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The Paso Fino Horse
The Rolls
Royce of Riding Horses
Like all horses
of Spanish descent, the Paso Fino has a distinctive carriage. His
proud bearing presents an unmistakable image - a mystique - that
is regal, exuberant, graceful and athletic. Paso Finos, indeed,
represent some of the finest breeding in horses ever known.
As a breed,
the Paso Fino was relatively unknown in the U.S. before the
1940's, despite their introduction into South America, Puerto Rico
and Hispanola (the Dominican Republic) and other islands, some 500
years ago. As a type, the Paso Fino, or "horse with the fine step",
has been legendary throughout its homeland for centuries. Bred from
the mounts of the Conquistadors, the Paso Fino blends the blood
of Andalusian, Barb and Spanish Jennet ancestors. Many accounts
credit the Paso Fino with preserving the blood and type of the long
lost Narragansette pacer, hundreds of which were exported to the
centers of Spanish type horse breeding in the islands off the east
coast of the Americas.
Paso Finos are
dramatically beautiful horses. They present a proud silhouette,
of stately, yet energetic
grace. A refined head, long, flowing mane
and tail, majestic, arched neck, deeply expressive eyes and uncanny
athletic ability are all common-place among the breed. Most are
compact, yet powerful looking animals with deep chests and broad,
well-sprung barrels. Dry legs reveal tough tendons and refined,
yet strong, bone structure. Catlike, quick and sure-footed, they
are also known for hard, sturdy hooves and under normal riding conditions
may never need shoes. Size varies between 13.2 and 15.2 hands, weighing
in from 700 to 1100 pounds, with average being around 14 hands and
900 pounds.
Considered a
"hot-blooded" horse, Pasos are sensitive, yet tough, well suited
to demanding tasks from cattle ranch work, to dressage to competitive
trail riding. They are people loving horses and respond remarkably
to kind words and positive attention.
Paso Finos represent
the rainbow of horse colors, from splashy pintos and to less brightly
marked bays, blacks and chestnuts, to elegant greys, roans and ever-popular
palominos and buckskins.
The hallmark
of the breed is the four-beat gait for which this type of horse,
and later the breed, was named, the Paso Fino. This gait, claimed
as the birthright of all Paso Fino horses, is a lateral gait with
equal timing between each footfall. The gait is performed at three
levels of speed and collection. The Classic Fino is the epitome
of collection, control and extravagance. The horse nearly dances
in place, with the feet rapidly hitting the ground in quick, evenly-spaced,
four-beat succession. Despite the rapid footfall, advancement is
minimal, and the horse proceeds at about the same rate as a slow
walk. The Paso Corto compares in speed to a medium trot or rack
and is the ideal trail gait for a Paso. Faster than the Fino, it
covers more ground, smoothly and efficiently. A horse in good condition
can maintain this gait for hours without tiring, while the smoothness
of gait allows the rider to do the same. Finally, the Paso Largo
maintains the least collection and the most speed. Smoothness of
gait varies.
There are currently
more than 250,000 Paso Finos estimated worldwide. Having enjoyed
tremendous growth, in excess of 60%, since 1992, the Paso Fino Horse
Association moved its offices from Bowling Green, Florida to Plant
City, Florida, in 1995. They have over 30,000 horses and 7,000 members.
The World Cup, or Mundial, is sponsored by an international organization,
CONFEPASO (Confederation of Paso Fino) which represents eight countries,
Europe, the United States, Puerto Rico, Columbia, Venezuela, Dominican
Republic, Panama and Aruba for the purpose of international promotion
and competition.
For more information
on Paso Fino horses contact:
The Paso Fino
Horse Association
101 North Collins Street
Plant City, FL 33566-3311
(813) 719-7777
or visit their web site at: www.pasofino.org.
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