Testimonials Clients
Sophie and Mago
As a little girl, I was already fascinated by the equine world. Every day, I counted the hours until I could get back in the saddle. There was no place in the entire world where I felt more at home. I started training young horses, took weekly lessons and entered dressage competitions during the weekends. To the outside world, everything was going perfect. Beneath the surface on the other hand, my back was getting weaker and weaker. At a certain point, I was spending more time on the couch of my doctor than on the back of a horse. Carefully, I was told that it was time to let go of the horses and to keep the future dreams for what they were: dreams. Of course, I couldn’t accept that. I kept trying to get ‘back in the game’, everytime resulting in a huge disappointment and another visit to an angry physical therapist. Years went by with no sign of improvement. I started looking for other possibilities and found new hope in gaited horses. The Peruvian Paso was not the first that came along, but definitely the only one that refused to leave my mind. That unique combination of beauty, intelligence, sensibility and of course: an extremely smooth gait… It was like these horses had éverything I was looking for. It didn’t take long before I ended up with Georges and Gerda Smits and became enchanted by the Paso-magic. Everything I had heard and read about this breed appeared to be true. Not only did the sweet and honest personality of these horses keep shining through, but for the first time in almost 7 years, I dismounted and felt absolutely nothing!!! Amazing! It was like I was being offered a second chanse to ride again, and I was going to grab that with both hands! The same day, I met about twenty pasos (on dvd) that were standing for sale in the States. I expected a big dilemma choosing between all of these gorgeous looking horses, but it didn’t take long before my heart skipped a beat. El Mago, a three year old chestnut, appeared in front of me and I knew it: he was the one for me. It felt a bit strange buying a horse on a tv-screen, but Georges and Gerda were more than worthy of my trust. The three main things that put my mind at ease were their years of experience with pasos, the fact that they had seen and ridden El Mago theirselves, and that they knew the owner personally. They also gave me a very detailed impression of the horse, they kept me informed of every step that was taken to bring him to Belgium and they guided me through the longest nine weeks of my life. And then finally, El Mago arrived! Tired from the long journey, but with a bright light shining in that young boy’s eyes. People say: “Pasos don’t feel small because their heart is so big” and that surely describes one of his biggest qualities. Mago’s breeder called him ‘noble’ and also that couldn’t have been much closer to the truth. Sometimes, it feels as if I have two horses. Mago loves people and is always the immediate favourite of all children that pass his way because of his patient, respectful and sweet, friendly personality. But once you get in the saddle, that inner fire starts burning. He really seems to be growing. What a joy to work or just spend some quality time with a horse like that, who is always enthusiastic about learning new things, uses the thinking side of his brain and has a great will to please. I only have to ask him gently and he throws in his entire heart. He is everything I was told he would be, and at the same time, he is so much more! My physical therapist is, for many years now, wondering where I am. Well, I found a new one, disguised as a Peruvian Paso. Not only did this ”Magician” manage to turn back time (I can spend hours in the saddle again), he even takes away the pain on a random hard day. Mago and me just disappear in the forest for a couple of hours, and long before we have returned, the pain in my back has faded to the point of no existance. He is my little miracle for he restored my dreams in ways that were beyond my imagination. He became a friend for eternity, a partner who gladly allows me to retake my most favourite place in the entire world. I feel proud and blessed to have him in my life, and even though I could never fully express my gratitude for this gift he brings me every day, I will do whatever is in my power to deserve it. .
And do look at the video!!
Sophie.
Verslagje van Dr. Karin Steege, jarenlange duitse bezitter en fokker van Pasos, November 2011
Graag wil ik ieder, die een Paso zoekt en zijn keuze niet in Europa vindt, informeren over mijn ervaringen. Hier in Europa moet men honderden kilometer rijden om één Paso te vinden en heeft men weinig keuze wanneer men iets zoekt zoals bv. een krachtige, goed ingereden fokmerrie....
In Californië vind je zonder probleem honderden Pasos zonder veel afstand te doen en geniet je van mooie landschappen, toffe steden en een ongelofelijke Californische vriendschap. Je kan de Pasos uitproberen zowel op de ranch als op trail en je ziet zowel de ouderdieren als eventuele afstammelingen.
In Mei 2011 kwam ik op cursus bij Gerda en Georges. Ik mocht op Georges zijn nieuwe ruin rijden, die pas uit Californië geïmporteerd was. Aniversario rijden was een waar genot. Een krachtige vos, Paso Llano in alle tempo’s, fijne tegelhulpen en perfect regelbaar temperament. Daardoor bekroop me opnieuw het gevoel en het verlangen naar een jonge, krachtige en gezonde Paso.
