The History of the Paso Fino Horse

Paso Fino

The History of the Paso Fino

The Paso Fino's journey to the Americas began more than 500 years ago with the importation of Andalusians, Spanish Barbs from North Africa, and the smooth-gaited Spanish Jennets (which actually don't exist anymore as a breed) to the "New World" by Spanish Conquistadors. Bred for their stamina, smooth gait and beauty, "Los Caballos de Paso Fino", the horses with the "fine walk", served as the foundation stock for remount stations of the Conquistadors. Centuries of selective breeding by those who colonized the Caribbean and Latin America produced variations of the "Caballo de Criollo," among them the Paso Fino that flourished initially in Puerto Rico and Colombia, and later, in many other Latin American countries (primarily Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Aruba, and Venezuela).

Awareness of the Paso Fino as we know it today did not spread outside of Latin America until after WWII, when American servicemen came into contact with the stunning Paso Fino horse while stationed in Puerto Rico. Americans began importing Paso Finos from Puerto Rico in the mid-1940s. Two decades later, many Paso Fino horses began to be imported from Colombia. For a while, there was some contention as to which country produced the "true" Paso Fino. Though there are still some self-professed "purists" who advocate for one or the other country, the American Paso Fino - true to our "melting pot" tradition - is often a blend of the best of Puerto Rican and Colombian bloodlines.

The Gait of the Paso Fino Horse

The Paso Fino is born with a very unique gait, specific only to its breed, and the way the Paso Fino executes its gait shows that it somehow knows it must be executed with style, grace, power, and pride. The gait is a smooth, rhythmic, purposeful, straight, balanced in flexion and synchronous front to rear, resulting in unequalled comfort and smoothness for the rider. The Paso Fino is a graceful, agile and supple equine athlete that uses all four legs with precision and harmony.

The gait is an evenly-spaced four-beat lateral gait with each foot contacting the ground independently in a regular sequence at precise intervals creating a rapid, unbroken rhythm. The gait looks its best when the horse accomplishes the four-beat lateral gait with rapid up and down motion of the feet, but very slow forward motion (which is called the Classic Fino, one of three different variants of the gait). When you hear the power and pounding of the hoofs but almost no forward motion, it may be one of the coolest things you see.

The description of the three different forward speeds of the gait

The Paso Fino gait is performed at three forward speeds and with varying degrees of collection. In all speeds of the gait, the rider should appear virtually motionless in the saddle, and there should be no perceptible up and down motion of the horse's croupe. Here is a description of each of the three.

Classic Fino - Full collection, with very slow forward speed. The footfall is extremely rapid while the steps and extension are exceedingly short.

Paso Corto - Forward speed is moderate, with full to moderate collection. Steps are ground-covering but unhurried, executed with medium extension and stride.

Paso Largo - The fastest speed of the gait, executed with a longer extension and stride, and moderate to minimal collection. Forward speed varies with the individual horse, since each horse should attain its top speed in harmony with its own natural stride and cadence.

The Paso Fino is capable of executing other gaits that are natural to horses, including the relaxed walk and lope or canter, and is known for its versatility. In PFHA( Paso Fino Horse Association) sponsored shows, Paso Finos compete in Western classes (Trail and Versatility), costume and pleasure driving, and performance. Paso Finos are also being seen in cow penning, trail riding and endurance competitions and are winning ribbons.

The Growing Popularity of the Paso Fino

The ancient history of the Paso Fino is fast becoming the future of show and pleasure horses in the U.S. and beyond. They continue to grow in popularity, as one-by-one, converts are won over through experience.

"Some people still have the mistaken notion that Paso Finos are like little wind-up toys that just go round and round in an arena," says C. J. Marcello, executive director of the PFHA. "But that myth is being dispelled every day as more people get on a Paso Fino and discover that it has versatility and something special to offer to discriminating equestrians."

The first horse I ever rode was a Paso Fino and it definately was a smooth ride. You do not feel as if you are going to fall off, no matter what speed you are going. And when performing the gait, you virtually do not move up and down.

From what I have learned and observed, the Paso Fino is trained to be very responsive to even the slightest move of hands. This is what not only makes the horse very versitile, but when in shows, looks very elegant because one does not see harsh movements from the hand.

One question people often ask is, "do they get tired by being in gait?". The answer is no. It is actually the opposite. Once in gait, it has been said that they can go on "forever" and barely get tired.

