Paso Info for Dummies!!!!

[Buffy111_99]

OK, another question from the dumb QH person - what exactly is "Fino"?

Lori H

[PASOFAN]

Means "Fine Step". Very short steps and very very fast..

You Need to look at the video links on the home page to see fino's in action..

Now my boys are more corto and largo horses. Most are here in MN. I have only come across one real fino up here.. 8-)

[moonrize]

No dumb questions :D
Classic fino is the gait in which we ask the horses for very small steps, rapid foot fall, but forward motion is slow. The horses are like little sewing machines, tapping in place and moving slowly forward while taking many small steps.

Hope that helps :lol:

[Pasogirlz]

Check out the videos on the home page. See Joyero 3 and Maraquita la Rosa. Great examples of "fino" horses.

In the shows there are division of Fino, Performance, and Pleasure basically.


Fino is tightly collected, rapid, 4 beat footfall w/minimal forward movement. Many times the foot action is low to the ground.

Performance style has more forward movement and high/hock knee action. Still very collected. (corto/largo)

Pleasure style has more forward movement than fino, and the foot action is sorta in between Perf. and Fino IMO. It is supposed to be less collected, but over the years, the Pleasure show horses have become more collected. Country Pleasure has become the new relaxed "true" pleasure class.

[Buffy111_99]

Thanks all for the info! The videos were awesome.

[Pasogirlz]

Hey, the next show in Ocala is Feb 10, 11, & 12th. You should stop by and check it out. The Pleasure classes are in the morning and the "fino" classes are usually later in the evening. ;-)

[Buffy111_99]

Sounds great! Where are they in Ocala? Is there a website on it?

Lori H

[Pasogirlz]

Got this off PFHA

February 10-12, 2006 -show- * PFHA * US Equestrian Federation * Florida * Ocala, FLORIDA
EVENT: February Fiesta * AP/USEF
JUDGES: Alvaro Iriarte, German Higuera, Nicanor Miranda, Martin Velez
CONTACT: Sheila Spence 352-528-3458, sheilaspence@aol.com

Then there is another show the next weekend

February 18-19, 2006 -show- * PFHA * US Equestrian Federation * Southern * Ocala Equestrian Complex, Ocala, FLORIDA
EVENT: El Carnival * AP/USEF
JUDGES: Pending**
CONTACT: Roseanne Willson 352-873-7006 or 352-804-7870, roseannecc@aol.com
** This show is pending approval **

[Buffy111_99]

I live about 5 mins west of the OEC in Ocala so that will be handy. Thanks for the info Lori.

Lori Hunt

[Pasogirlz]

That is cool Lori! That way you can come and go if you get tired...in case you want to come back in the evening for those fabulous fino classes. And I'm sure we can russle you up a test ride from someone. ;-)

[Carol Nelson]

PASOFAN, have you been to see Indio de Ensueno yet??? He was close to Stillwater there, just outside the Twin Cities. He's a black Grand National Pleasure Champion. Let me see if I can pull up a photo of him from somewhere.

http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/data/36931horse1.gif

The mare standing in front of the tree in my post on the results of the drought is an Indio de Ensueno daughter.
I spent over an hour with Indio in his stall one time waiting for his owner to come, just petting and loving on him...he is quite the guy...what a beautiful, sweet animal...my second favorite stallion after my Rojo.

[Barbwire]

Wow, now that horse is black! Gorgeous, just gorgeous.

[Brigitte]

Wow, now that horse is black! Gorgeous, just gorgeous.

Yep..can't make out his face :-? , where are his eyes?

[baileyholc]

Buffy, Have you riden a Paso?

[Pasogirlz]

Buffy, Have you riden a Paso?
No she hasnt...but I'm gonna hook her up at one of the Ocala shows soon. ;-)

[CarolU]

Fino = how to go nowhere very fast at great expense ;-)

[Buffy111_99]

Buffy, Have you riden a Paso?

Not YET! Yet being the operative word!

[Buffy111_99]

And I'm sure we can russle you up a test ride from someone. ;-)

That would just be too cool!
We rented a place down here last Oct thru Dec (before we bought this place) and the owner had Pasos at the barn. She was going to give me a lesson on one but I never took her up on it. I did not warm up to these horses at all. She had 1 stud, 2 mares and 1 gelding but I didn't really like any of them. It appeared to me that none of them were very well trained so I passed on the ride. It would be great to be able to 'test drive' one!

[Ginger]

Back when Indio was at Mardana, I got to ride him. He might be pleasure, but he was still a fireball at the time!

[motorgypsy]

Riding a good fino horse is like riding a tornado that does what you tell it to do and doesn't move very much. The harnessed power is amazing.

Riding a good largo horse is like driving a fast sports car convertable on the autobahn. It's an unbelievable rush.

Riding a good pleasure/trail paso fino just makes you smile while you watch all the QH riders bounce up and down.

Riding any good paso fino in endurance, speed events, hunter pace, is beyond explanation. You have to do it.