Very Interesting Article

[Kerry W]

Wasted here

[PLEASURE PASOFINO]

Hola SR. MATEO!, CONGRATULATIONS! what a great article! is fantastic!

Thank you for sharing!

Saludos!

[Candice Burger]

Brilliant!

Thanks Kerry and Mr. Mateo!

Funny, I wrote a similar article for the PPR magazine in the last issue with the same concerns.

[Carol Nelson]

Excellent article....I will show it to my new Puerto Rican trainer. May even encourage him to reply to it.
I think that goes for any nationality of trainer, or breed of horse. Not just the Colombiano.
Thank you so much for posting, and please don't be afraid of coming to this forum because you think your English is not good enough. It is excellent!

[Pasofinoguy]

Candice can you post yours

[stella]

Thanks so much for posting this, Kerry! It shows a true love and caring for the Paso Fino horse, both by you, and Mr. Mateo! Goes to show, this isnt just a concern here in the US, but worldwide by Paso Fino lovers.

[Kerry W]

Thank you Stella...that means a lot to me. :hug I've always enjoyed hearing Mateo's thoughts regarding the breed. I think he will most certainly leave a positive legacy for future generations.

[Candice Burger]

Adam, it belongs to the magazine. I'll see if Rafael Arbelo objects to having it posted here.


My comments weren't as direct but addressed the issues of keeping the paso fino true to form and not allow the current mediocrity in the show arena to be the final determining factor.

I concur that the paso fino is no longer trained as a riding mount but as an ornament and a delicate one at that.

[Rafael Arbelo]

The following article was published in the August -September issue of Paso Fino a Puerto Rican Breed
The article was written by Candice Burger


As equestrians, we speak of competition in the context of a sports event where horses’ performances are measured against one another. The horse judged to meet the standard closest is declared the winner. However, is it the true measure of a Paso Fino? What does it take to be competitive in today’s world both inside and outside a judged event?
What ingredients must a Paso Fino demonstrate to be competitive or qualify as a competitor?

Ingredients of a winner
a) A Paso Fino must have good engineering structure. He should have good conformation and phenotype. If the biomechanics of a Paso Fino has faults or weaknesses, the horse
will expend wasted energy and may tire or become unsound.
b) Brio that enables the energy to be exploited by horse and rider. Brio provides a sensitive awareness of the rider’s wishes, which the horse responds to willingly.
c) A performer must have intelligence and a temperament suitable for a disciplined
training program. The individual should possess the right attitude.
d) The way the horse is raised and educated is critical for its future. The environment should suit the performer whether it is a breed show, working cattle, or trail riding.
e) The horse must have the spirit to compete or the will to win. A champion with the natural
desire to win can even overcome biomechanical faults.

Dominant influence of a Winner
Man’s manipulations guided the development of the Paso Fino breed embracing all the ingredients needed to compete. When the first horses landed on the island of Hispaniola and, later, the island of Borinquen, there was no breed known as Paso Fino. Through careful
study and selection, the Paso Fino breed developed and flourished fulfilling the many demanding roles requiredby his owner. As countries became more cultivated, the role of Paso Finos evolved to a pleasurable pastime where shows mimicked yesterday’s hallenges.
Yet today’s Paso Fino competitions no longer venture to test the attributes that made the breed one of the successful, enduring equines in history. We are no longer confident in the breed’s ability to demonstrate its qualities. Our expectations are lower; our tolerances
of mediocrity increasing over time. Instead of showing pride by perfecting our horses for any challenge, our complicity allows only a small demonstration of what a Paso Fino is capable of. However, Paso Fino owners still retain the power to revolutionize the direction of the breed just as their forefathers did centuries ago. There is no reason for complacency in any
facet of the breed simply because show events are no longer demanding our horses to perform at their highest level. The Paso Fino was designed to compete and
win over the harshest environments and against unreasonableodds.

Breeding to Win
Breeders should ask themselves why they are breeding. Are they breeding to sell or breeding to compete? When talking about competition, I mean employing the needed ingredients in the most fundamental way respecting the original Paso Fino model. Breeders
abound that regulate their horses into a commercial product where the pedigree sells the horse. Market trend rules where the breeder tries to time the market with offspring from the most fashionable stallions. The breeder restricts his choices following a fad instead
of selecting qualities for a competitive horse. On the other hand, breeders who breed for competitive qualities can expand their choices selecting the best fit for their mares or stallions. They are only limited by the genetic potential of their selections. A horse with genetic depth will possess the athleticism, intelligence, spirit, and biomechanics to succeed. History shows it is the horse bred with the ability and will to win that provides the basis for future generations.

Training to Win
Again, we should ask ourselves when we begin to educate our animals, what is our aim? A breeder must know that his horse can perform under demanding conditions as a method of measuring reproductive qualities. A horse that can respond positively to a training regime becomes a fit, powerful specimen with the energy to conquer any task. If today’s judges
and Paso Fino show events will not test the vitality of the breed, then the owner must seek out other ways to assess his horses. There is no room for a complacent breeder if the Paso Fino is expected to thrive for several more centuries. A Paso Fino owner will carefully select the training environment that fits the needs of his horse. His selection is based not in the emotional, subjective requirements of an admiring owner but as a horseman who understands competitive success depends on competent testing.

The Winning Equation
One thing is very certain. In the quest to breed the very best Paso Fino horses, today’s actions should mesh seamlessly with yesterday’s past. Honest Paso Fino enthusiasts know that. The qualities of refined expressions, endurance, brio, and energy are what have put the Paso Fino horse in the forefront of horse breeding throughout history. For the Paso Fino horse to maintain its important status as the top breed in the world, breeders must protect the athletic prowess that brought him to this point in the first place. Breeders should continue striving for good phenotype, sound conformation, brios and square biomechanics. The formula for a winning combination understands where the breed came from, what it took to develop a Paso Fino. An owner will take the time and skill in training to create a beautifully balanced and framed horse. This isn’t a glamorous route or a fashionable route; it’s the route requiring hard work, studious observation, and strict standards. It’s formed by making the Paso Fino the best competitor in the world; a place where it rightfully belongs with the spirit to compete
and the will to win.

[PLEASURE PASOFINO]

Wow! I am proud to see a Global attention! I see three countries here with the same concerns!

Thanks Rafael! for posting the article of your magazine!

Thanks Candice! You are great!

Saludos!

[Finogirl]

That really is some poweful reading and I think it's good to look back at the past of any breed to make sure it is heading in the right direction.

Thank you. :D

[pasofilly]

We at Monte Paso Fino train the horse to be natural and than work on collection. We have never had to work on the gait becouse they are very natural in their gait and that is due to the way they have been bred and raised. We
allow our horses to be horses, even our fino show horses are allowed to be out with the other mares so they can be as God intened them. Our horses are all very sweet and easy to handle. We use them on the drill team as well as trail ride them. I remember at one of our exibitions a friend and well known trainer asked us why we would use our fino horses on the drill team, Jose told him that they are horses first and show horses second, and they enjoy what they do.