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As seen in the March 2007 NWPFHA Newsletter
Teaching your Paso Fino the "Off Button"
By Cindy and Sarah Oswald
The Paso Fino horse is cherished for its beauty, intelligence, smooth gait and stamina. They are also known for their "brio" which loosely translated from the Spanish, means "vigor, strength, zeal, or spirit." They are a forward moving breed of horse that love to work, love to please and they do so with energy and enthusiasm. These qualities are what make them so enjoyable to own and to ride. People who have been lucky enough to "discover" the breed would not part with them. However, it is also these very traits that have created deep misunderstanding, especially to those new to the breed.
As a Paso Fino horse trainer, I am concerned that I hear people all too often say of their horses, "I love his gait, but he won’t walk." "It’s like a wrestling match out on trail; I ask and ask him to walk (or stop) and I pull harder and harder, but he won’t listen!" "All he wants to do is gait!" Why does he DO this?!
So, let’s get down to it. The Paso Fino is a rear engine driven horse. Think of a boat with an outboard, rear mounted motor. When it plains through the water, the rear engine drive propels the boat, and as it increases in speed the bow of the boat gently lifts up to rise above the waves. When a Paso Fino is properly trained, the hocks are the engine. The horse’s front end will have an elevated, (somewhat collected,) head and thus, more drive and power from the hocks. The gait that is created is smooth, rhythmical and balanced.
It is natural in the early stages of training that a horse might become more excited when asked to gait. Why? Think about it. When you elevate the head, you quite naturally create a heightened awareness in your horse. When asked to elevate his head, you are also asking him at the same time to adjust his eyesight to a more heightened acuity.
All horses by nature have both monocular and binocular vision. The monocular form (monocular means "one") vision is a panoramic vision which allows a horse to view their surroundings on both sides, with either the left or the right eye. It offers a wide, circular view and is a big advantage for them as a prey animal. When a horse is grazing, his vision is directed at the ground in front of him and if he is relaxed, his monocular vision will be at work. It makes sense, then, that you can teach your horse a cue to relax by first, teaching him that a head down position is relaxing to him. If this cue is taught patiently and consistently, it will become a dependable response, one in which you may call upon at any time as a means to de-escalate and lower his energy whether you are on the ground or in the saddle. This is the "off button" and a cue that is vitally important and one which we teach all of our horses.
Likewise, keep in mind that when you ask him to gait, and he raises his head that you heighten his awareness by calling upon his more acute, binocular vision. It is again, a natural response for him. When a horse is in a pasture and he sees something that warrants investigation, he will raise his head to bring the binocular vision into force, allowing him to look down his nose and use both eyes for a clearer view. Thus, using the off button will assist your horse to relax when asked.
When I start our young horses under saddle, I teach all of them to respond to an "off button." It begins in the round pen and continues throughout all training stages, from standing quietly while being mounted to increasing his energy to gait. Spend a lot of time to praise the horse for his effort, petting him and letting him relax and stand or walk on a loose rein after he has done well. Intersperse the relaxation cue throughout your training time, especially after he has given you the effort you have asked him for. By becoming confident with this technique, it will give you confidence that when your horse becomes excited, that you have a tool to rely on. Be sure to also flex your horse. A relaxation cue should not become an excuse for your horse to become heavy or to take advantage and pull the reins from you. Incorporating the "off button" teaches your horse that it is wonderful to gait, and to experience the natural excitement about his work, but when you ask, it is time to relax. Use it every time you ride, whether you are on trail, showing, or any event you use your Paso Fino. They learn to relax and when they do, you will have a very rewarding experience. Arm wrestling will be a thing of the past.
Next Issue: The Importance of Flexing: Why, When and How