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Leadership through body language can in short be described as the use of the rider's body to transmit messages indicating and inducing the horse to follow the rider's desires to move in a certain direction, to start or to stop a certain activity. It also teaches the horse to be attentive to the commands and to respect the rider. Respect is taught and obtained mainly by moving the horse's feet.
When the trainer and the rider have the horse's respect, they also control the horse's brain. It is important to understand how horses think. We have to remember that in the wild they are prey animals, as such, they have the reaction to flee when they detect danger, if they are tied or restricted they will intend to fight. Based on this knowledge, Paso Fino Horsemanship is a training system that teaches with patience and makes every lesson as simple to the horse as possible, so that they can easily understand.
In 1988, Dr. Chaux and Janine Chaux (daughter) , started Sunset Ranch Paso Finos in Malibu, California. There they met a fellow breeder and farrier, David Palacio. In 1994, we moved the farm to Ocala, Fl and changed the name to Criadero El Ocaso which translates to Breeder of the Sunset. We went from a 5 acre farm to a 63 acre full service breeding and showing operation. David Palacio spent most of his time refining and becoming one of the best Paso Fino farriers, traveling all over the US and South America to fix the paso finos feet and get them comfortable. Meanwhile, Criadero El Ocaso grew and the horses bred or purchased would be taken to trainers or handled by inhouse trainers. In 2005 after some success in breeding and in the show ring, but also with alot of " damaged" horses, we decided to do things differently. After being introduced to Natural Horsemanship and Clinton Anderson, we saw that there was a humane and gentle way to start, train and to communicate with horses. We found this method of training to be ideal for the smart and versatile paso fino. All our horses are taught to be trusting and responsive companions no matter were their individual talents may lead, the show ring or trails.
To have a good horse, you need to be a good owner. It is our believe that we don't only need to train a safe, responsive and trusting horse, but we need to train the people or owners that are going to take that horse home. The horse owner needs to know the language and skills our horses have been taught so when they take the horse home the owner is confident and has the tools to continue and reinforce what the horse has been taught. We like to match the horse to the rider and to us it is important to work with the owner and horse in person. They can continue their excersises when they get their horse home.
When someone is going to build a house, the first and most important step is to build a strong and good foundation. The same principles apply to the training of horses; the foundation is the preparation and the ground work. The better you complete this ground work and preparation, the easier it will be to ride the horse later.
David'd training method has evolved from his initial learning experience under Jose (Ochi) Rodriguez, to mainly using the Downunder Horsemanship Method by Clinton Anderson.
We are located in Beautiful Ocala, Florida which is about 80 miles North of Orlando and 40 miles South of Gainesville, Fl. Exit 354 (HWY 27) off of Interstate 75.
TELEPHONE:
Janine 352-895-3095
David 352-209-8336
FAX: 352 - 351- 0422
My wife and I had almost given up on finding another Paso Fino that was as calm, safe, and well trained as our first Paso, our mare LUNA. But a chance conversation in an Ocala tack shop directed us to David Palacio. We were told that he was training Pasos in the Natural Horsemanship method; a method that has been tested and proven by many Western horsemen, and a method we were familiar with. After viewing a few of his videos on his website (www.pasofinohorsemanship.com) we were convinced that David was the real deal. Our visit to his farm the next week confirmed just what his videos suggested; that the wonderful Paso Fino horse, under the tutelage of a trainer like David, can excel as a reliable and safe horse while still exhibiting the brio for which they are famous.
David displays a wonderful blend of talents. His experience with the breed, his patience (both with equines and humans) and his dedication to the methods of Natural Horsemanship make David a true professional. Through David and his wife Janine’s efforts, we have been able to find the horse we thought was impossible to find.
Thank you David and Janine!
JF McKernan, Mount Dora, Florida
