He shows himself to the world proud and noble. South American temperament paired with infinite gentleness: That is the Colombian Paso Fino.
The Paso Fino is a top-class gaited horse.
Breed description
The Paso Fino is a gaited horse breed native to Colombia. The largest offspring area is now the USA.
Paso Fino is a medium-sized, spirited, graceful, and powerful horse that has a special gait – the tolt.
Size: 140-165 cm
Weight: 400 – 550 kg
Origin: Colombia
Lifespan: 25-30 years
Color: All colors
As: Leisure time, draft horse
Head shape: Medium-sized
Body: Compact
Origin and breed history
The Paso Fino has a clearly visible Iberian influence. This breed of horse originated from the horses that Christopher Columbus brought with him to the new world.
These were mainly the Andalusian, the unfortunately extinct Spanish horse breed Genet and the wonderful Berber.
The horses resulting from these breeds were initially used for the horse changing stations of the Spanish conquistadors, the Spanish soldiers who were able to conquer South America with the help of these horses.
The robust and enduring horses reliably carried their riders over days through the thickest jungle, over mountains, and through the dry plains of South America.
The Paso Fino, whose name literally means “fine gait”, was with its resilience, endurance, and robustness, but also with its strength and comfortable gait, the tölt, perfect as a work, riding, and load horse for the time.
They were also highly valued as herding horses on the large plantations of Colombia, since the Paso Fino, like the American quarter horses, has what is known as the “cow-scythe”.
This means that the horse can “empathize” with the cattle to be herded, i.e. it reacts practically as independently as possible to the reactions of the cattle.
Since Paso Fino was a particularly beautiful and very noble horse, this circumstance brought him further lovers of this wonderful horse breed.
Breeding the Paso Fino
The Paso Fino is purebred. Depending on your preference, either the old bloodlines from Colombia or Puerto Rico are used here.
The breeding of the Paso Fino has expanded over time. The largest offspring country is now the USA, here you can find the largest population of noble horses.
In Europe and especially in Germany, the noble horse breed is enjoying increasing popularity. Around 30 foals of the beautiful and spirited Paso Fino are born every year.
In Europe, however, it is important to import Paso Fino from time to time in order to avoid inbreeding of the beautiful breed. In Colombia or the USA, this is not so important, because in these countries artificial insemination is common.
In Europe, however, the mares are still covered in natural jumping, which considerably restricts the selection of stallions.
In Germany, all Paso Finos that are used for breeding and whose offspring receive papers must be licensed or registered in one of the German state associations.
In Germany as well as in the USA only horses whose parents are pure-bred and registered Paso Finos are registered.
The appearance of the Paso Fino
The Paso Fino is a medium-sized horse. The height of Paso Fino is between 140 cm and 165 cm. However, the charisma of these horses makes them appear much larger.
The Paso Fino has a beautiful head with a straight profile and dark, expressive eyes that exude gentleness and great pride in equal measure.
The medium-length neck is set high and arched. It changes into moderately pronounced withers and a short to medium-long, strong, and muscular back.
Characteristic of the Paso Fino is the strong croup, which slopes slightly, and the low-set tail. Paso Finos therefore either wear their tails similar to the back of the flags, or they fall straight down.
The angulation of the hindquarters is strong, the limbs very graceful. Despite the rather smaller body size, the powerful Paso Fino is able to carry even heavy riders without problems.
When it comes to the color of Paso Fino’s coat, it is up to personal taste: it comes in all colors.
Paso Fino gaits
In addition to walking, trot, and canter, the Paso Fino also shows the tölt. With this horse breed, one differentiates between three different tempos and degrees of assembly.
The Classic Fino
With the Classic Fino, the horse shows ultra-short movements. Horses that can master this gait are extremely popular in South America and the United States. The Paso Fino, who master the Classic Fino, inspires the audience, especially at shows or events.
Often the horses run over a wooden walkway to amplify the sound. With the Classic Fino, the horse runs with very little space, a short and very fast foot sequence with a very strong gathering.
The Paso Corto
The Paso Corto is a moderate forward move with good space and a medium gathering. Paso Corto is the preferred pace for an off-road ride. Well-trained horses can walk for hours in the Paso Corto without showing signs of fatigue.
