PrintA living symbol of American freedom knows no boundaries in his new career.
He was born an American icon. As a wild U.S. mustang he symbolized independence. Surviving wasn't easy in the rugged desert landscape of Palomino Valley outside Reno, Nev., but as a young colt he knew nothing but the freedom of the desert wind.
Until the day the helicopters came.
Nine years later, this striking dun stallion trotted confidently in the company of champion warmbloods around the historic Dixon Oval as the first mustang to ever compete at Dressage at Devon (Pa.).
But defying conventional expectations has become a way of life for Padré.
Shortly after his capture in 2001, Padré was adopted by Ric Redden, DVM, of the International Equine Podiatry Center in Versailles, Ky. In partnership with the Bureau of Land Management, Redden was conducting breeding studies between mustangs and domestic horses to examine the effects of genetics and hoof health and structure. The young stallion was chosen to stand at stud as part of the research.
Not long after Padré began his duties as a 2-year-old, Patti Gruber of Vernon Hills, Ill., happened to bring a horse to the IEPC for treatment. While there, Gruber saw the mustang stallion, and he created an immediate impression.
"He had naturally pure gaits and, despite his wild background, had a temperament to die for and would come right up to the fence," Gruber remembered. "After seeing him, I teased Dr. Redden for years that if he ever really wanted to know what Padré could do, to call me."
A Life Changing Phone Call
Three years ago, that call came. "At the time, I was looking for an Art Deco-bred pinto warmblood for myself but ended up with my little mustang," said Gruber. " I'm not exactly sure why, but when I got the call, I just couldn't say no."
The manager and dressage trainer for Jerry and Sandi Grossi's Wayfarer Farm in Wauconda, Ill., Gruber already had experience working with a variety of horse breeds across multiple disciplines from team penning to reining. She specializes in helping beginners or riders moving from other disciplines to understand correct dressage basics, and she also enjoys working with nervous or temperamental horses.
From her previous experience with another formerly-wild mare, Gruber knew she’d be starting basically from scratch with her new project. Padré had only 30 days of training as a 3-year-old, and another month before traveling to his new home.
But the 15.1-hand stallion was a willing student, and Gruber delighted in teaching him. Soon after he arrived, Gruber participated in a dressage clinic with a locally-based German trainer, who couldn't begin to guess his breed.
Despite the short time in training, Padré impressed the clinician with his ability. Gruber was skeptical, but she entered him in a schooling show, and the stallion won both of his "Green as Grass" tests with scores in the mid-60s and claimed the division's high-point award, all within a month of coming home.
“We did better than I could have ever imagined for his first show," said Gruber.
