Paso Fino

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Paso Fino
Paso Fino gelding
Paso Fino gelding
Country of origin: Central & South America
Breed standards
Paso Fino Horse Association: Stds
Paso Fino Association of Europe: Stds
Paso Fino Association of UK and Ireland: Stds

The Paso Fino is a naturally-gaited light horse breed with a history dating back many centuries to Spain. They are prized for their smooth natural gait, and are used in many disciplines, especially trail and endurance riding.

Contents

[edit] History

The Paso Fino is a mix of the Barb, Spanish Jennet, and Andalusian horse and was bred by Spanish land owners in Puerto Rico and Colombia to be used in the plantations because of their endurance and the comfortable ride they provided.

All Pasos share their heritage with the Peruvian Paso, the American Mustangs, and other descendants of Spanish horses. The Puerto Rican and Columbian strains, as well as Paso Finos from Cuba and other tropical countries, have been interbred frequently to produce today's American Paso Fino show horse.

The rise of the Paso Fino in the United States began in the 1950s and 1960s, and today, the Paso Fino Horse Association oversees and regulates registered Paso Finos in the USA. The first paso finos in the United States were imported from Puerto Rico by members of the armed services who were stationed in Puerto Rico and purchased Paso Finos while living there. Rather than sell their horses when they left, they brought them back with them and this stock provided some of the first Paso Finos bred in the United States. Columbian Pasos came to the United States beginning with a rancher who visited Colombia and purchased quite a number of Paso Fino horses to work his cattle. This brought the second strain into the USA. While the two strains are still bred individually to retain their purity, they are also crossbred to produce the best of both strains.[1]

Colombian Paso Fino riding during the Feria de las Flores in Medellín, Colombia.
Colombian Paso Fino riding during the Feria de las Flores in Medellín, Colombia.

[edit] Characteristics

The Paso Fino has several different body types from quite small and refined to very large and powerful. The action of the two strains is somewhat different. The Puerto Rican Paso Fino is prized for its fine or delicate step while the Colombian Paso Fino tends to have more of a rapid, piston-like action.

This is a lively horse that has a natural drive and willingness, known colloquially as "brio", and generally a nice disposition. Paso Finos come in a variety of colors, sizes and body types but the even four beat gait and brio are present in all good representatives of the breed. [2]

This horse can easily carry a large rider comfortably for an extended period of time. An 800 lb Paso can easily carry a rider who is over 6’ tall and weighing 250 lbs over the worst trails, up and down hills, without a problem. The trick is in how they move and how they are built.

[edit] Gaits

The Paso Fino pulls their rear end carriage underneath to support themselves and any weight they may be carrying. Their steps are short with the legs going up and down beneath them rather than extended in front or behind them and a short, strong back. The longer the back, the longer the leg, the greater the extension in stride, the less the horse can carry in the centre of its back and the rougher the ride.

Its aficionados claim that the Paso Fino is the smoothest riding horse in the world because of its natural, even, four beat ambling gait that can be performed at varying speeds.

  • The classic fino is a collected gait with rapid footfall that covers little ground but is showy.
  • The paso corto is a moderate, four beat lateral gait good for trail riding. The speed of this gait is comparable to the speed of a trot but is much smoother.
  • The paso largo is a fast, lateral, four-beat gait in which the horse can reach speeds equivalent to a canter or slow gallop. The paso largo is not just an increase in speed but also shows a distinct extension in stride. The paso largo can be extremely fast, up to 25-30 mph.
See also: Ambling

Only a few Paso Finos can perform a true classic fino, but the majority perform the other gaits with ease. The correctness of the gait is very important by today's standards, therefore horses with a very even four beat gait are much preferred for professional breeding.[2]

In Colombia there are native horses who perform a slightly different, unevenly timed diagonal four beat gait, known as the "trocha," which is also very smooth. While some Paso Finos will perform the trocha, it is discouraged and considered a fault in the purebred Paso Fino. Another Colombian breed performs what is known as trote y galope. The trote y galope horses perform an exaggerated diagonal two beat trot and a very collected canter but they do share some common heritage with the Paso Fino. Not as well-known as Paso Fino, these variants are just beginning to be recognized in the United States.[3]

[edit] Uses

These horses are versatile and can be used in many disciplines. They are often seen competing in Western classes such as trail, barrels, reining, versatility and cow penning, and are also commonly used for trail riding and endurance competitions, driving and gymkhana. [1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "The Paso Fino". Paso Fino Horse Association. Referenced January 6, 2008.
  2. ^ a b "Der Paso Fino". Paso Fino Association Europe. Referenced January 6, 2008.
  3. ^ "Breed Information". American Trote and Trocha Association. Referenced January 6, 2008.

[edit] External links

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