The Paso Largo
The Paso Largo is the fastest of the three types of tölt. The pace differs from horse to horse, although a trained and talented Paso Fino in the Paso Largo can easily reach gallop speed. The stride length and the space must show a clear difference in the Paso Largo to the Paso Corto.
Worth knowing: A distinction is not only made in the gaits, but also in the breed types of the Paso Finos. However, these three breed types only describe the disposition of the horse and the various possible uses associated with it.
Pleasure
If you are looking for a Paso Fino for leisure or trail riding, you will find it with the Pleasure Type Paso Fino.
The pleasure type shows a relaxed, rhythmic tolt and is just a gentle, calm, and reliable partner off-road with whom you will have fun.
But they are also ideally suited for special Paso Fino or gaited horse tournaments in general and achieve great success there.
Performance
This Paso Fino guy is endowed with a lot of fiery South American temperament. You have a high urge to move forward and even more charisma.
This Paso Fino type is ideal for experienced riders with gaited horse experience who have no problems with the horse’s sometimes overflowing temperament and its joy in running.
Classic Fino
The Classic Fino describes both the gait and the type of horse. Here the foals are selected very carefully because they need a high degree of temperament and natural disposition in order to be able to carry out this fast pace – one could almost say that the horses dance the flamenco – later on properly.
Paso Fino, which is predisposed to the Classic Fino, is therefore particularly expensive.
Temperament and essence
The Paso Fino is a very docile, sensitive, and people-oriented horse. He is sure-footed, enduring, and robust, especially in rough terrain, the Paso Fino is a very reliable and “safe” horse.
His gentleness and good nature make him the ideal family horse.
Husbandry and nutrition
Attitude
The Paso Fino is kept like any other horse. A sufficiently large box, grazing, and regular activity are enough for the undemanding and robust Paso Fino.
Regular work, be it training for gaited horse tournaments or daily rides in nature, is what the gentle but spirited horse needs in order to maintain its close relationship with its humans and not to get bored.
Nutrition
The Paso Fino does not have particularly high demands on nutrition either. However, you should still pay attention to balanced, high-quality feed, for the sake of the health of your horse.
Education and care
Upbringing
In order for Paso Fino to become a reliable horse and to be able to perform all gaits cleanly and with perfect rhythm, you should have experience in training gaited horses.
Although the Paso Fino shows its innate special gait all by itself, beginners in horse keeping should leave the training to a professional or buy a fully trained horse.
The Paso Fino learns very quickly due to his intelligence, his human focus and his good-natured nature.
When training the Paso Fino, great importance is attached to ensuring that the horses are well balanced and well-conditioned right from the start.
The typical riding style is based on light rein contact and minimal assistance.
The young horses are usually broken into in the Bosal. The bit is only used when the Paso Fino responds well to the rider’s help.
Maintenance
The care is like all other horse breeds. Regular grooming strengthens the bond between horse and rider and helps to identify diseases and injuries more quickly.
Good eye, tooth, and ear care is part of good horse care.
Check and clean the hooves of your Paso Finos regularly and keep them dry. This can prevent illnesses such as mallard.
Health and Typical Diseases
The Paso Fino is a robust and healthy horse. Breed typical diseases are not found here.
Of course, every living being can become ill, there is no guarantee of lifelong health. With the appropriate attitude, care and care, however, you can prevent normal horse diseases very well.
The life expectancy of the Paso Fino
The robust and resilient Paso Fino has an average life expectancy of 25 to 30 years.
Buy Paso Fino horse breed
You can get a Paso Fino from a breeder here in the USA. Addresses of good breeders can easily be found on the Internet.
Many sell their Paso Finos already trained, well-ridden Paso Finos with a good tolt.
But you can also find your dream horse through classified ads or a horse market.
Before buying, you should always insist on a purchase examination by a good veterinarian who is familiar with horses and look closely at the papers of the horse for sale.
With the price, you have to calculate from 6,000 dollars upwards.
Decision support
If you are looking for a reliable partner for leisure and trail riding, you are at the right address at Paso Fino.
The Paso Fino is a gentle, good-natured horse with a good dash of temperament. He is people-oriented and very willing to work.
