With its lively but controlled spirit, natural gait and presence, and responsive attitude, the Paso Fino is indeed, a rare and desirable equine partner. The Paso Fino is diversely used and can tolerate every season and climate.
Is a Paso Fino horse good for beginners?
It’s important to understand that many Paso Finos are forward rides, so they’re not natural fits for beginning riders or for timid riders. Because their gait is so smooth, they’re popular among riders who have back pain or other injuries that make riding non-gaited breeds difficult or uncomfortable.
Is a Paso Fino a good horse?
The Paso Fino is a kind and gentle horse. Its docile temperament makes it an excellent show horse, good for saddle riding, too. The Paso Fino is also very loyal and fond of its master.
What are Paso Fino horses used for?
The Paso Fino is a naturally gaited light horse breed dating back to horses imported to the Caribbean from Spain. Pasos are prized for their smooth, natural, four-beat, lateral ambling gait; they are used in many disciplines, but are especially popular for trail riding.
Are Paso Finos just like that?
Though there are still some self-professed “purists” who advocate for one or the other country, the American Paso Fino—true to our “melting pot” tradition—is often a blend of the best of Puerto Rican and Colombian bloodlines. The Paso Fino is known as “the smoothest riding horse in the world.”
Can a Paso Fino canter?
Paso Finos can walk and canter like other horses, but their preferred way of moving is a natural four-beat lateral gait. Rather than trotting, with its seat thumping bounce unpleasant for horse and rider, on a Paso Fino, the rider seems to glide.
Can a Paso Fino gallop?
Paso Finos can walk, canter, and gallop as other horses do, but their preferred way of going is their own four-beat lateral gait. The evenly spaced pattern is evident from birth and does not have to be taught to the horse, although training can refine and enhance it for the show ring.
Can Paso Fino horses jump?
Yes, they are used for: Pleasure, showing, trail riding, endurance riding, driving, barrel racing, reining, mounted shooting competitions, and field dog trials. Some are trained for use on cattle ranches. There is also a class for jumping, similar to hunter hack. In addition, the Paso Fino can and does walk.
Can a Paso Fino trot?
These horses possess a sedate walk and a canter but the Paso Fino does not trot. Instead, they perform an even, lateral, four-beat gait in differing speeds, the paso fino, paso corto, and paso largo.
What is the difference between Paso Fino and Peruvian Paso?
The two breeds are different and easily distinguishable. The Peruvian is somewhat larger, deeper in the body and wider. The Paso Fino is not bred for “termino” in its stride. The Peruvian has been called the “national horse” of Peru.
How much does a Paso Fino weigh?
The Breed Standard
Size: 13 to 15.2 hands with 13.3 to 14.2 being the most typical size. Weight is 700 to 1000 pounds. Full size may not be attained until the fifth year. Color: Every equine color can be found, with or without white markings.
How do you ride a Paso Fino?
How to achieve harmony with your Paso Fino horse
Can a Paso Fino walk normally?
The gait of the Paso Fino horse is totally natural and normally exhibited from birth. It is an evenly-spaced four-beat lateral gait with each foot contacting the ground independently in a regular sequence at precise intervals creating a rapid, unbroken rhythm.
How big do Paso Fino horses get?
The Paso Fino, which can range in height from 13 to 15.2 hands, is born with a gait unique to the breed that is smooth, rhythmic, purposeful, and synchronous front to rear, which produces a smooth and balanced ride.
What is the smoothest riding horse breed?
Thanks to it’s unique four beat lateral gait, the inherited trademark of the breed, the Peruvian horse is the smoothest riding horse in the world today.
How fast can a Paso Fino horse run?
They stretch out. “I clocked one at 21 mph, although that is unusual.” A largo speed of 9 to 12 mph is more typical for pleasure horses. Paso Finos, Spanish bred, came from a cross between Spanish Jennets, a breed with a natural four-beat gait, and Andalusian, from which they inherited their high head carriage.
How much weight can a Paso Fino carry?
Paso Finos can easily carry a rider that weighs 25% of its body weight, which is powerful. For comparison, most horse breeds shouldn’t carry any more than 20% of their body weight.
What color are Paso Fino horses?
Standard Paso Fino colors include bay, horses with a brown body and black points on the legs, mane and tail; chestnut, various shades of red; and brown, which often appears black except for brown shades on the muzzle, inner thigh and flanks; as well as a true black.
What does gated mean in horses?
Gaited horses are horse breeds that have selective breeding for natural gaited tendencies, that is, the ability to perform one of the smooth-to-ride, intermediate speed, four-beat horse gaits, collectively referred to as ambling gaits.
