Paso Fino Horse Association - Great Western News

Canyon State Paso Fino Enthusiasts by Cheryl Davison

(from left to right) Darla Vanni on D.J., Sue Lesko on "Sammy," and Scartlett Coyle on Trufeo.

As the weather heats up in the Valley, we are looking at a limited number of local activities for our horse population.

Some of our more creative members have taken up trying Team-penning at the Gilbert Rodeo Grounds. Yes, rodeo activities for the Paso Fino - another plus for the versatility of the Paso! Darla Vanni and Sue Lesko have found that they enjoy competing on Friday nights. Scarlett Coyle and her gelding Trufeo also tried the activity that requires three riders trying to cut out three calves from a herd and penning them in an enclosure at the opposite end of the arena. Scarlett is now sitting it out for a few weeks but Sue and Darla and friends are still participating. The first time they received some interesting comments and looks from the regulars, but their positive attitude and determination have proven a good promotion for the Paso Fino.

Just this month on June 8th and 9th, Cordy and Gail Overgaard traveled to Colorado with three of their horses - Simbolero de Grande, Ice Dancer DLM, and La Heroica de Casta. Simbolero won in all of his Open and Amateur Performance Geldings bringing home six blue ribbons. He also came in Third in the Performance Open Championship on Sunday. Congratulations!

As an added bonus for the Overgaards, their mare Sevillana gave birth to the last of their five foals for the season on Friday before they left for the Colorado Show. They now have three fillies and two colts. Looks like Paco will have his hands full for awhile!

Jamie Drizen traveled to California to participate in the Fiesta of the Spanish Horse. He and Jimmy took Amatista de Santillana, Exito del Arabe, Magica de Santillana, and Cumparsita de Santillana and came home in the ribbons. We can really be proud of our Arizona contingent since they consistently compete and win even when they compete against multiple entries from the more populous Paso Fino states such as Florida, Illinois, and Texas.

Jamie and Rene Hahane will also be traveling to Santa Barbara, California in July to participate in the show there on the 5th and 6th . Jamie will be taking many if not all, of the same horses. Rene is expected to take her stallion, Gavalan DLM and her mare Lindita DLM. Possibly there will be others going. PLEASE let me know. I am only too happy to include your show results in this monthly column, if I hear from you. [(480) 987-8161]

As far as our members' news!. Bonnie and Libby Peel are happy to report they are spending their summer in the cooler climate of Flagstaff. Debbie Barcon is spending her summer in Massachusetts with her husband, Bob. Her stallion Brie is being a busy boy breeding a number of mares this season out at Jaci Saunders in Goodyear. New foals are occupying the time for Jamie Drizen, Rene Hahane, Elaine & Tom Massey and Jaci Saunders. As one can see, there are some fine youngsters coming along which means that some of their older, trained stablemates are available for sale. (I understand that Rene has sold a Palomino gelding)

Speaking of new foals and their early training (imprinting), I am sure all of us appreciate and enjoy the close and safe companionship of a well-trained horse. Well, it comes only as one carefully and consistently works with that foal. We know that we should always be careful to move slowly and gently around a foal and set firm but gentle guidelines for behavior - such as NO biting, NO kicking, and NO running away or pulling when haltered. (I have always felt that someone who was good at parenting a young animal was probably an equally good human child parent!)

Just as one would never allow strangers to abuse or take charge of their human babies, so too one needs to take care in choosing foal caretakers. Strangers who visit stables and who would not think of approaching a full-grown horse, will come up and either willfully or ignorantly pet that cute little baby causing an embarrassing if not dangerous situation. One should watch both professional and non professional personnel who think that they know it all, but who can quickly undo months of careful imprinting and turn a once trusting youngster into a frightened and flighty foal.

Personally I have seen the results of some youthful trauma in both of my horses. Elenora is very frightened of plastic bags, the sound of which causes her to snort and tense up. She is generally not frightened and is a sweet, gentle horse, but that one thing is just too much for even her. She is now trusting and confident with me, but once as we rode by a tree with a plastic bag up in the branches, she tensed and hesitated. We made it by the tree, but I could not help but wonder what happened in her past that scared her so badly.

My other horse, Pesniar Refleksja /Taz, is generally a very good Arab gelding. He is calm on the trails and does not generally spook, but try to pick up his hind feet, and he is not so nice! We have reached an agreement - I do not play with his hind feet except to pick out his hooves, and he puts up with getting them cleaned and shod. I do know that before I owned him a farrier did tip him over, and who knows what happened before that.

On the other hand, Duende de Dulce has had a very good life. Starting with good early imprinting by Bob and Debbie Barcon, he has moved into our stable where he is enjoying an equally trauma free life. He is easy to be around, does not run off or pull at halter, and is a calm mount on the trail or in the arena.

So as you enjoy your young or even older horse remember that their memories are long when it come to traumatic events and always try to be the intelligent, calm human friend.

Well, as one can see, not much is happening here in the Valley - just too hot! But have horse, will try I will try to have some more show results for our next column. Remember that the Grand National Championship Show will be held in Perry, GA on September 15-21, 2002.

Adios for now.

C. Davison