Ocala's School of Equestrian Art - Paso Horses

Actual Student Testimonials

It is with gratitude that I write a testimonial to Senor Diego Bravo and the Ocala School of Equestrian Arts. I met Diego almost two years ago, when I sought to learn more about Paso Fino horses. I had seen a performance by the Stardust Drill Team in Ocala, FL and I thought that the horses were incredible. I was amazed at their beauty, their gait, and their fortitude. At that time, I had just retired from being a school principal, and I found that I needed something special in my life.

I came to see Diego, based on the advice of a friend who described him as the “Guru” of local Paso Fino devotees. From the first time we met, Diego opened a world for me that I never knew was there. The world was just not of Paso Finos, it was also one of rediscovery of a dormant part of myself. As an educator, I knew a bit about teaching, but I had contact with very few master teachers. That is, until I met Diego.

From the moment we met, he made me feel special and insisted on a “can do” approach to teaching me about the Paso Fino breed. At first, I felt clumsy (and if it be known, I was). Here was a woman in her 50’s, sitting on a Paso Fino without a saddle, being led around by a man much her junior. I recall with a smile the incredibly positive comments he made about my pretty shaky riding skills. But, as my lessons progressed, I improved and I saw again the child in me that loved to learn. I wanted to succeed, for both myself and for my teacher.

I write now with two years of instruction under my belt, as a member of two Paso Fino drill teams (one coached by Diego), as an editor of Diego’s "labor of love", Science and Art of the Paso Fino Horse, as author of several articles on Paso Finos, as a woman who has shown her horse competitively, and as a competent trail rider. My world, once devoid of horses, is now much more grounded. My love of learning has a focus. My interest in self-improvement has a focus. The prior void in my life now whinnies.

Diego, I thank you for being the man that you are: knowledgeable, thoughtful, caring, honest, and for being a true friend. I always will remember your screams of joy when I (finally) do something right on a horse and your gentle way of guiding me, not just while on a horse, but in making decisions about horses. I’ve watched you each week as a Drill Team coach. You treat everyone with dignity. You create a community among riders by asking the team as a whole to make all important decisions. You finish each session by telling each rider what he/she did best. It is hard work, planting the seeds of growth in your students. But, you are a master at this. Your students, young and old, grow not only in their knowledge about Paso Finos and their riding skills, but also in their relationships with each other.
 Janis Paushter
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  I thought the clinic was excellent. It surpassed my expectations. The individual attention and instruction was great. I truly enjoyed the Paso Fino horses - Wonderful !  Thank You, Rebecca
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Diego,
There are very few people who actually find their purpose in life and
even fewer who are able to have that “purpose” as their job.
You are certainly one of them. Your calling is to train and teach.
Many trainers have the ability to understand horses but there aren’t many who possess the natural ability to communicate with horses AND humans.
 Again, you are one of them.

It is amazing to me what you can “pull out” of your students.
Not only do you teach but you listen in return.
I have come home with a newfound joy, a feeling of a new beginning of sorts.
Maybe it is a new way to look at the horses.
I have to thank you so much for your time, sharing with others your love for the breed,
taking the time to educate.

It is my hope that I will be able to return in October to continue the lessons.
I really wanted to ride the other horses!

Thanks so much for your patience, understanding and love of these wonderful Pasos!
Sincerely,
Gwyn Wright
Hazel Green, Alabama
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 I was riding paso's for over 10 years when I started riding school with Diego.  My main goal was to get the best gait out of my paso. 
I thought it would take a few lessons, and I would be on my way.
Four months later, that is one lesson per week,
I still look foward to my special time of riding.
When I started I considered myself a good rider with a fair knowledge of horses. To my pleasant surprise I still learn something about horses, riding and myself each new lesson.
I always wanted to learn how to ride my paso better and never could find someone with the knowledge to teach me. This is something I love doing, I share it with a few friends, and it is even more fun.
Diego is a wonderful teacher he never asks  me to do something I'm not ready to do, he's very encouraging, and never seems to lose patience.  Everyone at the farm is very nice, and always caring. 
As a result, I am now a more confident rider.  I feel I could get on a paso with confidence and find out just how much training the horse has. 
I have not only become a better rider but a better person. 
Thank you Diego, Anita
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 Words cannot express how much Diego's instruction has meant to me.
I am a 38 year old beginner rider with low confidence. Diego's patience and good sense of humor have been very encouraging.

If it were not for Diego I would have given up.
You know that feeling... when you are cortoing around the ring on your favorite horse and Diego is saying something like,
" Look at your hands...they are perfect."
I live for those moments!
Lesley
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A Day With Members of The University of Florida Equestrian Team

