WEST GAIT EQUINE LEARNING CENTER

Don West --owner/operator

  "Teaching, Training, and Trail Riding Paso Pleasure Naturally Gaited Horses" 

West Gait Equine Learning Center is the home of Don and Maria West, five dogs, seven cats, eight canaries, a variety of fish, twenty one chickens, five ducks, and thirteen drop-dead gorgeous Paso Pleasure Naturally Gaited Horses. Neatly nestled under the looming escarpment of red rim-rock cliff faces that form the Southern border of the Colorado National Monument at it's West gate, confined by the colorful currents of the Colorado River running through the Grand Valley bottom two miles to the North, on the edge of the desert/canyon country and only seventeen miles from the Utah border off to the West, and with a magnificent view of the 10,000 foot tall Grand Mesa, the World's largest flat toped mountain towering twenty miles to the East, West Gait Equine Learning Center sits in a picture perfect location for folks from all over the World to come and enjoy World class scenery while learning hands-on how to train naturally gaited horses, and go trail riding under the supervision of the nationally renowned and respected consummate horseman, trail rider, and wilderness wanderer, "your learning leader for equine adventure"...Don West.       

featuring

 Paso Pleasure

Naturally Gaited Horses
    (Mountain Pleasure Horse over Peruvian Paso Horse)
  

"beautiful to behold, smooth to ride, and easy to handle"

RETIREMENT DISPERSAL SALE

DUE TO MY ADVANCING AGE

AND SHRINKING STRENGTH (and wallet)

I'M FORCED TO FIND

 CAPABLE-LOVING HOMES

FOR MOST OF MY WONDERFUL 

 PASO PLEASURE NATURALLY GAITED HORSES.

 REASONABLE OFFERS

FROM QUALIFIED BUYERS (please)

 WILL BE RESPECTFULLY CONSIDERED.

 

Dear Friend and Potential Paso Pleasure Horse Owner,  

Anyone who knows me knows that I love my horses. Maria and I have made many sacrifices in our lives, placing our own personal needs second to our horses' health and well being. For over thirty years my home bred Appaloosa, then Peruvian Paso, and now Paso Pleasure horses have been my pride, my joy, and my passion. They've also been my occupation.  They're the cornerstone of all our other enterprises. However, like everything else in life, there's a time to grow, and a time to let go. Now that "letting go time" has come for me as a horse breeder. As the sages say: "To everything turn, turn, turn. There is a time to every purpose under heaven". I have sold my Mountain Pleasure Horse stallion, "Big Red", and all of my Peruvian Paso brood mares, except Maria's old P.P. mare, Fantasia, and am out of the horse breeding business forever. My desire now is to use my time and energy helping people to learn how to handle, ride, appreciate, and enjoy trail riding naturally gaited horses... the things I've learned from them myself over all these wonderful years.

For over twenty years I bred pure blood Peruvian Paso Horses. At the height of my breeding program I was standing three stallions and producing twelve to sixteen foals a year. In those early years, Peruvian Pasos sold for a price that allowed me a nice profit for my work. I bought a 2 year old colt, Granadero, for $25,000.00, syndicated him as a stallion for $400,000.00 and sold 1/40th ownership shares in him for $10,000.00.Then the government changed the tax laws, and the pleasure-trail horse market went into a tail spin. Over the years, the selling prices went down, and the production costs went up, until there was no more profit. That's when I started thinking about out-crossing, and producing my own breed of pleasure-trail riding horses'; horses that would better suite my own personal needs, and those of my mostly middle aged clients. I've always appreciated the bred-in quality of fine gait (pisos) that Peruvian Pasos are rightly so famous for. They truly are “the world’s smoothest riding horse”. But I wanted to produce horses that were a little stronger and more rugged, with an easier going, more friendly, laid back personality. Still, I wanted to keep that good Peruvian Paso "paca paca" four-beat gait.

The horse I chose to cross with my fourth and fifth generation Peruvian Paso mares was a Mountain Pleasure Horse stallion from Kentucky named Goldfinger's Star. I was so pleased with the results that I searched for, and found my own Mountain Horse stallion, Paul's Hardcopy, who soon became affectionately known as "Big Red". Mountain Pleasure Horses are real “usin’ horses” from the hills and hollers’ of Eastern Kentucky. They’ve been bred there for centuries to be used for riding, plowing, or pulling. They have a real “people pleasing'” personality to go along with their strength and versatility. I think that combining the Mountain Pleasure Horse (top side) with my Peruvian Paso mares has given me the best of both horses. Over the past eight years I have produced what I believe are the best naturally gaited pleasure-trail riding horses that I have ever had! I call them "Paso Pleasure Horses".

