Born to Gait - Fall 2023 (The Versatility Issue)

THE VERSATILITY ISSUE FALL 2023

Paso Fino, which means “fine step or delicate walk” in Spanish, perfectly describes the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino’s natural gait. The Paso Fino is a lateral four-beat gait performed with a short and low action, executed with elegance, poise, and swiftness, resulting in a shock absorbing action which makes it very smooth. The distinctive sound of the Paso Fino is ta-ca-ta-ca-ta-ca-ta-ca. The gait is performed in a gliding, forward movement, without rocking or bumping the saddle.

People who cannot ride other horse breeds because of back or other physical problems find that they are often able to ride again due to the extremely smooth ride of the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino.

The Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino’s gait is performed at three speeds. Classic fino is a show gait and is performed fully collected with a fast footfall. The paso corto is executed when the horse is moving forward with medium extension and collection, at a speed similar to that of a trot. The paso corto is an excellent trail gait that if the horse is in good physical condition, can be executed with ease all day long. The paso largo is a ground covering gait with bold, animated, and long strides. Some horses can largo at a speed of up to 25 miles per hour.

The most important characteristics of the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino horses are its natural gait and smoothness.

These are the qualities that the owners and breeders prize most in their animals. Natural gait and smoothness are what set them apart from other horse breeds. In addition, the Puerto Rican Paso Fino horses have excellent dispositions, great strength, intelligence, stamina, and courage. They are people-oriented horses that are beautiful and proud.

Puerto Rican horses come in a variety of colors with and without markings, and range in size from 13 to 15 hands.

Most have long flowing manes and tails. They are remarkably versatile. Contrary to popular stereotypes, they are not just wonderful show and parade horses. They can learn to jump, excel on competitive trail rides, barrel racing, and gymkhana.

On the ranch they have a natural born instinct for working cattle. Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino horses can do anything any other horse can do, do it well, and do it with extreme comfort for the rider.

An excerpt of the Paso Fino description from the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino Federation website.

PUBLISHER Romualdo Olazábal EDITORIAL TEAM Cover Farm William Arias History Denisse Cancel Pedro Burgos Genetics Paola Matos Reflections at 4-beats Xiomara Arias Contributing Writers Stefanie Schermerhorn Regional News Xiomara Arias - Kentucky Ramón Bodón - Texas Pedro Burgos - Florida Josey Machado - Oregon Jennifer Watkins - South Carolina

CONTACT & CONNECT editor.borntogait@gmail.com facebook.com/BornToGait issuu.com/borntogait

To subscribe to Born to Gait, fill the subscription form at mailchi.mp/801e14b3d828/borntogait-subscribe, or send an email with your information to editor.borntogait@gmail.com.

The Versatility Issue • Volume 2 Issue 1 • October 1, 2023

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Time really flies! It’s been a year since we published the first issue of Born to Gait!

A lot has happened during these 12 months... Three issues were published in which we learned about the history of the breed and its genetics. The Equus Survival Trust granted the Puerto Rican Paso Fino full status as a Critical breed in their Equine Conservation List. Our awareness about conservation grew and we are now more committed and motivated. We got together at the Celebration Show last October (look for the photos inside). Sadly, we said goodbye to a dear friend and extraordinary supporter of the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino.

The future looks bright for the breed! New babies were born and the breeders got their mares pregnant again. The PPR Paso Fino Federation has a fresh logo and a new website. An online searchable database of their registry will soon be launched. And cooperative ties are strengthening between the organizations in Puerto Rico and the Federation.

Changes are also happening on a personal level. Last month we closed our business in Puerto Rico and we are about to put our house for sale. If everything goes as planned, we should be moving to Ocala, Florida, later this year to continue promoting the breed from “the horse capital of the world” (I apologize to my friends in Kentucky, who also claim this title).

In reviewing this past year, I would have to say that life—and the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino breed is an essential part of our lives—is dynamic. Everything moves, changes, evolves. Despite the good or difficult times we endure, our journey must continue...

We must keep promoting, protecting, and conserving our breed. But above all, we must continue loving our horses and cultivating the friendships we have made along the way.

Illustration by Arq. José Vivó.

Thanks for being part of our lives and welcome to Born to Gait’s second year!

