Padré

Wild Mustang Turned Dressage Star

Mustangs have long been a part of America’s heritage, and are icons of the American West. While wild mustangs still roam the rangelands, some have been adopted and gone on to become much-loved partners for many trail and recreational riders, who treasure these sure-footed horses for their hardiness and spirit.

Born in 2000 in Nevada, Padré was gathered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and adopted out of their Palomino Valley facility in 2001. The beautiful dun stallion still has the unique BLM freeze brand on his neck, which the BLM uses to identify the wild horses that have been gathered from public rangelands. The symbols in this brand tell the reader the horse’s registering organization, year of birth, and registration number.

© Chuck Swan

When Patti Gruber came to own Padré in 2007, she saw he had amazing potential for dressage and began his training. With much success at their first shows, in early August 2010 Patti decided to show Padré for the first time in-hand. Earning an amazing score of 75, Padré then qualified to show at Dressage at Devon, which was less than two months away.

Dressage at Devon is one of the highest-rated international dressage competitions, attracting top competitors and judges from both the US and abroad. Not only was Padré the first mustang to ever compete at Devon, he took home first place in the Four Year Old and Older Stallions (in hand) class, as well as winning Reserve Grand Champion Stallion Overall. To top off their whirlwind year, Padré was also ranked #14 USDF Dressage Sport Horse Breeding Horse of the Year for 4 Year Old and Older Stallions.

© Bill Alphin

Padré is remembered for breaking barriers and breed stereotypes, showing what incredible, versatile horses domesticated Mustangs can be! His spirit continues to live on through his Breyer portrait model, adored in the collections and carpet herds of Breyer fans around the world.

Padré’s Breyer portrait model was produced from 2012 to 2015.