Talk:Paso Fino/Rewrite sandbox

Talk:Paso Fino

History
(Intro section moved into main article)

Divergence of bloodlines
(How we get to Colombian, Paso Fino, Trocha, Trote and Galope, etc, and why the gaits are preserved in each...while other breeds didn't keep them, etc...yada, yada...)In the early Puerto Rican Paso Fino almanac, it explains that these gaited horses were of the common type during Spanish colonization of South, & central America, as well as the Caribbean, and the lower portion of North America, Spanish Jennet? Narragansett Pacer? I have to look for more books, but got some goodies this month.

History of the Puerto Rican Paso Fino
The sport of Paso Fino Horses is autochthonous from Puerto Rico and has its origins dating back to the fifteenth century. Google book Link The Puerto Rican Paso Fino was developed on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico by the isolating factors of island geography over a 500 year colonial period and the desires of a people for hardy, sure footed, comfortable horses. Frenchman Andres Pedro Ledru, in a notation about horse races held on the 17 of July, 1797 expressed that the speed of these indigenous horses was admirable, "they have no trot or gallop, but a type of pace (Andadura). A gait so quick that the eye can't follow the movement of the legs." As early as 1849, Paso Fino competitions along with established prizes for winners took place in Puerto Rico for the purpose of improving local horses. In 1882 the first racetrack was built and in every race there were Paso Fino and Andadura categories.

By George Dawson Flinter, Published by Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green and Longman, 1834 Original from Oxford University Digitized Dec 7, 2006 392 pages Google Book. Page 72 "In general they do not ride, as in Europe, on a saddle : a cushion is girded on the horse's back, and towards the neck two square baskets hang on either side. The lady sits on the cushion with her face to the horse's head, her feet hanging on each side of the neck: the baskets have handles to hold by, and also serve to carry clothes and provisions. This manner of riding, which is peculiar to the island, is very commodious, and well adapted to preserve the feet from damp. In this manner they travel over swamps and rivers without getting wet. This species of traveling is pleasant on pacing horses, but on any other it is not so agreeable."

On July 25, 1898, during the Spanish-American War, Puerto Rico was invaded by the United States with a landing at Guánica. As an outcome of the war, Spain ceded Puerto Rico, along with Cuba, the Philippines, and Guam to the U.S. under the Treaty of Paris. According to Ramirez de Arellano, at the root of the American invasion in Puerto Rico, the Paso Fino played a first order role in transportation as well as agricultural work. One most famous horse of the time (late 1800s), "Manchado" who belonged to Don Nicolás Quiñones Cabezudo of Caguas was said to be "so fine that it gaited at liberty without its rider in the town square when asked."

Edwin Emerson Jr's trip to Puerto Rico. " Other lucrative exports are fruit, guano, live-stock, and hides. The live-stock, and particularly the horses, are justly famous all over the West Indies. Wherever I went on a recent cruise through the Caribbean Sea, at all events, I found that Porto Rico ponies were preferred to all others. Personally I can attest that I have 'never ridden a better horse than the cream- colored little pacer on the bare back of which I rode over the mountainous trails of eastern Porto Rico this summer, sparing neither man nor beast and stopping for nothing but necessity."

Puerto Rican Ponies talked about in book

"The people of Porto Rico are not as careful of their animals as the faithful creatures deserve. The ponies carry heavy bags of coffee or sugar, or are loaded with great baskets of fruit, one little pony often toiling along under a burden of three hundred pounds' weight.

It is not unusual to see a man making his way into Ponce, or Mayaguez, or some other of the large towns, with a load of plaited pack saddles, two huge bales of grass for horse collars, and the owner himself — all upon one little horse struggling slowly forward. These meek and submissive animals are compelled to carry over the steep mountain trails such freight as chairs, tables, rolls of floor-matting, boxes, and trunks. A horse in the United States would show great displeasure if made to carry on his back a table or a trunk, and the load would come off very shortly, or at least it would certainly never reach its destination in safety. Sometimes an entire Porto Rican family may be seen going to church on one pony. The father and mother mount the animal, and the children ride in two baskets, one hanging over each side of the pony's back."

More Porto Rican Pony book talk for later incorporation "On the other hand, the horses and mules of Porto Rico are as disproportionately small as the cattle are large. They are not much larger than Shetland ponies, yet they are so sure-footed and so powerful that they bear burdens and make journeys which would put to shame many of the larger animals of which we are so proud. The average burden for the laden pack mule in the western United States is from 200 to 300 pounds, yet it is a common sight to see trains of these little ponies and mules laden with 200 pounds of coffee, which they carry with apparent ease over the most rugged trails that it has been my fortune to encounter. Harnessed to the little landaus which are popularly used in the cities of Porto Rico* and on the main military road crossing the island from San Juan t» Ponce, these tough little beasts never descend to a gait slower than a fast trot, and rarely take one slower than a gallop. Thus they race with the mail and passenger coaches up and down hill over the finely macadamized military road, covering regularly the distance of eighty miles from San Juan to Ponce in twenty-one hours, including numerous stops for relays and for meals."

