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Horse training by Alejandro Montalvo
Alex has been a familiar
face on the Peruvian show circuit in Canada for many years, training several successful show horses in halter, bozal and bit.
We had been sending our horses out to be started by Alex for
several years, and we are very pleased that he is joining
the team at here at Celestina Ranch. Alex's
gentle and patient methods help to bring out the best in your Peruvian Horse. He prepares a horse so that it can be
confidently ridden by its owner, and includes training for pleasure and performance even in the horses being prepared for
show. The final product is a horse you can truly enjoy regardless of whether competence and confidence on the the trail
or in the show ring is your goal. Limited training
spaces will be available from April 15 to October 31 with discounts for those paying 3 or more months in advance. Please
contact us for more information.
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Peruvian riding lessons by Jocelyn Hastie
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 understands that taking a leadership role with an animal so much bigger and stronger than you is sometimes intimidating,
especially for women. She believes that men often become confident before they are particularly competent, while women
seek to have the knowledge to feel competent before they become confident in their abilities. Her 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.
We
invite you to bring a friend and make this a social experience. Riding lessons are $50 per hour for 2 riders or $60
per hour for 3 riders and can take place in our outdoor arena or in the fields. 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 was buried in the yard under
the apple tree and surrounded by lilac bushes. 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 ++ (pictured above), 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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