Gerda en Georges gaan reeds jaren op Paso-zoektocht naar de V.S., evalueren honderden Pasos en selecteren er enkele. Op die manier komen enkel zeer goede paarden naar Europa. Bekende namen staan op hun website. Na de cursus toonden Gerda en Georges me hun actuele selectie op video; 2 merries bevielen me erg, maar ik wou ze zelf rijden en de chemie voelen.
Gerda en Georges hadden mijn bezoek aangekondigd bij enkele fokkers in de Californische Santa Ynez vallei en vermeld wat ik precies zocht: goed opgeleide en gereden merries, rustig en gelijkmoedig en met interessante bloedlijnen.
Gerda en Georges zijn nadien op dezelfde ranches de Pasos opnieuw gaan rijden en evalueren, hebben alles gefilmd en dan gaan we samen nog eens alles doornemen om de finale beslissing te nemen,.... de organisatie nadien laat ik uiteraard aan hen over gezien hun ervaring.
Dreams come true; Sandra and Capitan
29 and I wanted to change something in my life. I thought about cats and dogs but than it came over me “Why not a horse”. Of course not any, no it has to be a Paso Peruano. I got to know this breed when I worked in the States as AuPair. I was hosted lovingly at the Phönix Ranch, in Romulus NY and they gave me an understanding of this kind of horses. In this year I also had my favourite horse a chestnut gelding named Arestado. My Paso should be like him. But first I had to go on a long search. I was searching for a gelding in St. Jakob in Rosental at “Gut Jagoutz”, over Cologne at “Naafbachtal” and finally in Belgium. Georges and Gerda Smits were sending me several pictures of geldings by mail and there was also a chestnut gelding with a loving sight. Right away I fell for him but I also took 4 other Pasos in my shortlist. I looked forward to come to Bruxelles. Georges and Gerda hosted me very well and I even could ride their geldings. They gave me advices to the horses which we were looking at on DVD the whole afternoon. At the end I fluctuated between my first love (Capitan) and his half brother. I had to decide within the next day. I brushed aside all my doubts and fears and decided for CAPITAN. His arrival date was postponed several times but than he arrived in Luxemburg the 20th November. At this evening I got the call from the forwarding agency which one of the geldings were mine. I had misgivings, hopefully they will bring me my horse. Than on the 21st November in the afternoon it was at a point where he should finally arrive. I was so excited because I got current pictures of Capitan in August and on them he looked ugly, like a complete different horse. But than the doors of the truck were opened and there he stand just like on the first picture in which I fell in love. The next weeks were hard because it was snowing very badly (more than half a meter). Capitan had a cold and he was coughing. Poor fellow, but at x-mas he was fine and I could bring him into the hall. He was running riot. Than I got sick and this flu was going on for a month. And now finally in the middle of February I went for a ride. I still have to practice but it makes a lot of fun and I am looking forward to the next weekend.
When we are standing in the paddock than there is only Capitan & me and this feeling of long lasting friendship, familiarity is simple indescribable.
Thanks to all who helped me to let my dream come true.
Bernd en Raffaël
Im vergangenen Jahr, im Alter von 50 Jahren, habe ich mir einen Traum erfüllt: Ich habe mir ein ganz besonderes Pferd gekauft, einen Paso Peruano. Das Pferd habe ich mir aus Texas einfliegen lassen.
Die Rasse kommt ursprünglich aus Peru und hat einen ganz weichen Gang. Als Reiter spürt man kaum Erschütterungen im Rücken. Mein Paso Peruano heißt Raffael, kurz Raffi. Raffi ist ein Wallach und absolut brav und folgsam.
Wenn ich in sieben Jahren in Rente gehe, habe ich vor, von hier nach Franken in meine alte Heimat zu reiten - frei Schnauze. Mit einem Pferd kommt man ja immer unter, die meisten Leute sind aufgeschlossen. Man kann es in einer guten Woche schaffen, aber Raffi und ich werden es gemütlich angehen. Dann bin ich ja Rentner und habe die Zeit dafür."
MICHAELA AND REINA NEGRA
A Dream in Black, arrogant, sure of herself, lots of brio, perfect gait, impressive exterior......
That was my first impression when I saw Reina for the first time. Love at first sight but with respect for her personality. (Naafbachtal 2002)
At the second eye contact at the International German Championship in Mannheim 2002, my heart was lost.
After a short negotiation over the phone with Georges I bought a horse in which I felt deeply in love, without ever riding her! On September 9,2002 Reina arrived in Austria and I never regretted this not even a second.
Today we think in common and work together for every competition. In this horse-human partnership we obtained lots of victories including the Europaso 2004 as Champion of Champions and became High Point Paso for 2004.
Many thanks, Georges, my Dream became Reality.
Michaela Henökl, Österreich