More Porto Rico and Pony stuff, if you look up pony instead of horse and Porto instead of Puerto, you get good stuff. "The Porto Rican ponies are small, but very strong and wiry. They are gentle, too, and have a peculiar gait, which makes riding upon them very easy."

'''Maybe as early as the 1900s. Porto Rican " Saddle-Ponies were imported''' "There is a breed of ponies native to the keys or sandy islets that fringe the Florida and Carolina coasts that makes admirable saddle animals, but it has not yet become generally known. These ponies range from twelve to fourteen hands in height, are frequently as breedy in appearance as a thoroughbred, but are more closely coupled and fuller in conformation, with small, well-cut heads and considerable bursts of speed. They are being sent to the North in gradually increasing numbers, and though scarcely tractable enough for children's use, they make very "sporty " mounts for hacking in the country, being high-spirited and full of endurance. A very similar type of pony is being imported from Porto Rico since the American occupation of that island. "

Nice ref to Puerto ( Porto) rican Breed of Ponies/Horses that Amble "The breed of horses in the West Indies is very fair all round, but varies considerably in the different islands. Jamaica raises some very fine animals especially suited to the tropics. Trinidad and Barbados import a good many Canadian and American horses for carriage work. Porto Rico raises tho finest breed of horses to be found in the West Indies, and the strain is kept as pure as possible. A real Porto Rican is worth any amount over a hundred pounds, and is characterized by a wonderful amble. The saddles used in Porto Rico are more like arm-chairs with leg-rests than anything else, and a horse of the pure breed will carry you over mountain and down valley for forty miles at a stretch, at the same unchanging, easy amble."

Ref to the race of Porto Rican Horses, by Governor "There is here a hardy race of small, agile horses, which are unexcelled in gait and very thrifty. The amount of work which they can accomplish is truly wonderful. They are excellent saddle horses, and work well also in harness. They have been spoken of as well adapted for use as polo ponies on account of their intelligence, activity, strength, and fleetness. They are docile and possess remarkable endurance. They are great favorites with the natives, who consider them very superior to the large American horses imported here since the annexation."

More about gaited local ponies, but this one is not viewable or free. "The gait of the ponies is a quick running walk or single-foot, which is very smooth going, from the top of this broad pad; easier, in fact, than on a saddle"

Another ref to the Porto rican horses gait. "The horse of Porto Rico is small but wiry. Some of them are very handsome and of great endurance, but in the States animals of the size common here would be classed as ponies. They are especially adapted for riding purposes and go the easy gaits very readily."

In 1927 the most influential sire in the modern Puerto Rican Paso Fino breed, Dulce Sueño, was born in Guayama. In 1943, the Federation of the Sport of Paso Fino Horses of Puerto Rico and a breed registry were established. Copita Don Q, a Dulce Sueño Grandson, was the winner of the first annual Federation contest in 1943. In an Agricultural almanac published in 1947 Gustavo A Ramirez de Arellano wrote "at present the descendants of the famous stallion "Dulce Sueño" are the ones who have most obtained titles and trophies from the association of owners of saddle horses."

Gait of the Puerto Rican Paso Fino
In a 1998 Thesis on the locomotion of Puerto Rican Paso Fino horses in Competition, Puerto Rican Paso Finos were found to have an average forward "velocity of 2.5 meters per second or 5.592340730136006 miles per hour. A forward advance between foot falls of 27.9 centimeters and a limb movement velocity of 9 foot strikes per second." In his conclusion, Supulveda wrote that the speed of forward advance in the paso fino was more influenced by the step length than the velocity of the limbs.

History of the Colombian Criollo Horse along with type and Gaits
"In fact, no one walks in Colombia who can aford to keep a horse. It is much the fashion for gentlemen to ride through the streets of Bogota, particularly on a Sunday, and strangers arc surprised to see the horses going at a great rate in a sort of amble or shuffle, the rider sitting perfectly straight in his saddle. There are men who get their livelihood by teaching the horses this amble. Their method is by putting small cords round the pasterns of the horse, which only allow him to step out a short distance, and in a little time this becomes his usual pace.— Their bits are extremely severe, and their saddle cloths of scarlet or some gay color, with gold or silver lace round them. Large sums are given for horses which amble fast, sometimes as much as 1000 dollars (or £200.) Bluck horses are in high estimation; the Field Marshal Ordoneta made me a present of a black stallion, which I was told had been said for 800 dollars. The breed of horses is not large, but active, strong, and able to go through a great deal of work. "

