went back to riding as soon as my doctor allowed it. I had actually transitioned into giving lessons pretty much the second I got steady-ish on my crutches, so getting back in the saddle was the next logical step. I had a lot of physical obstacles to overcome on the road to recovery, but mentally, I seemed to be a-ok. A year after the accident, I was back in full swing, but as the months passed, the one thing I never got to do was get back on a Paso Fino.

Now, I obviously don't blame the accident on the fact that Willow was a Paso Fino. In fact, I don't even blame the horse. However, I don't interact with Pasos very often, and I wasn't sure how I would feel if the opportunity to ride one arose. Unfortunately for these horses, many of them seem to either start off in bad hands or end up in them. It's through no fault of the horses, but it's a disturbing pattern, and some of the stories I've seen since that fateful day in 2013 absolutely break my heart.

Then, Marissa met Ethan, and I rode with the two of them at a hunter pace this past spring. Ethan was on his young, adorable Paso, Gitano del Viejo, aka Mooch. By the end of the hunter pace, I was totally fascinated by this brave, fast-steppin' horse, and in awe of the relationship he and Ethan seemed to have. Mooch was sweet, playful, and totally charming.

In the spring, I rode Steel in her first CDR and met Cheryl and her Paso, Sooner. After fifteen miles with them, I decided that Sooner was exactly the type of Paso I would want to get on and ride. Cheryl generously offered to let me take him to a CTR some time.

But on July 4th, Mike and I wound up going over to Ethan and Marissa's for a party. It just so happens that they live in the same town we do, about five minutes away from our apartment. It's a wonder we don't hang out more than we do, something that needs to be remedied ASAP. On that particular day, Marissa had loaned me her trailer so I could ship Dancer to a new barn, and when I returned it, she invited us to hang out for the festivities.

The party was an absolute riot. We drank beer, laughed uproariously, enjoyed a pig roast, and stuffed ourselves stupid. The other benefit of the party was that the barn that Ethan keeps Mooch at is right in the back yard. It's actually a Paso Fino farm and many of the horses there are successful show  horses. There were a lot of very knowledgeable Paso people floating around, and the horses were definitely the center of attention that night. Well, the horses and Poncho, the beer-toting donkey!

I got a kick out of watching the Pasos do exactly what they were bred for... showing off! They were elegant, quick, and so so smooth. Best of all, they all seemed to be thriving on the energy of the party and really kicked it into gear the more the crowd cheered them on. It was very unlike anything I've experienced in the horse world before.

Of course, Ethan wanted to get in on the action too, and it wasn't long after we arrived that he got Mooch out and started getting him saddled.

I followed Ethan over to the round pen at the back of the property, and watched him do some groundwork with the little gelding. It was very different from how I do ground work, and I was fascinated as I took a million photos.

Before long, Ethan had mounted and was riding Mooch around the pen. The light was wonderful and they were kicking up dust as they circled the center post.

After their warm up, they went down to the main track, where the sounding board is located. This was also something I hadn't seen in person before, and it was a ton of fun to watch! Ethan and Mooch went around and around, and each time the horse's hooves beat a staccato on the wood, faster and faster and faster.

Next thing I knew, Ethan was holding the reins toward me and asking, "Want to give it a try?"

I'll admit I hesitated. I was surrounded by strangers, and while I love Mooch, I really don't know him very well. My hesitation was short-lived, however, as everyone started egging me on and asking me, "What's the worst that can happen?"

"Ok, ok!" I finally caved. "But you all have to promise not to make fun of me."

I did get laughed at when I insisted on wearing my helmet, which just happened to be in my car.

"You have to promise to be nice to me," I whispered to Mooch as I put my foot in the stirrup and swung into the saddle.

Not gonna lie, I was pretty much terrified. Logically, I knew this was a nice horse who takes care of his rider, but emotionally, I was a wreck.

That didn't last long either though. Mooch walked cautiously around with me for a few steps, seeming to sense that I wasn't ready to go rocketing off just yet. Finally, I took a deep breath and clucked to him... and we were off at a speedy corto. 

Suddenly, my fears melted away and I was delighted. Mooch 100% knows his job, and he was smooth, smooth, smooth. We flew around the figure eight-shaped track and hit the sounding board for the first time. With zero assistance from me, Mooch nailed it.

I couldn't hold it in any more. I was squealing like a little kid and giggling my fool head off.

There just so happened to be an international Paso Fino judge at the party, and he arrived at the track just after I climbed on board. Just like that I was getting a mini-lesson on the proper way to ride a Paso. Of course, the judge didn't know anything about my history with the breed. It was nice to hear that I didn't completely suck. Haha.

I got down feeling completely elated. Mooch had been very good for me, and I felt like this ride had been the closure I needed without even knowing about it. While I still know very little about the breed as a whole, I will say that I would be thrilled to ride other nice Pasos in the future, if the opportunity came up. It may not be my scene personally, but I totally get the appeal of the breed!

And of course, special thanks goes out to Ethan for sharing his wonderful horse with me. He is very generous with Mooch and loves to spread the joy that is the Paso Fino. I don't think he realizes how big of a deal this was for me, but I truly appreciate it.