"You do WHAT with your Peruvian Paso?"
Yes, that is a common question I get from other horse
owners - and not just Peruvian Paso owners. Growing up
and living in Connecticut for most of my life, I was
always around horses. Like the majority of riders in New
England, I learned to ride in the English style - mainly
huntseat and usually on a Thoroughbred. I also enjoyed
trail riding, some distance riding, foxhunting and
hunter paces.
I became interested in the gaited breeds about 12
years ago. While visiting the San Diego area, I happened
to take a trail ride at an outfit called Holidays on
Horseback that has ALL gaited horses. I really did like
the Foxtrotters, Tennessee Walking Horses, Paso Finos
and Peruvian Pasos that the ranch had on the rental
string. Quite a different ride from my QH and TB/Paint
Horse at home! I came back every year for the next 5
years and rode one of their gaited horses for a week.
One year they had a new horse, a Peruvian Paso they
called Poco that I really liked. What a wonderful,
smooth ride this was!
Back in Connecticut, I began to ask around and look
for a gaited horse. I wasn't particular to any one
breed, and wanted to try as many as I could. Most of the
responses that I received were, "gaited? Oh, you
mean Saddlebred!" I saw a few ads for Tennessee
Walkers and Foxtrotters, but they were far and few, and
what I did see was either not well gaited, didn't gait
or were not affordable to me.
In November 1992, I was diagnosed with arthritis in
my lower spine and hips. The doctors said I had more
arthritis than any patient my age that they had seen. I
was in much pain and wondered if I would ever do any
thing more than ride at the walk. With physical therapy
and some anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxants, I
made it through a cold, damp Connecticut winter. I was
back on my horses in the spring and in June of 1993 my
husband and I moved to the San Diego area - along with
our QH and Paint horses.
Ahhh...there are gaited horses out here!!! But now I
am in cowboy country! English riders? We are definitely
in a minority!! I had already purchased a Spotted Saddle
Horse mare, and was looking for a good sized, strong,
affordable Peruvian Paso. I found what I was looking
for, and bought Cielo de Caramelo, an 11 year old
gelding, in February of 1995. He had all the makings of
the mount I needed for the kind of riding I like to do -
he was of good size, strength, and a good temperament. I
did some retraining with him, and we've traveled many
miles together. Now if I could only find a hunt or hunt
pace. Because of my arthritis, hunting on Cowboy, my
Quarter Horse, or Tonto, my Paint was out of the
question.
I belong to an Internet mail list for foxhunting
enthusiasts, and after posting a comment about
something, I received an e-mail from the Master
Foxhunter of a club near Los Angeles who said he saw my
post and also the town I came from. He invited me to be
his guest at a joint meet they were having with another
hunt club. I was thrilled, and of course, said YES! I
also learned that here in Southern California, the hunt
clubs hunt coyote exclusively. Something new for this
Connecticut Yankee AND her gaited wonder horse!
I arrived at the hunt meet, and was asked which field
would I like to ride in. The first field is a fast ride
with the Master and Houndsman, and includes jumps. Since
my jumping days are over, and Cielo had never hunted
before, I declined. The second field is a bit slower
paced ride, following the first field, but staying
behind them. Jumps are optional. This is also called
hill topping, as this group of riders will ride to the
top of a hill and watch the hounds and first field.
The coyote is quite a formidable quarry. They are
very smart, and seem to love to give the hounds a good
chase. The coyote scent is also stronger than the scent
of the fox. The coyotes seem to love playing games and
really can keep us going in "circles". The
hounds will pick up a line (scent) and then one coyote
will go one way and the other will go another, creating
quite a game for the Master and Houndsman, and the
field.
The hounds were cast, and Cielo and I were off on our
first hunt together! He was wonderful. He moved right
along, and never minded being closely packed in with
other horses at times. (All of who are bigger than he
is). Much of the chase is at the gallop and canter, and
Cielo loves it. He really caught on quickly, and when he
hears the "music" of the hounds when they pick
up the scent of the coyotes he really gets "on the
muscle" and can't wait to go! He is such a sight,
at least to me, when he's all cranked up with lots of
brio. I ride him in a Hackamore, and he is completely
controllable in it.
I joined the Santa Fe Hunt, and have been hunting
with Cielo since January. Since almost all of the hunt
horses are Thoroughbreds, I naturally expected some
questions or comments from people. I mean, really, what
is that little horse doing? He does not have much
termino, but still.... it can look very strange to
someone not familiar with the way the Peruvian Paso
moves. Cielo is also 15.1 - big for a Peruvian Paso, but
small for a hunter! Anyway, everyone was quite nice, as
they could see that I had hunting experience, and a very
fit, well-trained mount. A few cute comments I received
were: (on our first hunt) - "you might want to ride
third field - he's a bit chubby". (Third field is
usually ridden by less experienced riders or less fit
horses). I merely replied that he was very fit and I had
done about 35 miles with him the previous weekend and
also that there are some obvious conformational
differences in comparison to the Thoroughbred. The reply
was, "you are right! Please do ride second field
with me." Another comment, "he really paddles
along, doesn't he". Just as I was going to reply,
we all broke into a gallop, and that was that! Another,
"I saw a Peruvian Paso Fino at a friends
once". After a brief explanation about the 2
different breeds, the answer was, " oh I guess I
just lump them all together!" and off we went! I
was also asked how he could see with that long thick
forelock! Everyone laughed when I said that he sees
better than I do!
When we are not at the gallop, canter or
walk, Cielo just motors along in the Sobreandando. We
cover a lot of ground and I am so comfortable - he is so
smooth - especially when I see all that posting and
bouncing abreast with me. Riding back to the trailers
after a recent hunt, Cielo was in gait, and I just took
my feet out of the stirrups and "went along for the
ride". The Master laughed and said to me,
"hey! Quit showing off!!" Of course, I just
had to show off some more, and by just using my seat and
legs, went into a beautiful, slow collected canter. We
all laughed! In conclusion, I must say that there are so
many uses for this wonderful breed. There are quite a
few of us non-traditional Peruvian Paso riders. While
they most certainly are exceptional show horses, there
are also suited to many other disciplines - just look at
me - I'm FOXHUNTING with mine!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
UPDATE 2002
I have retired Cielo from hunting, and he is now
owned by a wonderful family with three young children.
He is living a wonderful life as a teacher, trail horse
and "babysitter".
I have a 6 year old, 16h Peruvain Paso /Spotted
Saddle Horse gelding who might be a future hunt
prospect. Time will tell. He currently needs many more
miles under saddle, and a few more years to mentally
mature. Who knows - I might just be gliding along
leading the second field!