Paso Fino Clinic at RO-NO Ranch, 21/22 March, Given by trainer Nola Keill and judge/trainer Rick Shaffer for the Mason-Dixon PFHA

Twelve Mason Dixon area riders participated in this exciting two day clinic, which was offered at nominal fees. An enthusiastic crowd of auditors was able to interact with the clinicians throughout the weekend. The PFHA’s Amateur Owner Committee provided participants with some copies of their show guidelines for amateur owners.

Nola set up a variety of trail obstacles which the riders used to test their level of understanding with their horses. Barrels were set close together to weave (and back) around, a teeter-totter, mailbox, rope-gate, and streamers to walk under.

During group work the riders practiced for the show ring. They took turns to take the board, line up and back up for the ‘judge’. Nola gave tips on ringcraft while Rick explained what judges are looking for.

Rick started off the weekend with an explanation of what he looks for in the Paso Fino gait. He said when judging, he looks primarily for even-ness of gait. “Ideally, the largo should be twice as fast as the corto. So if the horse cortos at 5 mph, then his largo should be 10mph”.

He said the ‘Fino-strip’ is an essential tool for the rider and the judge to listen for the quality of gait.

He first made sure riders sent their horses forward at the corto, explaining that otherwise you can’t collect them up correctly. He explained that he does a lot of transitions and stopping when he works a horse and introduced everyone to “the 1-2-3 of stopping. Seat, feet and hands, in that order!”

As each rider warmed up, he wanted to see how flexible their horses were. Riders weaved around the barrels or rode circles as Rick explained that if the horse is not flexible, his gait and performance will suffer. He explained the importance of riding circles and reverses with the correct bend. He drew a circle in the sand and said the horse’s hind legs should step into the tracks of his front legs.

He showed Angela Tobin, (riding Nola Keill’s four year old mare Bonita de Buttermilk) how to test and improve the mare’s flexibility by moving her haunches over. He explained that the rider has to use the inside leg behind the girth to push while stopping the forward motion by holding steady with both hands. Then he had her move the shoulders over by putting her leg on in front of the girth.

He said that when doing these exercises with a young horse, or one with more brio, the rider should always send the horse forward if he tries to back up, or attempt the exercise from a walk, rather than a halt.

Rick explained the value of flexing. He showed his preferred technique to Sandy Baluta, riding Wintapi Mambo. “Cross your hand over the front of your body and pull his nose onto the point of his shoulder,” he said, “that way you get lateral and vertical flexion”. He then had Sandy walk a circle and flex Mambo’s head around to bring him to a halt. Then she released his head halfway and circled again.

Working with Bonnie Austin, who brought a four year old filly, Rick decided to do some groundwork. “I like to start them off harder on the ground, and then soften up” he said, as he alternately lunged and led her around the obstacles. As her confidence in him grew, Rick got on and worked her on a small circle, using ‘one rein stops’ to keep her attention and improve flexibility. He kept changing directions, picking up on just one rein and holding the pressure until she stopped. She was resistant to the right, backing up and shaking her head. Rick said, “at home if a horse is unsure of something I’ll work on it from the ground first, both for safety and to help the horse understand”. When he took the rail the filly moved out with more confidence and went on to do well in group work with Bonnie.

Nola Keill worked with Diane Dutt, riding her Performance gelding Cloud Nine Cometa. Nola explained that this gelding sometimes refuses to go forward. When he tried to stop and not circle around and through the barrels, Nola had her drive him forward hard, go out on the rail and then corto through the barrels with forward motion. Nola said that Diane needs to test him in situations at home where she knows she can ‘win’. When he showed resistance to the rope-gate, Nola came up with a novel solution. She called for a lariat, which she looped around a small log. She then dragged the log alongside Diane to get the horse to accept the sight of the rope and log. Then she handed the rope to Diane and the horse readily accepted the feel of the rope on his body, even when changing direction. The horse went on to complete the rope gate to loud applause and a hug from his proud rider.

One of the highlights of the weekend for everyone was watching Rosanne Ashley’s new grey Fino stallion El Pastor del Juncal. Nola, who trains ‘Pastor’, describes him as a ‘gentleman’. Rosanne worked around the obstacles (yes the Fino stallion did the teeter-totter and the rope gate!) and then Rick rode him. Afterwards he said, “You don’t have to have him just Fino all the time. Let him keep his ability to stretch his muscles in the long term by letting him gait faster and then bringing him back to Fino…”

When fifteen year old Jessica Brosko rode in on a young, hot filly, (Macadoo Tatiana, owned by Maribelle MacAlpin), Rick immediately told her to go ahead and corto. Turning to the auditors he said, “When you have a horse with brio you may not be able to have them flat walk straight away.” Noting the filly’s tendency to have ‘attitude’, he said, “You need to give a horse like this something to do straight away”. He stressed the importance of safety, telling Jessica to always ask for forward motion if the mare felt like she was about to back up or rear. Tatiana settled and her rider was able to back her around the barrels. When Jessica asked how to keep her straight when backing, Rick pointed out that this is an important skill for the show ring. He said, “You have to use your legs and control the haunches”. He also commented on Jessica’s good equitation, pointing out that it’s important to learn to keep your seat firmly in the saddle at all times!

Robin Wilcox brought her mare ? and had questions about showing in Country Pleasure. Rick told her it was the ideal division for her mare because it does not require a ‘pounding’ gait. The class requires the horse to stand quietly for dismounting and mounting, which Rick noted can be a problem for some Pasos! Rick also worked with Robin on her canter, helping her pick up the correct lead by having her ask the mare to pick up the canter in the corners.

Karen Basehore, riding Zazamora HGF , also had questions about the show ring. She wanted advice on getting her mare to flat walk, prompting Rick to tell her “there’s no easy answer!” He rode the mare and demonstrated how to flex in motion, taking her head repeatedly to the inside, or alternating one side to the other. He rewarded her for walking quietly by stopping the flexing.

There were notable improvements when the riders came together in the group work. All came away with a clearer picture of what a well trained horse should be able to do, and how to achieve it.

For more information on this and other articles written by Rachel Fitzmorris or Nola Keill, email them at: nola@ro-noranch.com