A few months have passed since I wrote this note. I am very sorry that we did not publish this issue sooner. Enjoy it and I promise the next one won’t take as long!

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

1

4

IN THIS ISSUE 1 Publisher’s Note 3 In Memory of Gail Brown 4

12

Smoothness and Versatility, the Heart and Soul of the Puerto Rican Paso Fino

12 Margarita’s Paso Fino Farm: Versatile

Horses Achieving Their Full Potential

18 About the Pinto Patterns in the Puerto Rican Paso Fino

21 Paso Fino (Puerto Rico) 22

The Genetics of the Color Spectrum in Our Puerto Rican Paso Finos

22

30 Versatility and Diversity: Rationale for Breed Preservation

34 Regional News Celebration Show 2022 40 Annual Photos

34 On the cover Clifford Fisher and Brillador de Pisgah at the 2019 Celebration Show in Columbia, South Carolina.

2

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

In Memory of Gail Brown

By William Arias Jr.

I

t is with lamenting hearts that we share with you the passing of one of our beloved breed’s most ardent supporters, Gail Padgett Brown (December 7, 1950 - November 12, 2022). In addition to being the CEO of Palmetto Pride Paso Fino Farm (founded 1988), Gail has been an active member of the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino Federation of America (PPRPFFA) since its inception in 1987 as well as its president since 1995. Gail was preceded in death by her lifelong friend and husband James Odell Brown (1948-2020). Today, they are reunited, watching us pursue the Puerto Rican Paso Fino passion!

Born to Gait had the delight of showcasing Palmetto Pride Paso Fino Farm and Gail Brown in its inaugural issue in the Spring of 2022. Shortly after its release, Gail quipped that she never thought she would be a “cover girl.” Reflecting on that featured farm article we are so grateful to have had that opportunity where she shared with you not only some of the salient points of her life but also her views about the breed and its potential future. Recalling the question,

“What has been the greatest challenge faced by the Puerto Rico Paso Fino?” She shared, “making people aware of this versatile breed.” As the smoothest riding horse in the world, it can do almost anything other horses have done while also executing it comfortably. It is an intelligent horse eager to learn. Some of the misconceptions about the breed stem from the show horse emphasis on the Fino gait. Whereas only a small percentage of horses exhibit the Classic Fino gait, all horses have the Corto and Largo to varying speeds.

This larger percentage of horses will appeal to the majority of riders for their versatility and comfort. Perceptions must be challenged that not all Paso Fino horses must be Classic Fino.

Gail’s indelible legacy on the Puerto Rican Paso Fino on the mainland United States is a matter of record and fact!

A multitude of horses had there beginnings at Palmetto Pride Paso Fino Farm: Pleasure, Performance, and Fino. As we move forward let’s remember and keep alive Gail’s hope, that our breed continues to be promoted, protected and, preserved for the enjoyment of future generations.

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

3

EDITORIAL

Smoothness and Versatility, the Heart and Soul of the Puerto Rican Paso Fino Romualdo Olazábal Romualdo Olazábal come from a family of horse owners and breeders: Paso Finos on his mother’s side and Thoroughbreds on his father’s. Now in his 60’s, he has spent his entire life associated with the Paso Fino horse breed. His breeding program at Hacienda Pisaflores seeks to conserve the characteristics that make the Puerto Rican Paso Fino the smoothest saddle horse in the world.

T

he history of the horse in America began on November 27, 1493, when Christopher Columbus, on his second voyage, landed 25 horses and mares belonging to the Hermandad de Granada on the island of Hispaniola (now the Dominican Republic). By decree of the monarchs Ferdinand II and Isabella I, Columbus was required to have twenty lancers embarked with their horses, and five of them were to bring mares as a second mount. The monarchs intended for these horses to be of superior quality. Also, it is reasonable to presume that those men, warriors by profession, would not risk their lives bringing inferior horses.

The first horses that landed in the Dominican Republic were of Iberian-Berber descent. Those were the predominant horses in Spain by the 15th century and were the precursors of the modern Andalusian (PRE) and Lusitano breeds. In the Middle Ages, horses were rarely differentiated by breed, and they were rather classified by type. The Conqueror’s horses were from a type known as Jennet.