Now it's your chance to cash in on the many years of dedication and hard work that I've put into this pursuit. Come ride with me! Take a good look at the horses I'm offering. If you find a horse that you like, and if the horse likes you, and you are able to care for and love the horse in the manner to which it has become used to, perhaps we can make a deal.  So, call me if you’re interested. I'm always happy to "talk horses"... especially gaited horses.

Serious offers will be seriously considered. I reserve the right to change prices, back out of deals, or just plain change my mind about anything, at any time. A "Deal" isn't a deal until the contract is signed. I've got some really wonderful trail riding horses, and I want them to go to people who will appreciate them and can care for them. Want to try them out? Then plan to "Come Ride With Me", and see them for yourself. I think you'll love 'em!                                      Happy trails, Don West  

            MY MOUNTAIN PLEASURE HORSE STALLION "BIG RED"    

Paul's Hardcopy a.k.a. "Big Red", 05/01/99,   Bush's Stardust x Trixie, 15.3 hand, copper chestnut stallion. Big, bold, handsome, charismatic, but gentle, and friendly, too. A joy to ride, easy to handle, a real pleasure-trail horse. Red is the father of most of my Paso Pleasure Horses. Red has gone to a good home, and is starting a new life as a happy gelding. I will always have fond memories of Red as my last, and best stallion. What a wonderful horse to end a breeding career with!   $20,000.00

SOLD

   

 PASO PLEASURE GELDINGS

 

Champion, a.k.a. "Champ" 04/20/05, Paul's Hardcopy x Cidra del Oeste. A dark red chestnut with a star, blaze, and snip, and front left pastern and half stockings both rear. A friendly personality, with plenty of get up and go.  private treaty

  Dancer, 06/08/05, Paul's Hardcopy x Salsa del Oeste. A yellow roan palomino, with socks on both rear pasterns. My tallest horse, but with medium build, more refined, much like his mother. Dancer is friendly, calm, and willing, as well as beautiful. $10,000.00
  Walker, 05/15/05, Paul's Hardcopy x Cindy del Oeste. A lighter colored palomino, with a star, strip, and large snip, and two white stockings in the rear. A stockier built horse, just like his mother, he looks and is strong. Gentle and friendly, he has a good, quick gait and is great fun out on the trail.$10,000.00
  Cody, 00/00/06, Paul's Hardcopy x Natalia del Oeste. Cody is sorrel with a long, wavy flaxen mane and tail. He has a star, strip, and snip, and right rear pastern. He's a real cutie pie. Not much over fourteen hands, he is well built, strong, and gaits well. He is friendly and personable, and will make someone a great friend.$7,000.00
Prince Charming, a.k.a. "Prince"   04/17/07
Prince Charming, a.k.a. "Prince" 04/17/07, Paul's Hardcopy x Cidra del Oeste. Prince is a sorrel with flaxen mane and tail. He has a star, strip, and snip, and a left rear half pastern. He looks like Champion, his full brother, only he has only one white stocking. He has the same energy and pride in himself, and already stands his own in wrestling matches with Cody. He is really going to be a good one! He is started under saddle, in bosal, and is doing great. $7,000.00


PASO PLEASURE MARES & FILLIES

  Star Bright, a.k.a. "Bright" 05/26/01,   Goldfinger's Star x Natalia del Oeste. Cremello mare -- almost pure white with star blaze and large snip, right front pastern, and socks in the rear. Big blue eyes, and long, thick, wavy mane and tail. Medium size, about 14 hands, friendly, fun, easy to handle, willing, and with a perfect four beat gait. Perfect pleasure, trail, or parade horse for the smaller rider wanting an easy to handle horse. Perfect match for his-hers matched pair of parade horses with Star Light. Bright has had one filly, Goldilocks, by "Big Red" who is fantastic, and BIG! In bit. SOLD $8,000.00

 