1820's ref to Pacers in Colombia. Travels in Colombia During the Years 1823

The Colombian Criollo (Colombian Walking Horse, Colombian Paso Fino) "Today the Colombian Paso Fino Horse is focus of national pride the Colombians considering this horse the best and purest of the Paso Breeds existing today. All Colombian Paso Fino Horses move in the same way indicating that they descend from a single breed. Undoubtedly, other types of horses with different types of gaits were also brought to the Americas and they gave origin to the trotting and galloping Colombian Horses." A most important horse in Colombian Criollo breed was "Don Danilo" born in 1954 who could perform all Colombian gaits, Paso Fino, trocha and trote as well as the Colombian canter called "Galope". His mother was the product of a lusitano bull fighting stallion bred to a local paso Fino gaited mare.

FEDEQUINAS is the national entity of Colombia that groups and represents Colombian equine associations. It directs, reins, and controls their activities in breeding, exhibition, competition and sport promotion.

On 16 January of 1998, though Colombian law number 427, it was tactically recognized as the ruling entity of the Colombian equine guild and commissioned along with the Ministry of Agriculture and rural development as well as the National livestock Fund, to put in place sanitary programs and plans with immediate application, with the end of eradicating diseases that effect livestock, in order to conserve and propagate these pure breeds and comply with international sanitary standards in order to participate in and compete well in the market.

On March 16th of 1998 FEDEQUINAS and in accordance with article 4.-, of the law 427, was declared by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development through resolution no.00053 to open, register and take over the genealogical stud books of the "Caballo Criollo Colombiano" breed with official character.

Objectives of FEDEQUINAS: The promotion, improvement, development and strengthening of all the activities linked with the Creole Colombian Paso Horse both Nationally and Internationally, as the best saddle horse in the world, in his different airs or Creole gaits: the Colombian Paso Fino, the Colombian trot and gallop, the pure Colombian Trocha, and the Colombian Trocha and Gallop.

What is FEDEQUINAS?

The above was taken and translated from that page that there is a link to above.

History of the Colombian Paso Fino
(Including all the strain variants, etc...) One rather better than usual online article that can be referenced for the history of Colombian Pasos, especially the Trocha and the trote gaits. Trote online article

adding an online article link with some good dates for Colombian Paso Fino Historty ( disregard the Columbus date for landing in Hispañola.) many websites are messing up this date. (some even state the date as 1943 )The History of the Colombian Paso Fino Horse

" In 1963 Jorge Luis Ochoa Vázquez accompanied the first Colombian Walking horse ever exported into Miami." book link On Google books

Pasos today
Horses in the "Paso" Categories Today. Peruvian Paso ( today a separate breed )once registered in USA with PFHA as American Paso Fino ( obsolete ) Colombian Paso Variants, ( Colombian Creole Horse) Modalities or Forms 1. Paso Fino 2. Pure Colombian Trocha 3. Trocha and Canter 4. Trot and Canter (all Colombian categories prize Collection, energy ( Brio) and precision in gait.)

Paso Finos in the PFHA ( USA ) Today Only registers horses with a 4 beat lateral gait or the Paso Fino, Corto, and Largo gaits. PFHA 2006 rule book says: "Only Pure Bred Paso Fino Horses will be accepted from an 'accepted registry'. If the applicant horse sire and/or dam are registered with an 'accepted registry,' the modality of the applicant horse, sire and dam must be listed as Paso Fino on their certificates of registration"

(Basic explanation of the major modern categories, with perhaps a brief explanation of the controversies over the various types/strains/one breed versus multiple breeds thing)

Horses were transported to the Caribbean, Mexico, Hispaniola and maybe even the southern part of North America from Europe, and possibly even north Africa.

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. Overall, the breed 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.

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.

The Puerto Rican Paso Fino has and average height of X. The Puerto Rican Paso Fino is prized for its smooth or fine step. The most common coat colors in the Puerto Rican Paso Fino as per registrations are bay, chestnut, buckskin, palomino, black, and gray in that order. visible coat patterns or markings are sabino, roan, and tobiano pinto patterns. The Puerto Rican Paso Fino Breed is estimated to have 5,000 horses living worldwide or even less. A 1998 masters thesis estimated a population of approximately 4,000 Puerto Rican Paso Finos on the island.

