Othelo (Otty), the fearful Paso Fino

 

When I first met Otty, he was afraid of his own shadow, he only trusted his owner Ann.  Otty came from a top bloodline of Paso Finos, imported from the USA, but the stud farm he came from went bankrupt and they had to sell all their horses.  So, through unfortunate events and given the opportunity, Ann bought him for cheap from some stables in Casares.  He was raised in a field, hadn’t been handled much, and was not familiar with the confines of a stable.  Ann had a paddock made for him with an open stable so he had the freedom to move and tried to make him feel more at home. She fed him alfalfa and grain and let him out regularly in the school to release his energy by bucking, galloping and squealing as he did. He developed a strong feeling of trust towards her, but was still very nervous, and always on alert.  Ann tried to ride him out into a forest but he became so nervous he backed her up against a tree.  She began to have trouble leading him on a rope as he would barge past her and drag her down the road.  He became fearful of cars, jingling noises, shadows, moving trees, and sudden movements.  She really did not know what to do or if she was ever going to ride him, but she loved him and would never give up on him.  Apart from being hot blooded, nervous, fearful, determinedly strong, Otty is a very affectionate and expressive horse.  Ann could see this, but had become afraid because of his behaviour.

 

One of the things that most affect horses and sends them into a state of panic is a change in environment, which is exactly what Otty was experiencing as he was having trouble adapting to stable life.  He needed help to control his instincts and show him how to remain in a calm state of mind. This could only be achieved by the person handling him, which was Ann, but she was not feeling too confident herself and it was being reflected in Otty.  I could clearly see I needed to start from the beginning with this horse and treat him like a foal, as if he knew nothing.  I connected with him straight away in the round pen, and got him to slow down, as he was flying past me like a rocket and threatening to jump the wooden fence.  I just let him run until he slowed down, after about 10 minutes.  Once he slowed down, he gave me his trust and pretty much did not want to leave my side, he followed as if magnetised by me.  Straight away I knew this horse was docile and willing, but bursting with energy and no self confidence.  Not a good combination, and I refused to ride him, until I could see him calming down, as it was just too dangerous for both of us.  It took me several weeks of leading him out, and keeping him calm when exposed to new experiences before I could begin riding him in the school.  With a lot of patience he learnt to move and stop, by only using my breath and the slightest touch of my reins. I always rode him with a rope halter and bareback, to facilitate his movement and help him discover his own body.   We developed a very strong bond of trust, and I could lead or ride him anywhere with minimum hesitation from him.

 

As Otty began to feel physically stronger and emotionally more secure, he put his trust in me and was able to control his instincts, by thinking before reacting.  After 8 weeks, Otty finally reached this state of mind, in tune with my calmness and consistency, and Ann was beginning to realise how much influence our state of mind has on the horse.   She always knew he was a good boy and this change in Otty really boosted her confidence.  She decided it was time to start riding him with my guidance and trust.  After several rides with Otty, I could see I was no longer needed and, since then, Ann has maintained and improved her relationship with Otty.