Landcruiser
Well-Known Member
I am a criollo addict....
I thought it might be a nice idea to post a gratuitous criollo thread, just for the hell. There aren’t very many of these amazing horses around, but I know a fair few owners are on here, so let’s go. I’ll start. Pics in next post (hopefully!!) for IT incompetence reasons.
I own 3 criollos.
Pato (named after a game played in South America, translates to "Duck."). 14.2/3 dorsal stripe dun, age unknown but probably at least high twenties now. Uraguy criollo, went to Italy on the meat boat in 2007, bought off the dock in Italy by UK dealer, bought by me as a riding horse (let's not go there) in 2008 - totally wet behind the ears saw me coming sold a pup pig in a poke, fraudulent vetting...So he turned out to be broken in every way, traditionally broken with all the scars to go with that. He'd worked cattle, judging by his reaction to them. When sound, he was amazing, sensitive, sharp, brave, oh so clever. Also closed down, beligerent, owing the human race NOTHING. I can't tell you how much I learned from him. I hacked him for a few years, and I managed 1 fun ride, but he would NOT stay sound. . I still have him. He retired about 8 years ago and has the life of riley as a companion, doing his own thing. I love him dearly. He tolerates me, and we understand each other completely (which is something I had to earn). He is The Boss.
Tortuga. Turtle/tortoise. 14.2/3 Uraguy Bay, also came over on (same) meat boat in 2007 and bought by me in 2009 from a private seller (who had bought him from the same dealer as above). Thought to be 9/10 then, so early 20s now. He was totally different. Fearful, compliant, no confidence, very green, a bit of a blunt instrument as far as riding. Stop (mostly ok but sometimes very much not OK, waheeeeeey!!!), go, and go faster. Scared of his own shadow, heart of absolute gold. It took me years of work but he turned into a wonderful riding horse. I started out with him doing western, enjoyed western trail, then discovered TREC in 2013. We were National Champions at Level 1 Individual in 2017 and reserve National champions in Level 2 Individual the following year. I could not be prouder of him. He came from a horse that would self harm (tear at his own chest and legs) when asked to try to do anything outside his comfort zone (which was almost everything) to a solid as a rock TREC champion. He's sadly had to retire from TREC now, due to hock arthritis, but we still pootle out once or twice a week hacking. He is Second in Command, and enjoying not being Bottom of the Rankings. He secretly rather likes...
...Picaflor, AKA Hummingbird AKA Birdie. 3 year old criollo x American Paint. Her sire is Arayan Numa, known to some on here
. Dam was imported from Montana, USA, Currently 14.2/3 (I know) but bum high, bay roan tobiano. What can I say? She's woken us all up, given us all a new lease of life, and will hopefully see me out (I'm old). The plan is she is my next TREC horse. So far she's done lots of groundwork at home, an in hand TREC training session, and a weekend away at Hartsop Farm recently (Intelligent Horsemanship HQ) where she was "joined up" and did groundwork and was introduced to long reining. We have another couple of outings in the diary, an agility day and another trec training. She'll not be backed until she's 4 1/2 - 5. She's proving to be a bit of a superstar, clever and brave, and very much like Pato in character but without the ruination of what he went through during his working life. I am enjoying her thoroughly, and she is seeking me out - leaving the boys, nosing into my business, bonding. She runs towards things that worry her...I have noticed the boys hanging behind her, and I suspect she will be lead mare before very much longer. Currently she is The Apprentice.
I would love to know what other criollo addicts (or chance owners, or ex owners) are doing with theirs. Hopefully pics in the next post.
I thought it might be a nice idea to post a gratuitous criollo thread, just for the hell. There aren’t very many of these amazing horses around, but I know a fair few owners are on here, so let’s go. I’ll start. Pics in next post (hopefully!!) for IT incompetence reasons.
I own 3 criollos.
Pato (named after a game played in South America, translates to "Duck."). 14.2/3 dorsal stripe dun, age unknown but probably at least high twenties now. Uraguy criollo, went to Italy on the meat boat in 2007, bought off the dock in Italy by UK dealer, bought by me as a riding horse (let's not go there) in 2008 - totally wet behind the ears saw me coming sold a pup pig in a poke, fraudulent vetting...So he turned out to be broken in every way, traditionally broken with all the scars to go with that. He'd worked cattle, judging by his reaction to them. When sound, he was amazing, sensitive, sharp, brave, oh so clever. Also closed down, beligerent, owing the human race NOTHING. I can't tell you how much I learned from him. I hacked him for a few years, and I managed 1 fun ride, but he would NOT stay sound. . I still have him. He retired about 8 years ago and has the life of riley as a companion, doing his own thing. I love him dearly. He tolerates me, and we understand each other completely (which is something I had to earn). He is The Boss.
Tortuga. Turtle/tortoise. 14.2/3 Uraguy Bay, also came over on (same) meat boat in 2007 and bought by me in 2009 from a private seller (who had bought him from the same dealer as above). Thought to be 9/10 then, so early 20s now. He was totally different. Fearful, compliant, no confidence, very green, a bit of a blunt instrument as far as riding. Stop (mostly ok but sometimes very much not OK, waheeeeeey!!!), go, and go faster. Scared of his own shadow, heart of absolute gold. It took me years of work but he turned into a wonderful riding horse. I started out with him doing western, enjoyed western trail, then discovered TREC in 2013. We were National Champions at Level 1 Individual in 2017 and reserve National champions in Level 2 Individual the following year. I could not be prouder of him. He came from a horse that would self harm (tear at his own chest and legs) when asked to try to do anything outside his comfort zone (which was almost everything) to a solid as a rock TREC champion. He's sadly had to retire from TREC now, due to hock arthritis, but we still pootle out once or twice a week hacking. He is Second in Command, and enjoying not being Bottom of the Rankings. He secretly rather likes...
...Picaflor, AKA Hummingbird AKA Birdie. 3 year old criollo x American Paint. Her sire is Arayan Numa, known to some on here
. Dam was imported from Montana, USA, Currently 14.2/3 (I know) but bum high, bay roan tobiano. What can I say? She's woken us all up, given us all a new lease of life, and will hopefully see me out (I'm old). The plan is she is my next TREC horse. So far she's done lots of groundwork at home, an in hand TREC training session, and a weekend away at Hartsop Farm recently (Intelligent Horsemanship HQ) where she was "joined up" and did groundwork and was introduced to long reining. We have another couple of outings in the diary, an agility day and another trec training. She'll not be backed until she's 4 1/2 - 5. She's proving to be a bit of a superstar, clever and brave, and very much like Pato in character but without the ruination of what he went through during his working life. I am enjoying her thoroughly, and she is seeking me out - leaving the boys, nosing into my business, bonding. She runs towards things that worry her...I have noticed the boys hanging behind her, and I suspect she will be lead mare before very much longer. Currently she is The Apprentice.I would love to know what other criollo addicts (or chance owners, or ex owners) are doing with theirs. Hopefully pics in the next post.
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