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Whitehall-Paso
Fino Farm
Owned and Operated PaisleyFamily
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12/10/2005
Welcome to Whitehall-Paso Fino Farm
560 Whitehall Rd.
Winchester, VA 22603 USA
540-678-3806
THE HISTORY OF THE PASO FINO
The Paso Fino, meaning “Fine Step” in English, was the mount of the Spanish Conquistadors. It is the oldest true native breed of horse in the Western Hemisphere.
Although the ancestors of the present-day horse evolved and developed in North America and spread to other parts of the world, horses vanished from the New World during the Ice Age, between 8,000 and 12,000 years ago. So Columbus discovered a horseless America.
Nearly 500 years ago, on his second voyage from Spain, Columbus brought a select group of mares and stallions from the Provinces of Andalusia and Cordela, and settled them at Santa Domingo. These horses were a mixture of Spanish Barb, Andalusian and the now extinct Spanish Jennet, which not only possessed an extremely comfortable saddle gait, but also were able to pass this on to their offspring. The result of the blending of these horses was to become known as the Paso Fino breed, the horse with the four beat gait.
They became the foundation stock for the remount stations of the Conquistadors. As Spanish settlers came to the New World, they brought more Spanish horses. During the nearly 500 years that the Paso Fino horses have been selectively bred throughout Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Columbia, Brazil, and Peru, they have been called upon to perform diverse roles, first in the conquest of and then in the exploration and development of the Americas.
The Paso Finos came to the United States during the 1950’s when military families returning home from Puerto Rico imported a few horses and their popularity grew. The American Paso Fino is the product of crossing the Latin American horses with the Caribbean horses, each having slight different traits.
Paso Fino Breed Description
The history of this noble animal
began in Spain where the chance mix of breeds sparked the seed that became
one of the world’s finest riding horses. Moorish occupation of the Spanish
countryside brought with it the Berber horse, also known as the Barb, an
animal that had a strong genetic impact on equine development throughout
Europe, North Africa, and the New World. Interbreeding with native stock
produced the delicately gaited Spanish Jennet. They were subsequently bred
with the Andalusian.
Just as the Moorish conquest of Spain introduced a potentially promising
breed to that country, so it was with Columbus’ second voyage to the New
World, when he transported the first horses to Santo Domingo - now the
Dominican Republic. These animals were a mix of the Berber, the Jennet and
the Andalusian. Future voyagers would add to their numbers in Mexico and
South America, but the overall isolation established these as the ancestors
to the Paso Fino.
As remount stock for the conquistadors, the progeny of these horses were
dispersed throughout the lands attacked by the invaders. The early
fifteen-hundreds saw famous and infamous explorers and conquerors such as
Martin de Salazar, Diego de Velasquez, and Hernando Cortez transport horses
to Puerto Rico and Colombia, as well as Cuba, the Isthmus of Panama, and
Mexico.
Like pieces in a well-planned puzzle, the best of the contributing breeds
became prominent in these isolated horses. Among other traits, their young
enjoyed the hardiness of the Barb and the natural presence of the Andalusian.
But most important and treasured was the incredibly even and smooth gait of
the Jennet. Remarkably, that gait became the genetic stamp that ever after,
despite physical changes brought about by directed breeding or locale,
identified this horse as the one we know today by the name Paso Fino.
It
is the lateral four-beat gait that distinguishes the Paso Fino in the
equestrian world. As it moves, the horse’s feet fall in a natural lateral
pattern instead of the more common diagonal pattern. Rather than trotting,
causing that seat thumping bounce that can be unpleasant for horse and
rider, the Paso Finn’s medium speed is a corto, during which the rider is
reassuringly seated.
The basic gaits of the Paso Fino in order of speed are the paso fino, paso
corto, and paso largo. They also walk and canter. These are not trained
movements, but are natural to the horse from the moment of its birth. Paso
Fino owners pride themselves in the naturalness of their animals. As with a
child, an upbringing that includes good food, affection tempered with
discipline, and lots of exercise, will assure that the horse best fulfills
its potential. Artificial training aids are not necessary to bring about
this genetically inherent gait.
The gait itself is evenly spaced, with each foot contacting the ground
independently. The power of movement is generated primarily from the hind
legs, and the impact of footfall is dissipated before it can reach the rider
so that the ride is incomparably smooth.
Though each Paso Fino is born with the gait, some are natural athletes whose
skill and presence destines them for the show ring. Those who demonstrate
superb execution of the classic fino gait will compete in classes where the
ultimate test of the even footfall comes when the horse traverses the fino
board to the hushed silence of the audience. As each hoof strikes the board,
the quickness and even rhythm are communicated to judge and audience in a
clear report. A champion generates a rapid staccato rhythm while muscles
ripple over a fully collected body. The power of the hind leg drive is
executed in beautiful contrast to the stunning restraint of the forelegs
which move forward in inches. Horse and rider, as one, are challenged to
perform at olympic quality levels, and the immediate reward is the
audience’s applause.
All Paso Fino gaits are a pleasure, but
what most owners are looking for in a pleasure horse is not only beauty,
spirit, carriage and disposition, but a comfortable medium-speed gait. That
gait is the corto. Comparable in speed to a trot, the corto is the average
trail gait. A well conditioned Paso Fino can travel at the corto for hours,
and thanks to the smooth gait, so can the rider.
The largo is an even more extended version of the same footfall. A horse at
the largo can cover ground at a breathtaking speed while still providing a
secure and balanced seat for the rider.
Elegant and with a brilliant style, the Paso Fino generally ranges in size
from 13.2 hands to 15.2 hands. Colors run the spectrum with a variety of
markings from chestnut, bay, palomino, black, grey and roan to pinto. It is
a spirited yet gentle horse, intelligent and tractable. The Paso Fino has
been bred for physical balance, with no exaggerated muscling or size in any
portion of the horse. The ideal show horse is at once dramatic, regal,
restrained, and generates an aura of presence.
Paso Finos make an exciting investment opportunity. If the purchase is
motivated by a desire for a personal pleasure horse, then there couldn’t be
a more pleasurable equine experience.
On the other hand, the thrill of competition is an enticement enjoyed by
many owners. Show classes are available at levels from first-time novice to
professional trainer, and the rewards vary from personal satisfaction to
international prestige. Shows are conducted year-round at regional levels
throughout the United States as well as in the Dominican Republic, and
Puerto Rico. United States’ competitors and spectators can also participate
in an annual Grand National Championship Show sanctioned by the Paso Fino
Horse Assn.
Versatility is the passport to satisfied ownership for this popular equine.
In addition to show and pleasure-trail abilities, the Paso Fino can be
trained for a variety of uses. In competitive trail riding the endurance of
the well trained Paso Fino has earned the breed national honors. Its compact
size and quickness have carved it a place on ranches where it becomes a hard
working partner and employee. It is an excellent driving horse, and competes
with spirit in gymkhana. In bird dog work, the Paso Fino not only
demonstrates a fine temperament for field handling, but is of a size that
makes frequent mounting and dismounting easy. Because of its exceptionally
smooth ride, it is the premier and prudent choice for those with back and
neck injuries and arthritis, as well as for therapeutic riding programs for
the handicapped.
Paso Finos are ridden and trained both English and Western. They are lightly
shod or go unshod away from rocky or paved surfaces. Many owners choose
stylish tack from one of the countries of the horse’s origin.