Conquistador horses - a therapeutic ride
Alexander Burnfield
Open Door - May 2006 pages 12-13
It was in the mellow surroundings of a local pub that I first heard about the Paso Fino horses. I was having lunch with a friend who surprised me by saying that she owned a young filly that she hoped to have trained and to ride. I had never known about this side of her life before.
I have ridden ordinary horses in the past, but found that I always ended up shaken and exhausted - bumping up and down on the saddle did not seem to be the best thing for my MS.
When Tracy told me that her horse was a special breed, rare in the UK but used for rehabilitating people with disabilities in the USA, my ears pricked up, and my wish to ride again seemed a possibility.
But what was it about this breed that makes them so good for people with spinal injuries and other physical disabilities? Why are they also used for children with emotional problems? This was of interest to me because I work as Consultant in Psychological and Therapeutic Approaches to a company providing high quality residential and foster care for children with behaviour problems, learning difficulties and physical disabilities. Also, because of my own MS, I have a particular interest in helping people with our disabling disease.
Before I go on to tell you more about these horses and my present connection with them, I will let you know the immediate outcome of our conversation in the pub: within three short months I had imported a very special mare from Florida, and I have been riding her regularly. But that is not all - Sonadora de Esteban, a grey, was top dam in her Paso Fino breed in the USA for the last three years - and I bought her 'in foal' to a very handsome and well bred young black stallion, Padrino!
The author (left) with Sonadora
A special breed
The Paso Fino breed originated in Spain from the ancient Arab and Andalusian horses. When Columbus returned to the New World on his second expedition he transported selected Spanish horses with him to the island of Hispaniola - the part now known as the Dominican Republic. They were used for a variety of purposes - including in battle, for transport and riding long distances - also to show off and to impress the indigenous population who did not have horses.
Later explorers took the horses with them to Puerto Rico, Columbia, Mexico, Panama and Cuba where they became known for their good nature, strength and 'brio' (spirit) - many of these horses had a natural ability to move with a smooth walking gait for long periods of time and in a way that conserves the horse's horses with this particular gliding walk were specially bred and valued for their beauty, comfort, endurance and gentle temperament.
Paso Fino horses are quite small, ranging from 13.2 to 15.2 hands. Their natural '4 beat' walk is different from the more common trot, and can be trained further in a variety of ways. The 'Fino' is a walk with quick short steps in which the horse moves slowly - it looks fantastic and these horses are specially bred for shows and competitions. The Fino pace is also good for exercise and the schooling of these horses. The 'Corto' pace approximates the speed of the common trot, and the 'Largo' is equivalent to a fast trot.
The majority of Paso Fino horses are still to be found in South America, but in 1965 people began to bring them into the USA. Here they became increasingly popular as a family horse, and then as a horse which could be shown off for its special gait and good looks in various equine events.
Paso Finos are now one of the first choices in the US when it comes to Riding for the Disabled and for children with special needs, physical or psychological.
More recently these horses have been returning to Europe, where they originated, but there are still very few here compared with the USA. There are about a thousand in Europe with the majority in Germany, and about a hundred in the UK.
A genrtle ride, a gliding gait
Sonadora be Esteban, my grey mare, is 12 years old and has a gentle disposition and a classic smooth Paso Fino gait - I have now ridden her on several occasions - western style - with my legs almost straight and controlling her with my voice, body position and feet. (No special showy riding kit - just ordinary jeans, and no riding crop or spurs). Actually when I say controlling her, I am doing her a disservice - she is so well trained and responsive that I need to do the minimum. Sonadora has been described as a 'schoolmistress' - so perfectly schooled herself that she is an excellent teacher for new or less experienced riders. Going at a slow or fast walk (equivalent to the usual trot) her back does not move vertically at all! This is wonderful to experience and feels comfortable and safe - it looks pretty good too! I can ride for half an hour and get off feeling relaxed and invigorated - which is completely different from my old riding days when I dismounted exhausted, stiff and unable to walk for a while. I believe that riding again is helping me to keep fit, mobilise my joints, improve my balance and generally feel better.
I now share a handsome bay Paso Fino gelding, Capitan, and two Paso Fino foals with Tracy in addition to my own horse - and she has a filly, Athenia, too. Sonadora's foal, Artemisia, was born in March.
Sonadora and her foal, Artemisia
Our horses will soon be coming to live in the meadow in front of my farm house where my wife, Penny, and I can see them daily, and where they will be looked after by several local kids - including our grandchildren and Tracy's children.
We are all going to have plenty of fun, but our vision is to bring this breed to the attention of the professionals and volunteers who help people with emotional and physical special needs - and people like me with MS.
You are sure to hear more of this 'therapeutic' breed of gentle and intelligent smooth riding horses in the future.
Links
Information about Paso Fino horses in the UK
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