Gaited Horses are fast becoming the preferred mount for trail riding.  The combination of smooth ride, great mind, easy going personality and small size is a huge plus for the trail rider, especially for those over 30 years old!  Paso Fino’s and Peruvian Paso’s are a favorite for several reasons:  their small size, their nimble stride and their versatility.  The Paso’s relatively small feet makes them ideal for rocky trails and their smaller bone structure makes them a more comfortable ride on the rider’s hips.  The Paso’s, in spite of their brio or fiery nature, are really fairly calm and trustworthy on the trail.  In most situations the Paso’s I’ve ridden have responded to surprises such as motorcycles, cars, deer, ducks, unexpected trail hazards and dogs without losing their heads or taking off.

This is not to say that these horses are without heart or stamina!  After a 3 day trail ride, The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Posse Ride covering more than 70 miles of mountainus terrain, Destino was ready to perform at his best for the Lincoln County Parade!  He had the carriage of a well rested horse even though he had lost some significant weight on the strenuous ride.  While many of the horses on the trail ride were dragging, literally, these Paso Fino’s were still spirited, showy and ready to go!

Or humans don’t get to have all the fun!

I couldn’t resist given our very snowy weather today to post this! Its an oldy but a goody!  snowfight2

This never fails to bring a smile to my face!

We’re having a terrific winter storm so there won’t be any trail riding today!

Destino was the ambassador for Paso Fino gaited horses in the East Mountain area of NM ; he filled the role magnificently. Nearly everyone who was privileged to ride and experience his smooth as glass gait was hooked and had to have a Paso Fino or Peruvian Paso for their very own! Unfortunately Destino left us at the tender age of 11, off to introduce the spirit world to gaited horses! For now his likeness in glass greets me every morning with the sunrise behind him! Destino, born and bred for show in his native Latin America undoubtedly experienced some rough handling in his training but he was able to rise above it and become a loyal and trustworthy steed. He still had the fire and presence of a show Paso Fino but he became trustworthy and was even able to flat walk; quite an accomplishment for a show Paso whose breeding and training is all about their Brio or controlled fire. Destino and I rode many happy trails together until his untimely death September 2007. My terrific friends Liz and Leigh bestowed Leigh’s last stained glass masterpiece on me for Destino’s one year anniversary of his passing. It hangs in a place of honor facing east and greeting the sunrise every morning.

Dervatiw Gwyddion

I had the pleasure this last week of getting to Know Ruth and her sport Arabian stallion Charming Raffi WGR! Recently from California where her farm Cerridwyn Arabian Sporthorses is located along with most of her horses; she brought several here to keep her company. This 4 year old stallion is in training in Placitas where we drove up to see him. What you ask is the difference with sport Arabians versus non sport Arabians? The secret is in the correct conformation and movement which allows it to compete and perform in the sports events:  dressage, jumping and eventing. Always eager to learn more about specific breeds I certainly enjoyed learning and meeting Raffles.  Although not a gaited horse I look forward to more adventures with Ruth and her sport horses!

The La Cienega Trail in the Sandia Mountains is accessed by taking Hwy North 14 from I 40 east of Albuquerque to the Crest Road and then just a few short miles to the trail.  It is just before Doc Long’s picnic grounds.  There is a large area for parking horse trailers.   Several trails can be followed from the trail head.  We took the Faulty Trail for the entire loop.   At the summit you feel like you are on top of the world, for some of us with acrophobia that is not a good thing.  A narrow trail with a significant drop off preceded by some large stone blocks resembling stone steps.  Even as surefooted as these horses are we choose to dismount and walk down the trail until it leveled out.   Casanova, the terrific Peruvian Paso who is my main mount took good care of me.  Along the way we were treated to several sightings of the Abert Squirrel, a rather large squirrel mostly charcoal but with white markings as well.  At first you might think you were seeing a small skunk running up the trees.  They are distinguished by their large ear tufts and are found mainly where there are large Ponderosa Pine trees as they subsist on the pine cones.  However after saying that I must add that we had a rogue Abert squirrel show up on our 3rd floor deck, how in the world he got there is anyone’s guess!  He must have scaled the side of the house as we have no trees that reach that high.  Of course I was worried that he would starve so I supplied him with food and water.  He enjoyed my seat cushions for a day or so before he decided the woods were more inviting and he disappeared.   I might also add that we don’t have any Ponderosas near us only Pinon so I guess he high tailed it for higher altitude and Ponderosas.

All in all a beautiful ride