Today was beautiful out! About 65°f, sunny, light breeze. Perfect!
The past 15-18 months have been so hectic... From my husband's job being terminated, birth od daughter #4, car accident & injury recovery journey, etc etc (hubby has a new job now).
My sweet pony boys have enjoyed being semi-retired pasture pets.
Thankfully we have natural terrain for their travels to the water hole, which helps keep their hooves in great shape.
But, 18 months, they definitely needed a trim!
They also enjoyed a lovely grooming from daughter #2 ❤
I have two Paso Fino horses. Paso Finos are a Spanish gaited breed. Known for their extremely smooth way of going and sure footedness.
You can read more on Paso Finos here
http://www.dancinghorse.net/ranch/backgroundhistory.htm
The gray (white) is Cordoba Sabado aka Doby, his is a 20yr old gelding. I learned to ride on his mother, 2 sibling foals before he was born!
I competed in 4H with him, in barrel racing, pole bending, racking, bareback equitation, showmanship, western riding, and pleasure classes. As well as drill team for 4 years.
(picture from 12 years ago)
He has been an incredible horse!
Five years ago he fell and bumbed up his left shoulder. He was mostly sound on it, only sore after long rides. His hoof on that leg started growing slightly out of shape due to the injury, but does fine if kept up.
(12years ago)
Three years ago he managed to fall, do the splits basically, and tore his inner thigh muscles.
He healed, but has pretty major scar tissue, which stunts his range of motion in both back legs.
He gets around pretty darn good, though a little stiffer nowadays.
I haven't ridden him since the fall three years ago, but my daughters do light roundpen riding on him.
He has been the perfect horse to teach them all of the basics.
The other is my 14 year old, chestnut and white pinto stallion, Novio del Mistico, aka Novio (means "boyfriend" in Spanish).
Novio was my pick of the foal crop when I worked for the Paso Fino breeding farm in high school.
(13.5yrs ago, novio at 6-8m old)
Right in the prime of his saddle training at 3yrs old, I became pregnant with my first daughter.
Both horses have been lazy, semi-retired, pasture pets since! Haha!
Novio is obviously a vicious, dangerous, uncontrollable stallion...... As you can see here...
He absolutely ADORES my daughters. Any children really! He is so gentile and patient with them, follows them around like a puppy.
He much prefers if they come with me to the barn, otherwise, he is none too interested in my ideas! Stinker!
Now that daughter #4 is toddling and enjoying the company of grandparents (she can hang out with them), my hope is to get these boys back into shape and keep the summer grassy-fat off this year!
I look forward to sharing more Paso pony adventures soon!
@corrielaine