  Sassy Sally, a.k.a. "Sally" 07/08/02,   "Big Red" (Paul's Hardcopy) x Natalia del Oeste. Sally is a red roan filly with small star, and left rear pastern. With a thick, long mane and tail, this mare is strong, well proportioned, and has a nice, short back. With her eye-catching color, aristocratic personality, and good-gait, everyone who sees her likes her, and picks her out in the herd to ask about. A great pleasure-trail horse with lots of get up and go in her. She's got great conformation. I've taken her on numerous overnight horse camping trips, and she handles the roughest trails in style. In bit. $10,000.00

 

  Canella, 05/13/03,   "Big Red" (Paul's Hardcopy) x Cidra del Oeste. Wow! Drop dead beautiful red chestnut (sorrel) mare with star blaze and strip, a sock on the right rear and pastern on left rear. With a thick, long, wavy, flaxen mane and tail, she's a real eye catching show stopper! Miss Personality -- full of charisma... and lots of energy and fun to ride. A great riding, people pleasing, pleasure-trail horse. Miss pretty, she has more of an Arabian shaped head! She has carried me on a number of back country extended overnight camping trips. She does it all... and with style. In bit. $10,000.00

 

  Susie Q, a.k.a. "Susie" 06/12/04, "Big Red" (Paul's Hardcopy) x Salsa del Oeste. Susie is a red chestnut (sorrel) mare with a star and strip. She has a half stocking on both rear legs. Long, wavy mane and tail. Super well gaited. Super friendly. Lots of personality, and easy to get along with. Beautifully built, she is one of our best all around mares. You can't help but fall in love with this horse! I love riding her, and I know she'll make someone a wonderful pleasure-trail companion. In bit. $8,000.00 

 

 

Fancy, 00/00/06, Paul's Hardcopy x Fantasia.  Fancy is a dark chestnut filly with a sorrel mane and tail. She has a star, a  front left sock, and right rear half stocking. She is built like her mother, more like a Peruvian Paso than a Mountain Pleasure Horse. She has a very refined show quality look about her. She is smeary, willing, and her gait is fantastic!. She is friendly, and handles well on the ground. She is doing great out on the trail in four reins. $8,000.00

Goldilocks, a.k.a. "Goldie"   04/16/07

Goldilocks, a.k.a. "Goldie" 04/16/07, Paul's Hardcopy x Star Bright. "Goldie" is a big palomino, 3/4 Mountain Pleasure Horse filly. She has a star, strip, and small snip, as well as aright rear pastern and left rear half stocking. She is very friendly, gaits beautifully, and is built strong and solid. She is drop dead beautiful, full of fun and energy, and looks to me like she will make a great riding horse. $8,000.00

 

Princess Leah, A.K.A. "Leah" 05/19/07, Paul's Hardcopy x Lucinda del Oeste. Cindy is big and strong, just like her mother. She is a dark chestnut with a star and left rear pastern. I think she will be really well gaited, for someone who wants a trail horse that is smooth to ride. $5,000.00                                               
Cinderella, A.K.A. "Cinder"06/02/07, Paul's Hardcopy x Mistica del Oeste. Misty is a cute little, solid built, liver chestnut bundle of joy. She has a front left coronet and a left rear pastern. She is so friendly, she wants to get into your pocket! She will make some lucky (small) person a real companion horse. And, she gaits! $6,000.00

If you are interested in finding out more about these fantastic "beautiful to behold, smooth to ride, and easy to handle" Paso Pleasure Horses call me at 970-858-7739.  The horses listed above were all born and raised right here at West Gait Equine Learning Center, with gentle, loving, and knowledgeable care. The asking prices give us no profit on our investment of time and money in them. In fact, we will be selling every one of them at an out-of-pocket loss. To a large part, the prices are based on the horses age and the amount of training and trail riding time they have on them. If you can't afford these prices for a well bred, well fed, well treated, and well trained trail riding horse, then you probably can't afford the feed, the shelter, the saddle and tack, the farrier, the vet, and the truck and trailer you'll need to go along with owning them. That may sound like tough talk, but I love these horses, and I want to make sure that they go to someone who will love them and care for them as I have. Don West

REASONABLE OFFERS FROM QUALIFIED BUYERS WILL BE RESPECTFULLY CONSIDERED

 

Our horses run wild and free most of the time, making for happy, healthy, strong horses... and shaggy coats in the winter.

1760 Broadway Grand Junction, CO 81503

Phone: (970) 858-7739 Fax: (970) 858-7861

e-mail: donwest@wic.net 

Last Updated -- June, 2010

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