Comments on: The American Paso Fino Horse

By: Maritza Martinez

Maritza Martinez — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 14:58:07 +0000

Hello Enrique,
I am conducting some research and would like to ask you about your grandfather. Is that Don Ignacio de Francisco?
Please contact me at 3058079262 or maizamartinez@hotmail.com
Thank you for your time!

By: Cathy Paz

Cathy Paz — Sun, 17 Jan 2021 06:35:21 +0000

Enjoyed info. Looking for specific info, maybe not something you cannot answer. After watching the Movie Return of the Seven, I realized they used Paso Fino horses in thr movie. Just wondered about the horse Robert Fuller rode, I believe iy was a Paso.

By: Cristine Saxton Giles

Cristine Saxton Giles — Wed, 11 Nov 2020 07:27:36 +0000

I have raised, trained, and showed Paso Finos for 40 years. I still have 3 and hope to keep riding until my dying day. They have been and still are one of the great Joy’s of my life. I am addicted to the 4 beat, smooth gait. My opinion on why they are going extinct is what us humans have done to the breed. While I admire the Fino horse and it is amazing to watch, that particular horse is not the one people want to ride or are looking to buy. A good tempered corto, largo should be the standard of the breed. Not enough of them are being bred and people can’t find what they are looking for. There is nothing more exhilarating than to fly over the terrain on a well gaited and smooth largo horse. Also, the biggest reason that I bought my first and every Paso is for their smooth ride. I see too many fancy stepping but rough to ride Pasos. What a shame. I’ll never forget seeing Capuchino and his graceful, quick, but flowing gait lose to a stiff legged, sewing machine horse at Nationals of 1992. Again, what a shame. Let’s breed the Pasos that people want and will buy and ensure the long life of this amazing breed. The Paso Fino!

By: Eleanore ‘Elee’ Blacketer

Eleanore ‘Elee’ Blacketer — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 19:03:12 +0000

I love this breed and I am very concerned about the trend of breeding strictly for show (fino) and losing the utilitarian value of extended stride in gait. I attempted to breed pleasure horses hoping to develop the market in the western states of the US. Unfortunately the market crashed in 2008 and my stallions were gelded to avoid overbreeding. We sure need to find a way outside of the show ring to bring the versatility of the Paso Fino horse into the public eye before it’s too late.

By: Stella Manberg Wise

Stella Manberg Wise — Sun, 26 Nov 2017 14:39:41 +0000

Love your story,Dana!

By: Dana Esbensen

Dana Esbensen — Fri, 24 Nov 2017 15:52:02 +0000

We lived in Puerto Rico from 1959-1968. Starting with my 10th birthday in 1969, my birthday treat was to go to Barranquitas in the mountains to rent a Paso Fino to ride. We moved to the country outside Rio Piedras in 1965, and in 1966, my father came home one day with a Paso Fino for me in the back of a pickup! I rode Capitan everywhere and had a local friend who also had a Paso to show me proper equitation. Sadly, we left in 1968, and Capitan stayed with that friend.
In 2002, I was doing Competitive Trail and needing a new horse as my Appaloosa was sometimes lame at check-in. Friends were riding Arabians and Missouri Fox Trotters, but I wasn’t totally convinced that’s what I wanted to look for. Then I remembered Capitan and the wonderful gait he had and such a marvelous temperament! I mentioned to one friend that I was going to search for a Paso Fino (this is Missouri, she looked at me like I’d grown two heads!), and another acquaintance overheard and said she had a rescued mare who had a 6-month filly, and they were Paso Finos! I went to get the filly, came home with both the mare (boy, was she a mess, took over a year to build that trust) and the filly, and the dark mare is the Horse of My Heart. 15 years now and I have trusted her with my life in the Missouri Ozarks on trails the would take your breath away. She is a Diva and we always have fun and come home safe!

By: Donna carmichael

Donna carmichael — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 03:02:51 +0000

I love every bit of this history of our breed. I’m sorry to see so few pure Puerto Rican pasos in the States. I’m thankful for Stella writing this history . I’m about to rescue one coming my way that is registered in the American paso registry. He will be my riding companion for many yrs to come. I hope more history & stories will be written about this breed. I have 10 myself & will always carry this breed close to my heart . I’ve heard from a few Puerto Rican’s that the true gait is going away & just tighter way of going & no true gait. We lost something along the way. I’ve talked to them that say with bigger size they have lost their natural gait. Now they see the mistakes & going back to the older lines to get the natural gait . I hope so & I’ll fit right in because I’m short anyway. I prefer gait over quickness anytime of the day. I’ve seen so many going to slaughter that it breaks my heart. I do the best I can to rescue as many as I can financially. Soon we will see the demise of PFHA & our breed if we all stop breeding entirely. I haven’t had any in 3 yrs . We have to educate those in a diplomatic way don’t breed ur backyard horse . Just enjoy him or her. The type of training needs to stop for its messing up these beautiful animals. Things have to change & soon or there will be none left.

By: Tracy Stevens

Tracy Stevens — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 23:54:48 +0000

Thanks so much for your comments, Neil. It is so great that you had Paso Finos at Ramey around the time this video was made. Wondering if you recognize anyone in it? Would love to see some of your family’s home movies or photos with your Paso Finos.

By: Neil Crouch

Neil Crouch — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 15:26:21 +0000

Just found this site. My dad was stationed at Ramey from 61 to 64, I graduated HS from Ramey in 64. I had 2 Paso Finos at the Lazy R for those 3 years. Still have all the Metals, Ribbons I won at the horse shows. My 2 horses were Roma and Sugar, sold them to Ron Boone, who I graduated with, he went on to win many horse shows with Roma. I loved the video. My parents are both dead but I know they had a lot of home movies, I have to try and find them.
Neil

By: Tracy Stevens

Tracy Stevens — Sun, 22 Jan 2017 17:50:20 +0000

Thanks so much for your caring comment, Frankee Fulilove! I agree with you about everything you wrote. I had a Galiceno growing up, and sadly there are now only 100 or so of them left in the USA! I would hate to see our Paso Finos going down the same extinction trail. We who love and cherish this wonderful breed have ALL got to get together and fight for our beautiful Paso Finos before it is too late!