Paso Fino horses are one of the world’s most exciting breeds of horse. The smoothest ride in the world attracts many riders. The Paso Fino gait is quite unique and incredibly smooth.
Paso Finos are wonderfully versatile and there are so many activities you can do with them. From Showing to Hacking and Barrel Bending to Endurance. They are good weight carriers and have superb stamina, so endurance is one of their trademarks.
At Rancho Pavo Real we are interested in every aspect of Paso Fino activities, endurance, pleasure, showing and all sorts of riding, they are such characters!
For those of us with bad backs, bad knees and many other problems caused by years of riding, Paso Finos are the ideal choice. The movement actually eases stiffness in joints and promotes good circulation.
The question that we are most often asked is why are Paso Finos so special, and why do you love them so much?
The Paso Finos are so versatile, and easy to train - they try so hard to please and thrive on love and attention and give so much pleasure in return. The thing with the Pasos is that they touch your heart and once they have done this there's no getting them out of your system.
Be warned, there is a T-shirt that says - "Paso Finos are like Potato Crisps - You can't have just one!" Very true!
They are so loving and generous. They are small horses with big hearts and big personalities. In the years I have been around horses I have never met one with any malicious tendencies in them.
You can never truly understand the magic of the Paso Fino until you have ridden one. We hope that after meeting them you'll love them as much as we do.
History of the Paso Fino
The Paso Fino is naturally gaited horse. It has a natural, lateral, four-beat gait that is extraordinarily smooth and pleasant to ride.
The horse developed in Spain through the Barb, which produced the Spanish Jennet and the Andalusian. Columbus transported the horses to what is now the Dominican Republic. Subsequent explorers took them to Puerto Rico, Columbia, Cuba, Panama and Mexico. Though small in stature the Paso Fino is a horse that carried itself pride, or "brio". The breed is noted for being exceptionally people oriented and shows intelligence and a huge willingness to please.
These stunning horses range in size from 13.2 hh to 15.2 hh and are in every colour.
The Paso Fino provides an exciting but extremely smooth ride. They have enormous stamina and are a superb endurance horse. The temperament is kind and gentle. Once experienced, these horses become seriously addictive.
The Paso Fino Gait
The Paso Fino's lateral, 4-beat gait is totally natural. This is what makes these horses so amazing. The drive comes mainly from the rear quarters with the movement being absorbed before it reaches the rider.
The Paso Fino gait is completely natural, nothing of the movement is forced, making it a smooth ride. Within the gait there are three distinct variations, Paso Largo, Paso Corto and Classic Fino.
Slowest – CLASSIC FINO
The movement of the legs is very fast, however, the steps are short and rapid. Therefore there seems to be a great deal of energy and activity, but a very slow forward movement. The Classic Fino is typically seen only in show horses.
Moderate – PASO CORTO
The Paso Corto is the speed of a working trot, this speed covers more ground as the steps are larger than the Fino. This is the natural cruising speed of the Paso Fino and a well conditioned horse can keep up this pace hour after hour on the trail.
Fast – PASO LARGO
The Paso Largo is the speed of a canter. It is the fastest speed of the gait. There is further extension of the steps, which means they can cover more ground.
About the Paso Fino Horse