I HAVE NOT HAVE RIDDEN HORSES FOR OVER 25 YRS MY WIFE AND I DECIDED TO LOOK AT THE PASO FINO.
NOT BEING YOUNGSTERS ANY MORE WANTING TO ENJOY A NICE SMOOTH COMFORTABLE RIDE WE FOUND THIS WAS THE HORSE FOR US.
AFTER WORKING WITH TRAINERS FOR OVER 1 1/2 YRS AND SPENDING MANY DOLLARS WE WERE GETTING NO WHERE AND GETTING FRUSTRATED.
WE MET MILLIE AND DIEGO AT ONE OF THE PASO SHOWS AND STARTED
TAKING LESSONS WITH DIEGO. MY WIFE GOING TWICE A WEEK WITH EACH OF HER MARES AND MYSELF ONCE A WEEK.
IT WAS LIKE STARTING TO LEARN TO RIDE ALL OVER AGAIN, BUT WE WERE LEARNING TO RIDE THE PASO FINO THE RIGHT WAY.
I STARTED TRAINING WITH A NEW YOUNG GELDING I HAD JUST PURCHASED LEARNING FROM SCRATCH THE RIGHT AND WRONG WAYS TO RIDE AND TRAIN MY HORSE.
DIEGO HAD A LOT OF PATIENCE WITH ME AS I WAS GOING TO GIVE UP MORE THEN ONCE, BUT HIS POSITIVE WAY WAS SO GREAT THAT SOON I WAS
BEGINNING TO THINK POSITIVE ABOUT MY RIDING AND TEACHING MY YOUNG GELDING.
NOW HAVING QUITE A FEW BLUE RIBBONS TO SHOW FOR MY EFFORT I AM TO RIDE AND TO TRAIN MY HORSE THE PROPER WAY.
ADRIENNE, PURCHASED A NEW MARE WHO WAS A REAL PROBLEM AT THE BEGINNING, DIEGO WORKED WITH HER FOR MANY MONTHS AND NOW THE MARE IS A PLEASURE TO RIDE AND OWN.
I WOULD HAVE GIVING UP BY NOW IF NOT FOR DIEGO. HE TOOK THIS OLD MAN AND MADE A RIDER OF HIM.
EVEN PEOPLE WITH NO HORSE EXPERIENCE WHO HAVE SEEN ME RIDE
CANNOT BELIEVE THE DIFFERENCE IN HOW I RIDE NOW VERSE A FEW MONTHS AGO.
DIEGO....MILLIE ......... THANK YOU ..... WHAT ADRIENNE AND I HAVE
LEARNED FROM YOU CAN NEVER BE REPLACED.
ED AND ADRIENNE

Hi Diego,
I really enjoyed the Trote and Galope Clinic you had on Sunday.  I have to tell you though that at first, when you said it was an “invitation only” clinic and you only invited certain level riders, I thought to myself “Why am I here?”  I felt like I was out of my league with riders like Glenna, Deb and Lizzie. I hadn’t seen Alex ride but assumed she was very good.  And Julio and Martha had horses of their own, so I assumed they also were better than I was.  I figured you invited me because I was Rob’s wife and you couldn’t invite him without me and because I was part owner of Emperador.  I’m being truthful.  When you explained the format of the Judged Fun Show and we would have to ride all of the horses including 2 I had never ridden before, Duquesa and Andariego, I thought, “Oh no.”  Fear and self-doubt set in.
 
However, I surprised myself.  My first surprise was when I rode Salome, our first mount of the morning.  Historically, I have not enjoyed riding in front of other people and usually have ridden poorly.  But that morning, as I was riding, I didn’t care that other people were present.  I was focused on what I was doing with the horses.  I was aware of people but I didn’t care.  That was my first “feel good moment of realization” and, for me, quite a significant one at that.   
 
As the morning progressed and I rode other horses and watched the others ride I realized something.  I realized I was “holding my own”.  I wasn’t anywhere near to being the best rider present, but I felt as though I was at least keeping up and wasn’t failing miserably.  And for me to have this level of accomplishment for someone who only rides one weekend each month and doesn’t always ride Trote and Galope horses either, I thought this was a pretty good feat. The only difference between me and them is that I lack the hours in the saddle and the miles and miles on the horses.  My second “feel good moment of realization.”  
 
I was hesitant to get on Duquesa.  I was glad I was not the first one to ride her. It helped to watch others ride her ahead of me so I could observe her demeanor.  I saw she would test me  near the tacking area and wash rack.  I tried to keep her away from that area but failed.  I did however get her out of that area and we were able to continue to ride.  I failed to do that with Aliada (I gave up), but I didn’t give up with Duquesa.  I discovered I was becoming more confident and relaxed as the morning wore on.
 
The final mount of the day, Andariego, was the horse I was most afraid of getting on.  I was hungry, hot, tired and distracted.  Each of these factors offered me a good excuse for not riding him.  Believe me, I considered using them too.  I had every intention of not riding Andariego and even told Rob.  But, as I sat there considering it, I told myself I would regret forever not riding a Reserve World Champion Trote y Galope stallion when I had the chance to do so.  I could not let the opportunity pass me by to ride such an impressive animal.  And there was no guarantee this horse would be at your Farm the next time I returned.  So, I watched as others rode him.  Then I decided to just do it and get on him and the hell with the consequences.  I observed the other riders riding him in extended Trote and he seemed to be bouncy in the extended Trote.  He also seemed to have a lot of forward speed in the extended Trote and I didn’t like that.  I don’t like it when horses (riders) rush the sounding board.  My plan was to get him into a collected Trote with slow forward speed and hopefully, with power underneath.  I was hugely surprised when I found him to be so light in the mouth.  And he seemed to know I wanted him to be collected and slow.  He was responding to me, the rider.  At least that is what it felt like.  I was so excited and pleased when I felt that.  Then I sat back a bit and let him go more extended down the board and I don’t really remember much after that.  I dismounted and was in awe.  I don’t know if you or the other riders knew what I was trying to accomplish with him, but it didn’t matter to me because I knew.  And for some brief moments I got out of him exactly what I was wanting.  It was a great feeling.  I couldn’t believe I almost gave up the opportunity to ride him.  Third “feel good moment of realization,” I didn’t quit, I didn’t give up and it turned out better than I imagined.
 
Thank you Diego from the bottom of my heart!  The Clinic was excellent.  Thank you and thank you again!
 
Your ever-grateful student,
Becky

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