Fina Vista Farm Paso Fino Horses

We started off the summer in fine style with a wonderful two-day clinic with Cindy Griffeth. Cindy, from Georgia, USA, is a trainer and PFHA judge who made her first trip ever to Canada to work with us. Altogether we worked with 11 different Paso/rider combinations and we all learned a ton by participating and by spectating. Cindy has over 30 years experience in the breed and also has the teaching skills to share her knowledge. All the participants really enjoyed the weekend and hope that Cindy will make her way back here some time to work with us again.
On Friday, Cindy worked with each of us individually in one-on-one sessions. There were lots of stirrups lengthened, positions tweaked and Cindy got to test ride lots of different saddles. That evening the whole gang shared a wonderful potluck BBQ dinner. Thanks to everyone for bringing the fine fare. Victoria brought a cinderblock sized hunk of beef from the ranch where she helps out, cowboy-style. We are all wondering how long before her new Paso, Querica, gets her shot at working the herd. There were lots of lovely salads and Jaclyn brought some super fancy fruit tarts from Toronto, wrapped in beautiful ribbon.

Saturday started out with some follow up one-on-one sessions and then we all headed in the ring at once for a mock show class. No-one was excused and we were all applauded for our ability to not run one another over. We finished the day with a lovely trail ride around the lake behind the farm. Cindy got to see an authentic beaver dam and lots of canada geese, but we did not find any moose or grizzlies for her.
Thanks so much to Cindy for sharing her time and knowledge with us! Y'all are welcome in the Great White North anytime. Also thanks to all who participated and helped make it run smoothly. We will definitely have to do this again!

UPDATE: Cindy has promised to make it back for a second clinic in 2005... watch here for details...

NEPFHA 'Fonda Shootout' Paso Fino Show, Fonda, NY, USA
We spent the July 8-11th weekend down in the Adirondacks at a Paso Fino Show in Fonda, New York. The show was great fun, with lots of beautiful horses and the usual splendid hospitality of the NorthEast. We especially enjoyed the delicious buffet in the arena on Saturday night (kudos to the organizors!).

This was our first show with our baby, Finn, who lapped up the sights and had himself a grand time.
The weekend marked the first show for Mercenario and Camilla since 2002 (She was busy having Finn in 2003). Mercenario showed very well and he qualified for 2004 Nationals in Classic Fino A/O Stallions. We were very grateful to receive lots of positive comments about Mercenario... we think he's pretty great, too! We also took down our 4 year old Performance filly, Fiddleleaf's Picaboo. This was the first time Camilla has showed Picaboo, who has brio galore. After a bumpy start on Friday, they managed to pull it together for Saturday and Picaboo is qualified for 2004 Nationals in Performance Schooling A/O Fillies.

Looking forward to doing it all again in Wilmington, Ohio, in August.

GAITS AT CALEDON HORSE SHOW
August 20-22,2004,Caledon Equestrian Park,
Palgrave, ON

What a great weekend we had! Fina Vista Farm brought three horses: Victoria making her show debut with her filly, Querica, Jen showed her mare Dama and Camilla showed Mercenario. The facility was just great and the weather was perfect. We showed in three Paso Fino classes (Country Pleasure, Open Performance, and Gait of Choice) and the Challenge of the Breeds Gaited Pleasure Class. Mercenario won the Performance and Gait of Choice class and was Reserve Champion in the Challenge of the Breeds Class. The Challenge class had 12 entries and was won by the 2003 World Champion Pleasure Rocky Mountain Horse. As we normally show Mercenario in just Classic Fino now, we were really pleased with his performance. He also participated in the Stallion Parade, (along with a Stallion from FS Pasos in beautiful Spanish costume), and we heard a lot of great comments from fellow exhibitors and spectators about the Paso Fino.
We highly encourage every one to bring their Paso out to this show next year. EMG did a great job of putting on this show and they have said they will do it again and more entries will also mean more classes offered.
To find out more about this show and get information regarding their next gaited event, go to the Equestrian Management Group website at: www.equiman.com.

GLPFHA HERITAGE PASO FINO SHOW
August 6-8, 2004, Wilmington, Ohio, USA
Once again we had a good time and a great show in Wilmington. This show always has lots of beautiful Paso Finos and is very well run. Chlora and Phil Avery do a splendid job and are to be commended. Janice Meyer seems to work around the clock and yet always looks terrific! Finn really enjoyed all the daddy-time and the hot tub at the hotel. Picaboo (bottom left) continues to progress in the Performance classes. Mercenario made us proud, as usual (he is pictured at top left just before heading into the ring and at right after winning the Classic Fino A/O Championship). For more information about Great Lakes PFHA visit their website.

PFHA PASO FINO GRAND NATIONALS
Sept. 19-25th, 2004 Perry, Georgia, USA

Winter must be just around the corner, because
the Nationals have come and gone. After the
usual gruelling 19 hour drive, dodging hurricanes, we managed to settle in the horses, set up our stalls and stagger to the hotel. Finn did great on the drive... thank you to whomever invented the backseat DVD player and the good folks at Sesame Street! Once again, Finn entertained the crowds in his 'Tigger' jolly jumper (see him entertaining himself with a pretzel - top right).
The show was very entertaining, as usual, with lots of great horses to watch. Mercenario showed with the big boys for the first time (he's all grown up!) in Classic Fino A/O Stallions and did us proud. Though he didn't do his best performance of the year, he did get a 6th in a very large and competitive class of 25 stallions. (See photos at left).
In a pre-arranged trade, while in Perry, we picked up a lovely new Pleasure mare, Finola de Herencia, who we are just thrilled about. (see mares page). We also bought a terrific buckskin performance/pleasure gelding at the Paso Sale. (see photos at right of 'Dante').
All in all, a good time was had and we were all happy to make it home safe and sound. Thank you to the Wests, the Ferrells and all the people who put on the great show.