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| RJT Colorado Real++ Performance to Music |
Jocelyn Hastie has been involved exclusively with this breed since 1991, is currently a Director of the Peruvian Horse Association
of Canada and has won numerous Champion and Champion of Champions titles, and Versatility Horse awards at both the regional
and national level in Canada and at several U.S. shows (click on "Show Results" link at left for a full list of titles). She
has travelled extensively throughout the U.S. and Peru to watch shows, visit breeders, judges and trainers, and discuss breeding
and riding with the Peruvian world’s foremost experts. She is passionate about sharing the merits of these special horses
with others and has presented the breed at the Calgary Stampede for fifteen years.
Jocelyn’s business management background gives her a unique perspective on the needs of her clients. Since she was nearly
30 when she began riding, she understands the concerns of the adult novice. Her life has been greatly enriched by horses,
and she wants to share that experience with you.
Private riding lessons are $30 per hour, and semi-private lessons are $20 per hour (2 or 3 riders). Use one of our horses
and tack for $10 additional – call to inquire about availability.
Lila and Jocelyn -- A Love Story
Although I loved all animals as a child, I always lived in the city and never had an opportunity to be around horses until
after my marriage to a rancher's son in 1988. I began riding in 1990, was introduced to gaited horses in 1991 and purchased
my first Peruvian gelding that year. Although he was a pretty good animal, we never really connected the same way I had with
my first horse (who was a trotter) and I felt that I had found my preferred breed, but not my preferred individual horse.
I still had my quarter horse, and rode him occasionally, but continued to keep my eyes open for a horse that appealed to me
the way my quarter horse did, but had the gait of a Peruvian.
In 1992, I went to see a video of a proven show mare to consider her for purchase. Also on the video was a four-year-old
bay mare that had only been ridden three times. I knew that green horse and green rider was a bad combination, but I fell
head over heels in love with the filly from the video. She resembled my quarter horse, whose markings and temperament I
loved. The person showing me the video did not even know her name, but made the call to the seller to find out her name,
price and bloodlines. It turned out that the little bay mare was only a third the price of the show mare because she was
under breed standard in height, but had extremely good bloodlines. And her name was Lila (Spanish for "lilac" and pronounced
Lela). That was also my ex-husband's Grandmother's name! I decided to take my chances and purchased the young mare off the
video, believing that my ex-husband (a very experienced rider) could help me with her if she was too much for me. I was so
sure that her name was a sign that she was to be with us. Lila stayed in California to complete her training, then came to
live with us in Canada in the fall of 1992.
When I actually got to meet Lila six months later, she was better than I could have ever hoped. But I knew that I was overmounted
as she was still green, and very hot (not goofy, just extremely energetic and enthusiastic). She sometimes overwhelmed me
with her responsiveness, but Lila patiently waited for me to catch up to her skill level. It took me many years to "deserve"
a horse as good as she was, and to increase my riding and handling skills to the point where I could do her justice. She
taught me to listen to my horse to figure out how little I need to do to offer direction. Although she was always very hot,
I never fell off her. We did manoeuvres simply by thinking about them -- I liked to think she read my mind.
I am so proud of her and her accomplishments. In the show ring, she won in the breeding, pleasure and gait divisions. She
took me many miles on mountain trails, gave me wonderful babies (the first two under saddle were both Champion of Champions
Pleasure Geldings, and the third a Champion mare in both the breeding and pleasure divisions) and countless hours of devoted
companionship. I was offered four times what I paid for her, but she was never for sale. How could I have replaced her?
She seemed to feel the same way about me that I did about her. She was extremely bonded to me, and fretted a little at horse
shows when I left her with someone else. Her eyes lit up when I came back, and she nickered every time she saw me walking
towards her. She offered me her heart every time I rode her.
Lila's size also changed. She grew two inches after I bought her, and ended up within breed standard. And the other mare
I considered in 1992?? She never beat Lila in the show ring after 1994 in any division. There was an angel looking over
my shoulder the day I saw that video, and guiding me to choose the right horse. I like to think that same angel was watching
over us both to ensure that I didn't ruin Lila with my lack of knowledge.
I lost my lovely little mare to colic in September of 2002 at the age of fourteen. She is buried under the apple tree and
is surrounded by lilac bushes in my yard. Not a day goes by when I don't think of her and the gifts she gave me. I look
at her first son, RJT Colorado Real ++, her daughter, Celestina, and her last baby, Ricky (Requiebro) and am eternally grateful
to have had ten wonderful years with her. I only wish it could have been twenty...
I hope each of you finds your own "Lila", and am committed to helping you do that. Best wishes, and happy trails...
Jocelyn Hastie
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