Looking for Trail Paso

[GinnyB]

Hi Everyone,

I’m casually on the search for a tall (over 14 hands) paso gelding to trail ride and do local open shows with. I need a lower-brio (energy) horse with a pleasant, easy-going attitude. I’ve found horses that fit my needs on the west coast, but was hoping to look at horses closer to home (I live near Raleigh, NC). A friend told me that the members on this board might be able to provide me with some leads.

Thanks!

If anyone knows of another forum to search in (I’ve already joined the Paso Fino Sales page on Facebook) please let me know!

[GotGait]

I have a friend in SC who breeds level headed pleasure Pasos. I will PM.

[wildlifer]

Is there any particular reason it HAS to be a Paso? Yes, it’s a generalization and I’m not sure what type of trail riding you intend to do (moseying the ATT is a bit different from climbing Mt Rogers) but honestly, pasos are near the bottom of my list of “things I’d buy as a trail horse.”

I’m not a breed-ist, I’m absolutely about looking at each horse as an individual and I buy for a good brain and a good balanced build (eventer and the Mt Rogers kind of trail rider, LOL).

If you want a gaited thing, I’d go for an old-style, solid TWH (not those deer-legged, narrow things), I know a great trainer/friend on the north side of Raleigh, also breeds. They are hardy, have wonderful brains, are incredibly versatile (he jumps them, does dressage, has driven them, barrels, reining, in addition to the normal rail classes), and, to my envy, seem to live on air and are generally not suicidal injury seekers (looks out back window accusingly).

[GotGait]

[QUOTE=wildlifer;7737950]
Is there any particular reason it HAS to be a Paso? Yes, it’s a generalization and I’m not sure what type of trail riding you intend to do (moseying the ATT is a bit different from climbing Mt Rogers) but honestly, pasos are near the bottom of my list of “things I’d buy as a trail horse.”

I’m not a breed-ist, I’m absolutely about looking at each horse as an individual and I buy for a good brain and a good balanced build (eventer and the Mt Rogers kind of trail rider, LOL).

If you want a gaited thing, I’d go for an old-style, solid TWH (not those deer-legged, narrow things), I know a great trainer/friend on the north side of Raleigh, also breeds. They are hardy, have wonderful brains, are incredibly versatile (he jumps them, does dressage, has driven them, barrels, reining, in addition to the normal rail classes), and, to my envy, seem to live on air and are generally not suicidal injury seekers (looks out back window accusingly).[/QUOTE]

That’s a little insulting. The Pasos I’ve owned have all been excellent trail horses.

[wildlifer]

My apologies, I certainly didn’t mean it in an insulting way! If I told you the story of my week you would not believe me, so brain fried is an understatement.

My intention was just to ask an honest question; obviously, if OP is planning to do Paso breed shows, well, this makes sense, but they only mentioned open shows, so I didn’t know.

I’ve ridden several Peruvian Pasos (also helped that they are larger, I have freaky long legs) on mountain trails that were great trail horses – hence my inclusion of “it’s a generalization,” followed by, “I shop for brain and build first.” I’ve also known a lovely little Paso Fino mare…and a lot of extremely sensitive, reactive critters too. We’ll just make the nature vs. nurture an understood caveat.

I only wanted to open the door for options, including something a lot easier to find in this area. So I offered an opinion on an opinion forum, which the OP is free to ignore or simply clarify that yes, it must be a Paso.

Again, I am sorry if you have been offended – I am totally not a breed-ist and think that the Paso Fino is a lovely little horse when well-bred and in the right hands. Gaited horses are not my preferred ride, but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate a good one, since many people do enjoy them and a correctly-built horse of any breed with a good mind and a kind nature is definitely something a breeder should be rewarded for so they can hopefully continue to provide quality horses.

Mea culpa. (Maybe I should just make this my COTH sig, heh)

[Frog_Pond]

I thought about a Paso for awhile, and was directed towards the Coral LaCE line for a bigger, trail & endurance prospect, so google that & you might find someone in the southeast. I ended up choosing a Standardbred retired from racing – big, gaited, mellow, sound and sweet. The handful of Pasos at the barn where I board all have permanent soundness issues from – no nice way to say this – idiots riding them into the ground, whether by weighing too much or overtraining for improving their gait, or both. I don’t think of them as fragile – I think of them as suffering from their own popularity & some bad myths about their hardiness. Tall & mellow means any big jerk can ride them, and probably has. I’d recommend a thorough pre-purchase exam, and interviewing the seller for as much life history as you can gather so you end up with a sound horse. I’m sure there are awesome Pasos out there for sale and I’ve just had the misfortune to see a certain downside to their world. Good luck.

[Leather]

Check out Gracewood Farms. Lynn Gallup does both showing and trail riding, and has beautiful horses. She also could probably help you find what you wanted.

http://www.smoothride4u.com/

[Golden_Pony]

http://pasosforpeople.com/

See them on the trail often, they have a good reputation for nice horses in our area.

[clanter]

in the late 1990s we rode against on in NATRAC Region 4, good horse… expensive… it was said the woman paid a considerable sum for him…

We begin seeing a trend back then to shorter horses/large ponies as it sure made dismounting/mounting easier and you were less likely to crash into overhanging brush