Extra Info

For more information on the Paso Fino Horse breed or who to contact in the NJ/NY area for lessons/purchasing, feel free to email me.

jay@yeawedo.com

Back to Yea we do (dot) com

The Paso Fino's journey to the Americas began more than 500 years ago with the importation of Andalusians, Spanish Barbs from North Africa, and the smooth-gaited Spanish Jennets (which actually don't exist anymore as a breed) to the "New World" by Spanish Conquistadors. Bred for their stamina, smooth gait and beauty, "Los Caballos de Paso Fino", the horses with the "fine walk", served as the foundation stock for remount stations of the Conquistadors. Centuries of selective breeding by those who colonized the Caribbean and Latin America produced variations of the "Caballo de Criollo," among them the Paso Fino that flourished initially in Puerto Rico and Colombia, and later, in many other Latin American countries (primarily Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Aruba, and Venezuela).

	Awareness of the Paso Fino as we know it today did not spread outside of Latin America until after WWII, when American servicemen came into contact with the stunning Paso Fino horse while stationed in Puerto Rico. Americans began importing Paso Finos from Puerto Rico in the mid-1940s. Two decades later, many Paso Fino horses began to be imported from Colombia. For a while, there was some contention as to which country produced the "true" Paso Fino. Though there are still some self-professed "purists" who advocate for one or the other country, the American Paso Fino - true to our "melting pot" tradition - is often a blend of the best of Puerto Rican and Colombian bloodlines.

The Gait of the Paso Fino Horse The Paso Fino is born with a very unique gait, specific only to its breed, and the way the Paso Fino executes its gait shows that it somehow knows it must be executed with style, grace, power, and pride. The gait is a smooth, rhythmic, purposeful, straight, balanced in flexion and synchronous front to rear, resulting in unequalled comfort and smoothness for the rider. The Paso Fino is a graceful, agile and supple equine athlete that uses all four legs with precision and harmony. The gait is an evenly-spaced four-beat lateral gait with each foot contacting the ground independently in a regular sequence at precise intervals creating a rapid, unbroken rhythm. The gait looks its best when the horse accomplishes the four-beat lateral gait with rapid up and down motion of the feet, but very slow forward motion (which is called the Classic Fino, one of three different variants of the gait). When you hear the power and pounding of the hoofs but almost no forward motion, it may be one of the coolest things you see.

	The description of the three different forward speeds of the gait The Paso Fino gait is performed at three forward speeds and with varying degrees of collection. In all speeds of the gait, the rider should appear virtually motionless in the saddle, and there should be no perceptible up and down motion of the horse's croupe. Here is a description of each of the three. Classic Fino - Full collection, with very slow forward speed. The footfall is extremely rapid while the steps and extension are exceedingly short. Paso Corto - Forward speed is moderate, with full to moderate collection. Steps are ground-covering but unhurried, executed with medium extension and stride. Paso Largo - The fastest speed of the gait, executed with a longer extension and stride, and moderate to minimal collection. Forward speed varies with the individual horse, since each horse should attain its top speed in harmony with its own natural stride and cadence. The Paso Fino is capable of executing other gaits that are natural to horses, including the relaxed walk and lope or canter, and is known for its versatility. In PFHA( Paso Fino Horse Association) sponsored shows, Paso Finos compete in Western classes (Trail and Versatility), costume and pleasure driving, and performance. Paso Finos are also being seen in cow penning, trail riding and endurance competitions and are winning ribbons.

The Growing Popularity of the Paso Fino The ancient history of the Paso Fino is fast becoming the future of show and pleasure horses in the U.S. and beyond. They continue to grow in popularity, as one-by-one, converts are won over through experience. "Some people still have the mistaken notion that Paso Finos are like little wind-up toys that just go round and round in an arena," says C. J. Marcello, executive director of the PFHA. "But that myth is being dispelled every day as more people get on a Paso Fino and discover that it has versatility and something special to offer to discriminating equestrians." The first horse I ever rode was a Paso Fino and it definately was a smooth ride. You do not feel as if you are going to fall off, no matter what speed you are going. And when performing the gait, you virtually do not move up and down. From what I have learned and observed, the Paso Fino is trained to be very responsive to even the slightest move of hands. This is what not only makes the horse very versitile, but when in shows, looks very elegant because one does not see harsh movements from the hand. One question people often ask is, "do they get tired by being in gait?". The answer is no. It is actually the opposite. Once in gait, it has been said that they can go on "forever" and barely get tired.
Extra Info For more information on the Paso Fino Horse breed or who to contact in the NJ/NY area for lessons/purchasing, feel free to email me. jay@yeawedo.com Back to Yea we do (dot) com