Paso Fino vs. Peruvian Paso equitation

[qltrlori]

I am taking classical Peruvian riding lessons. There are no Paso Finos around here, but lots of Peruvians. I would like to know what are the differences - Paso Fino vs. Peruvian Paso equitation?

Lori

[Descornex]

I'm not sure if the riding style if different. If you rode western, you would use a loose rein, less seat contact and leg. If you rode a more English you would use more seat aids, more contact on the rein and more leg aids. For showing, the tack is quite different. Peruvians are almost always shown in Peruvian tack. They can be ridden with one hand or two. Peruvian saddles position your legs in a dressage style position, almost straight down. The big heavy wooden stirrups make subte leg cues difficult.Paso show saddles have a bit more bend to the riders leg bend and allow you to use leg cues. Pasos are usually always ridden with two hands and quite a bit of rein contact. The pasos want a collected gait with more vertical action whereas Peruvian have a lot reach and front leg action.

[JimHannah]

Hi Lori,

I don't know much about equatation for Peruvians, or Paso Finos for that matter. But I can tell you that there is a decided difference in gait, and so the riding style and tack has to differ to take advantage of those differences. The professionally trained Peruvians I have ridden really tuck and drop their rear-ends. This gives what for me is an exagerrated lift on the front end. This all goes hand in hand with the lateral gait and a longer reach from the rear. Plus it really frees up the front end for all that fancy termino.

I really like some of the Peruvian tack. The traditional saddles are dead ringers for the genuine Spanish tack of several hundred years ago. And the pointed corners of the stirrups are pretty handy, too.

I'm really curious about your riding lessons, and what you're learning. Please share a little of that with us.

Jim

[qltrlori]

I am not sure if I have learned enough yet to carry on an intelligent conversation! I will tell you what I do know. I use one hand to neck rein, and keep contact on the bit. Moderate amount of leg aid. Use of seat aids. What I really like about the peruvian tack is that you can really feel the horse under you, and you use that ability to communicate things to the horse. I am riding a different horse every week for an extra challenge. What a horrible thing, huh? When I was a kid I never liked to ride with a saddle, and now I realize it is because with a western saddle you can't really feel the horse under you, which is a major part of the fun for me.

I should have another lesson tomorrow, will try to get some photos this time.

Lori

[Descornex]

I am going to a Peruvian horse seminar the first of March at Raintree Peruvians in TX.. After that I'll know a lot more about riding a Peruvian. I have 6 but I don't have any formal training in them. They teach you all about the tack and riding techniques of the classical Peruvian. The tack is very elaborate and beautiful and horribly expensive. The bridles run about $1000.
I have read that the big woodern stirrups have a real purpose. They cue the horse to move laterally/sidepass by lifting the leg and taking the weight off the stirrup. If the horse doesn't move over they can bump the horses side with that stirrup. I have to say that is kinder than a pointy spur in the ribs. Some Peruvians have stupendous animation and style, all that rolling termino with a high long front reach, while the rear end tucks and the hind legs slide under them with a long over reach. The head is high but not so flexed as in a Paso. Then most of them have all that glorious mane and tail flowing. I find them far flashier than a Paso, if flash is what you are after. They are very smooth gaited too. They are not as quick as my Pasos though and I think they are not as sure-footed.

[CarolU]

I don't know anything about Peruvian equitation, but I do believe good equitation is good equitation, regardless of breed. I read that the proper way to ride a Paso Fino was to sit on your pants' pockets and roll your shoulders forward. While i ardently disagree with this, I can certainly see where some people get the idea this is the 'proper' way, since many people do ride this way, usually with legs braced in the stirrups.

The best examples of "Paso Fino equitation" I've seen are in the youth classes that judge it, but many women riders have excellent equitation.

I think one of the reasons many men loose this seat is because their long legs are no longer in contact with the horse, so they use upper thigh and seat cues instead of lower leg and thigh. To be honest, I don't care for the look of sitting round shouldered on a horse. I've heard it described as a vulture on a carcass, and I can certainly see why. Many beautiful pictures of Paso Finos are ruined by stooped over riders.

When I see Peruvians, the rider is sitting farther back, more like on a chair. Even in a show, they look like they are out for a pleasure ride.

[JimHannah]

Very observant Descornex. You've got a good handle on some of the differences. I have good friends with Peruvians, and we always poke and prod about why one Paso is better than the other. Of course I consider them misguided, not bad people. On another subject, you gotta love those Peruvian stirrups.

Jim

[qltrlori]

Well, no lesson for me tomorrow. It is raining and windy and cold. We'll shoot for Monday. Jim, I'll take pix of the tack, including the big square stirrups, just for you!

Lori

[CarolU]

I have a new Peruvian saddle that I never used (remember I had to put Bella down). It's from Peru, hand made and not a show saddle, but very interesting. I've kept it in my living room. I guess I should sell it. Not sure why I haven't.

I used to think Colombian tack was complicated and a lot more then needed. And THEN I saw Peruvian tack. YIKES!!! Big difference!

[Descornex]

Ah Peruvian tack...ornate and complicated. The bridles are something else. I'm all for tradition but somehow praticality ought to come in somewhere. I ride my Peruvians in a Aussie saddle usually or an endurance style. I'm not saddle fussy at all but I like no horn and light weight. The paso saddles are fine but my butt is bigger than they are. Peruvians seem to gait no matter what and most of them can gait quite fast. They will still be gaiting while other horses are cantering to keep up. They don't do slow as well as a Paso. I think the nature of their long reaching strides loses rhythm or something when they slow way down. Pasos, as we all know, can gait along very slowly and keep all those pumping legs coordinated under them.

Carol if you want to sell your saddle let me know. I need one for parades or times I need to look properly Peruvian.