Wednesday, 3. February 2010 14:02
This is how I will always remember him… tough, reliant, stubborn, overly friendly, curious and TRUE!
Not sure how to go about this post. It is about a horse I use to know. Do I write it as a Thankful Thursday? Tomorrow is Thursday and timing is right. The horse, the people, the time in my life I am very thankful for – oh I can see right now this is going to be an emotional experience. Part of me wants to write this post in the light of gratitude and maybe I should. The purpose though is to help this horse find a new home.
Be warned – this is an advertisement.
It started back in 1995 when I conducted a series of fun shows and judged them for clients who were trying to learn certain elements of horsemanship. One of the participants, a guest, owned this 4 year old Paso Fino gelding who had a very certain spoiled and dominant attitude. Stubborn, belligerent, pushy, alpha all describe Fresco. Maybe 14.0 hands, bay uncomely, poorly conformed, and friendly to a fault, Fresco was all his owner could manage. My first real hands-on experience with Fresco was while helping to load him in the trailer after one of these fun shows. It was quite the battle of wills. Using a method of freedom forward allowing movement forward and the relief point was in the trailer, Fresco figured out putting his head and front inside the trailer would get him relief, and to avoid going further into the trailer he would aim his back toe at my feet – stomping with the toe of his hoof. Each time got him a few circles then forward movement back until into the trailer he went – half way. At one point he stomped his back inside toe at my foot while traveling in one of these circles. Aiming well he nearly severed my toe from my foot. No matter how much blood poured from my shoe I stayed with the loading until Fresco finely gave in and took a ride home in the trailer.
That was Fresco’s and my first real introduction, one that would catapult us into a powerful partnership for years to come.
Fresco’s owners at that time realized that he was over their heads (their first horse) and asked if I would come out to their place and train them together with their unruly very green Paso Fino gelding. During the next three years Fresco and I worked together or against one another until we found a common respect and regard for one another. In fact Fresco became my horse of choice for my clinics, and seminars, and especially for any rough back country trail rides that required a truly gifted horse. His owners were so proud of him that they made him available to me anytime I needed a truly good horse for demos and rides.
Fresco approximately 10 years of age waiting patiently while I explain a positioning for a certain execution.
Fresco and I became so connected that he would follow me into the outhouse at he stable where he was boarded. Yep door wide open me sitting there hoping no passersby would come along with half a horse standing in the outhouse with me. Was one of the favorite stories circulating around the barn and the horse wherever he went. Before he began following me into the outhouse there was a wildfire that threatened the stable and all the horses were being evacuated. Fresco of course would not load. Every measure of force was used. I was on the other side of town – a good 2 hours away and it was something like 2 am. Finally the owner resorted to leading him down the road two miles and keeping him in a Priests back yard. Another story that followed Fresco around most of his life, one that spurred me on to change all approaches to loading him into a trailer to one of him following me without fear or question. He liked the approach and trusted my judgment to the point of not only loading in trailers, but following me into some very difficult and questionable circumstances.. not mention outhouses.
Fresco age 5, with my daughter up albeit she was not considering her equitation, but I can tell you this that only a cue later they were running roll-backs and sliding stops while auditors watched. Heather use to ride Fresco for me often at clinics and demos)
Out on the trails Fresco earned my admiration by announcing the presence of mountain lions pointing them out so perfectly I could actually find them hiding in trees or ridges near us. I always new when something was a rye when riding Fresco and I always listened to him – he never lied, never tried to use this talent to turn and run home or shy from things. He was a mountain goat and loved nothing better than flying up a steep cactus ridden rocky, shale or slide rock inclines to stop at the top long enough to blow out his nostrils a loud snort with his tail flying over his back. To this day at age 19, you point Fresco up a mountainside and you’re going riding – a thrill of a life time!
After a few years Fresco came to live with me for a few months while he was being sold. His new owners continued with me as their trainer which took Fresco back over already familiar territory in our partnership process. He went from student learning the process to partner helping to teach the process. He loved it! He was always one step ahead of me, knowing what was coming next and how he had to perform for it to work. One thing about this horse that stood out and was rare, was rather than having an attention span of maybe 15 minutes to 20 minutes, Fresco possessed an amazing 1 hour long highly concentrated attention span. At clinics he would stand or perform for a defined hour with total attention on me. which meant I could leave him in the middle of an arena on his own, while working with auditors. and would perform examples on his own while at long distances from me.
Fresco was about 8 years old here and this was the year we discovered he had cushings It was mid summer Arizona and he had not shed out
Fresco’s new owners remained with me for another three years and also allowed Fresco to be my partner in crime for demos, seminars, back country trail rides etc.
One such ride was the Ultimate Trail Horse back country training ride that I held for certain students. If memory serves me right we had five horses on this ride. Fresco was ridden by his owner. I was on another students horse, an Arab named Patriot, and Fresco’s owners spouse was on a fairly green Paso Fino named Joselito.
Joselito many years later with a visiting family member riding him on a family vacation. Joselito is another great family and trail Paso Fino gelding.
Other horses along for the ride were an American Mustang mare named Bonnie, and truth be known I cant remember the rest of them. A cool ride and story:
Along the ride, I remember green Joselito losing his wits on a cliff-side trail backing towards the ledge. Riding Patriot who was also a very good partner, we interceded between ledge and Joselito’s rump basically pushing him back toward the wall side of the trail. Another good equine partner story would be one of Patriot. An hour or so later had us at a bottleneck in the trail with 3-4 foot high boulders on both sides for a short winding uphill stretch. Unless a horse had very good footing he should never be ridden through there, but then we were on a terrain training ride and so I got off of Patriot gave him to someone to hold, playing musical horses. I rode Fresco up through the boulder to show how it should be done then returned and had each rider dismount and lead their horse through. At one point Fresco was led through by his owner and losing footing she let go of Fresco’s reins. You gotta love this horse!! He jumped up onto a ledge to avoid losing his own footing (saving her from being injured) and stood there waiting for me to get up there to help her out, at which point I sent him back down through the boulders unattended, where he stood on his own while all the other horse and rider teams traversed the rocky difficult terrain. This is another story that stayed with Fresco most of his life.
I’ll never forget Fresco, in all the horses I’ve known in my life-time I’ve never met one who came close to this plain little gelding.
As quoted by his owner, Bob Kramer: “Susan, I will deliver Fresco to your corral.” “…the toughest horse in Arizona but he does not like mounted shooters or garbage trucks.“
Referencing Bob’s quote, Fresco didn’t like water either, but got over it. Not sure where the problem came from with garbage trucks – we use to chase them down the streets. Maybe he needs to be reminded that they run from fiery pushy stubborn, overly friendly alpha Paso Fino geldings.
Fresco was diagnosed with cushings disease years ago, he can be a homely little guy at certain times of the year, but he is a vital, solid partner who ignores his life issues and takes care of his rider as long as that rider has a handle on how to ride. Fresco goes riding, not plugging. A very smooth traveling Paso Fino with a good trail corto, a thrilling largo, a solid ground covering walk, and smooth enjoyable canter. He side passes, goes through gates, water, pivots/spins, slide stops and more on command. It’s certain he is rusty, but I guarantee with the right partner he’ll give it his all to perform.
Fresco and his buddy Joselito are For Sale.
This blog post is just for Fresco although I am grateful for having known him and his owners, this post will remain his own tribute. Thankful Thursday will come tomorrow.
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Mar 5, 2010
My old best friend Asad, during my grown up days, and his grandson Prophecy my new childhood cohort. I promise we will be into all kinds of mischief. I promise not to grow up.