Those horses were of small stature, rustic, strong, agile, and hardy with the courage to excel in battle, and were often amblers. In his treatise from 1562 Il Cavallarizzo, Claudio Corte wrote that the Jennet was the most commonly used horse by the Spanish light cavalry.

4

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

In May 1509, less than two decades after their arrival in the Dominican Republic, a group of these horses was taken to Puerto Rico. Juan Ponce de León brought them on Alonso de San Martín’s ship. By the end of that same year, Juan Ponce de León had almost all his mares at his Hacienda Ziguayagua, located in Higüey (Dominican Republic), transferred to the island of Puerto Rico. In the following months, more mares were brought to the island. Pedro Moreno, Jerónimo de Bruselas, Cristóbal de Sotomayor, and Luis Fernández de Alfaro, all brought broodmares from the Dominican Republic. We know that as early as 1511, Juan Cerón had a cavalry force established on Caparra, the first capital of Puerto Rico. We also know that between 1512 and 1513, a total of 215 more horses were introduced through the ports of San Juan and San Germán. Breeding on the island increased in such a way that imports of horses from the Dominican Republic were considerably reduced.

Between the years 1516 and 1517, there are only indications of 12 horses imported from the Dominican Republic.

Although it is logical to think that there were stallions among the horses imported to Puerto Rico, the first specific reference to the introduction of a stallion to the island is from 1528, when permission was granted to Antonio de la Gama to bring a stallion “of good breed.” Then, in 1535, a

Horses to transport themselves and their agricultural products, horses to work the land, and horses to work with the cattle. It was there, in the need of the humble Puerto Rican “jíbaro,”1 where the characteristics that would later give birth to the Paso Fino horse began to be refined.

With time, the demand for conqueror horses declined, and the smooth versatile type of horse became the new commodity. There are two important dates that we must keep in mind. Since we have explained these in detail in previous issues, I will only mention them briefly. In 1797, the French naturalist André-Pierre Ledrú wrote about the “indigenous horses” with a different kind of gait. He said these horses “have neither trot nor the ordinary gallop, but rather a kind of amble, a gait so hasty that the most attentive eye cannot follow the movement of their legs.” He was describing the Paso Largo gait at Las Carreras de San Juan.

The classic Iberian Jennet, from a contemporaneous altar retablo, depicts the surrender of Granada in 1492. Source: Wikipedia.

second reference appeared when Asencio Villanueva was authorized to bring stallions from Andalusia for his hacienda in Jayuya.

Horse breeding continued to grow over the next few years and a horse export business was established on the island. In 1521, Juan Ponce de León took fifty horses from Puerto Rico to Florida (there is no evidence that these horses survived). Charles Ehinger and William Sayller in 1528 and Nicolas Federman in 1530, both agents of the German Welser bankers, acquired horses in Puerto Rico for the conquest of Venezuela. Also, in 1530, Antonio Cedeño took horses from Puerto Rico to the island of Trinidad. And between the years 1533 and 1534, at the request of Francisco Pizarro, his brother Hernando Pizarro and Francisco Mejías came to buy horses for the conquest of Peru.

I wanted to make this brief historical journey so we could understand two things. First, the horses that arrived on the island were horses destined for war; and second, the breeding that was established sought to produce horses with those same characteristics that could be exported for the conquest of the new lands in Central and South America.

While the large farms established a breeding-exportation business, the settlers needed horses for everyday use.

The second date comes from Adolfo de Hostos’ book San Juan, Ciudad Murada. He mentioned that by 1860, a group of breeders in Puerto Rico “came to produce, thanks to selection, a breed known by the name of Paso Fino Horse, much admired in the Antilles.”

The original export wave of the earliest years of the Conquest was over, but, by 1797, there was a native type of horse on the island that, by 1860, was widely known as Paso Fino. The haciendas took the smooth gait the jibaros appreciated so much and perfected it. Selectively bred for a comfortable ride, they produced the finest saddle horse in the Caribbean (and the world). The second export wave was not because of the ability of these horses to perform at war, but because of their smooth and versatile gait.

Rolls-Royce is the finest brand of cars. Diamonds are the finest piece of jewelry. Silk is the finest of all textiles.