Caballo Criollo Colombiano ( Colombian Native Horse )
The Caballo Criollo Colombiano in English the Colombian Creole Horse is a breed of horse developed in the country of Colombia in South America. These horses are categorized into four main groups according to their gait and way of going, which are called "modalities" by breeders and breed registries. The Paso Fino Colombiano is an Isochronous gait derived from the amble "ambladura" executed as a four beat gait with equal time between steps. It is a fast gait with rapid footfall and little forward advancement. The Pure Colombian Trocha is a four-beat diagonal gait derived from the trot, where the rear leg strikes the ground slightly after the foreleg of the opposite side. It is considered a symmetrical and not Isochronous gait. Like the Colombian Paso Fino, it is a fast gait with rapid footfall and slow forward advancement. This gait "Modality" is probably the results of crosses between trotting breeds, trocha, and fino horses. It is a slower speed trocha in order to be combined with a collected and smooth canter. The canter is executed the same way in Trocha and Golope and Trote and Galope. The trot is a diagonal two beat gait and in the Colombian horse, the trot cadence is more rapid, the rhythm more accelerated, but of less forward advance than in other breeds. The "Galope" is similar to the canter in that it is a three beat asymmetrical gait. It is a collected gait and at no time are all four hooves off the ground at the same time, making the gait very comfortable.
 * Paso Fino Colombiano (Colombian Paso Fino)
 * Trocha Pura Colombiana (Pure Colombian Trocha)
 * Trocha and Golope (Trocha and Gallop)
 * Trote and Golope (Trot and Gallop)

(Mostly how it is different from the other types) Some Colombian Horses can do Paso Fino and Trocha, some can only do one modality. a parallel would be maybe the 3 vs 5 gaited American Saddle bred

All the other stuff
(except breeds that already have their own articles, but maybe mention them as a see also) Fabio Ochoa Restrepo an Important Colombian Paso Breeder and owner of the la Margarita del Ocho steak house. "In his autobiography, 'Mi life in the world of Horses,' published by a vanity press Mr Ochoa writes that 'Don Fabio is to Colombia's Horse world what Garcia Marquez is to Colombia's world of letters or what Fernando Botero is to Colombia's world of painting."

Gaits
The Paso Fino executes a natural evenly spaced four beat lateral ambling gait, similar to many gaited horses. Both the Colombian and the Puerto Rican Paso Finos can execute the lateral gait naturally, without the aid of training devices.

Classic gaits
The Paso Fino's gaits are performed at varied levels of extension in stride. All four hooves travel close to the ground while in motion and are lifted equally in height the horse covers ground.


 * The classic fino is a collected gait with rapid footfalls that covers as little ground as possible. It requires a high degree of collection. This is show gait reserved for competition. Walking, trotting, cantering or any detected break from from the rapid evenly spaced sequence of steps is grounds for disqualification at any time during a fino event.
 * The paso corto is slightly more extended, and used during trail rides. The speed of this gait is comparable to the speed of a trot but is much smoother.

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.
 * 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.

Additional gaits

 * The Andadura is a fast, lateral, extended racing gait similar to a broken pace, or the flying pace of the Icelandic horse. The history of racing paso finos probably had to do with the lack of racing breeds on the island, and the desire to improve all qualities in local horses. "On july 26, 1849 government regulated paso horses with the cooperation of the 'Real Sociedad de Amigos del Pais'(Royal Society of Country friends). The prizes were a gold medal, red ribbon and 100 pesos or more in each class. The classes were Paso, Bellas Formas, Speed "Andadura" and endurance." Gaztambide's 1981 book on the breed also noted that "With the construction of the first hipodrome in the year 1882, in Ponce, we started races, originally held with native horses because we had no thoroughbreds then."


 * The Trocha is a diagonal broken gait, akin to the fox trot.

In Colombia, there are related native horses who perform a slightly different, unevenly timed diagonal four beat gait, known as the trocha, which is similar to the fox trot, and very smooth. While some Paso Finos will perform the trocha, it is discouraged and considered a fault in the purebred Paso Fino. In Colombia the "trocha" has evolved, becoming a separate genealogical line, and is inherited in a manner similar to the lateral ambling gaits of the purebred Paso Fino. Trocha rivals in popularity with paso fino in Colombia, but crossbreeding is now avoided. 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.

Uses
(Add material on how they are used in other nations??) 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.

The Puerto Rican Paso Fino was once used to carry agricultural products and passengers on the island of Puerto Rico. During Spanish rule over the colony of puerto rico( might have been called San Juan Then) the horses were also used in cultural fairs annual races contests and social parades. In the early 1900s it was adopted by sugar cane barons who began showing their horses, comparing stock and developing the horses into a prestigious saddle horse. Today the horses are used at cultural fairs, municipal fiestas, local drag races called "Andadura races" similar to speed racking races in the continental United stated. Several registries for the breed exist on the island, as well as in the continental United States, and horses are judged in gait, conformation, and versatility or general conditions classes in order to reward the best representatives of the breed.

Gallery
Temporary place to plop in all the possible photos we might decide to add up into the body of the article later. (Galleries generally discouraged, but we can do anything we want in a sandbox!)

adding external link
My Website is www.pasofinohorsemanship.com Can you please add me to your external links on the paso fino page. Thanks--Jchaux (talk) 05:01, 8 March 2011 (UTC)