Western Canadian Get Together
 

    by Jane Hurl
 

The first Western Canadian Paso Fino Friends Get Together was hosted by Sundown Paso Finos in the Edmonton, Alberta area. The inaugural event took place over a long weekend in August of 2006 and included a camp over and trail ride followed by a big Bar-B-Q supper and an evening campfire. By all accounts, it was a roaring success! Although there was not a huge crowd, everyone who came had a good time.

The group…

Marilyn and her husband from northern British Columbia with her beautiful stallion, Montar de Marca.

Alex and Eric from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan with two pure Puerto Rican mares.

Fran flew in from Penatang, She rode a mare of Jane’s named Dulce Poma (better known as “The Divine Miss Em”).

Jane and husband, David, from west of Edmonton, Alberta, both shared Rose’s daughter’s gelding, Taz, a 17 years old Paso Fino that is steady as a rock. After going through a double hip replacement and spine surgery a couple of years ago, then fighting off breast cancer this past spring, Jane really needed a calm reliable horse. It was a great pleasure to see her get out and about on the trails on Taz.

Sheri from Cold Lake in north eastern Alberta with two of her Paso Finos. Sheri rode her gelding, Incendios.
 
Rose Mary rode Sheri’s filly, Spritely.  Her husband, Lorne, rode one of their big geldings, Noble.  Noble and Lorne’s attachment goes back a long way. When Noble was a baby, Rose would often come home to find Lorne and Noble lying in the grass beside each other.  To this day Noble will do anything for Lorne.

 The event…

 On the morning of the ride, Rose's parents hosted a yummy pre-ride breakfast on their deck. Coffee, tea and O.J … muffins, banana loaf, fritters, homemade squares, you name it … but we didn't sit and chat much that morning as the sky was blue, the sun was shining and we were all anxious to get to the Blackfoot.  What amazing trails they have at the Blackfoot! There's something like 78 miles of groomed trail through the forest and around the little pothole lakes and marshes. Wildlife galore.

Everybody loved the place. It was glorious – sun, slight breeze, good company and a serenity you don’t find every day -- and all the horses behaved beautifully. The weather was superb. Not too hot. A slight breeze while we rode, but none later in the evening. No rain. No clouds. A beautiful bright moon to light the night sky. Perfect!

That evening we enjoyed a fabulous barbecue dinner and found ourselves talking and laughing 'til the sun went down. Everybody got along famously.

After sundown we moved over to the camping area and started a bonfire. What a hoot! We giggled and laughed, joked and kidded. It was

grand. At one point I reached into my jacket pocket and came out with ... a bra? At first I thought I must have someone else's coat on! Well, the giggling got going in earnest. Alex announced that we should burn the bra to let the world know that when you ride a Paso, “you don't need no stinkin' bra”! I put the bra away and went back to my glass of wine, but Alex (nag, nag, nag) would not let up! So, after a little more wine, we burned that sucker to a lot of hooting and hollering!

Monday morning came all too soon.  We congregated for breakfast before loading up and taking off for home. More horse talk ... and discussions on how to make this even better next year. There weren’t a lot of suggestions however, because the weekend was perfect! Everybody did agree though to make this an annual event. 

So mark your calendar folks for the Annual Western Canadian Paso Fino Friends Get Together at Rose's farm in August (date to be announce).  Everyone is welcome.  Bras are optional (*grin*) if you ride a Paso Fino!