Finest denotes the highest quality, the best among the best, la crème de la crème. This is what the “fino” in Paso Fino stands for: the finest of all the gaiting horses because this is the breed with the finest gait. Thus, Puerto Rican Paso Finos became the admiration of neighboring countries, who sought to improve their native breeding.

There are records of several exports of Puerto Rican

Paso Fino horses to the Antilles and Dominican Republic during the first half of the 19th century. In the second half, Puerto Rican Paso Finos were taken to Cuba in 1883 and 1899. Puerto Rican horses were again exported to the Do-

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

5

minican Republic in the years 1915 (Teodoro Vilella), 1920 (Agustín Pichardó), 1930 (Gregorio Kuinlan), in the 1940s and 1950s (Rafael Leonidas Trujillo), and the early 1970s (Pompilio Brouwer and Bienvenido Leonardo). We also know of Puerto Rican horses taken to Venezuela and Costa Rica. And we cannot forget the horses that were imported to the mainland during the 1960s and the following years, which became the foundation bloodstock of the American Paso Fino. Of all these exports, only a small population of Pure Puerto Rican Paso Finos remains in the United States under the protection of the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino Federation of America.

Let’s go back for a moment to explore another angle in the history of the Puerto Rican Paso Fino. Deb Bennett, in her book Conquerors, The Roots of New World Horsemanship, explained the influence of the Spanish Jennet in the Americas. She wrote: “A very interesting biological law dictates that the earliest ancestors are likely to have the greatest impact on the physical nature of succeeding generations.”

I believe this comment from Bennett is critical, especially if we consider the slight influence of other breeds on Puerto Rican horses. Besides the imports of horses from the 16th century, we know that by the end of the 19th century,

Equestrian portrait of Philip IV of Spain. Painted by Diego Velázquez in 1635-36.

The painting is exhibited at the Museo del Prado in Madrid, Spain.

Eugenio Vergés imported two Morgan horses to his farm in Guayama. A few years later, in the first decade of the 20th century, Dr. Mays imported a Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse to the Mayagüez Experimental Station. In the 1920s, the sugar mills imported Arabian horses and Tennessee Walkers... But how much did these horses influence the genetics of the Puerto Rican Paso Fino breed?

I want to share a story. Arco Iris was one of the two main stallions at the Central Mercedita in Ponce; the other was Copita. Wilfredo Beltrán bought Arco Iris when he was 16 years old and, in his career as a stallion in Beltrán’s hands, he produced Kofresí, Don Toquí, Carabalí, Cosita Linda, Vicky, Perla Fina, and Bizcocho, among a handful more. In total, there are about 15 registered offspring of Arco Iris, and only two of them are from his time as a stallion in Central Mercedita. That’s not to say he wasn’t used while there, just that almost all his offspring were workhorses that were never registered. That was the standard practice at sugar cane plantations; horses were gelded and used for work.

Various scientific studies confirm the almost zero influence of exterior blood in the Puerto Rican Paso Fino. The research from 2022 made by the University of Puerto Rico (Mayagüez Campus), together with students from Oakland University, concluded that the Paso Fino horse has its roots in the creole horse that was developed on the island from the breeding stock the Spanish brought during the Conquest. This revalidates the conclusions of Dr. Gus Cothran who in 2007 wrote: “the Puerto Rico Paso Fino appears to be clearly related to Old World Iberian horses and may be one of the closest representatives left of the type of horse the Spanish brought to the Americas 500 years ago.”

The genetic traits of the breed have been conserved since the Conquest times, but the uses of the horses changed with time. Las Carreras de San Juan began in 1637, and by 1650, according to historian Adolfo de Hostos, Puerto Rico was living “in the middle of the Equestrian Era.” The horse was the center of Puerto Rican life; from the landowners to the jíbaros, everyone participated in festive and sports activities that extolled the horse. In the following centuries,

we will see Puerto Ricans enjoying their horses in endless activities like Paso Largo and Andadura races; “La Carrera de las Sortijas”2 (Race of the Rings) and other equestrian games; the glass of water challenges; and many contests were 6

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

El Grito de Lares, Augusto Marín, 1961, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña (Google Arts and Culture). The painting depicted the events of September 23, 1868, when about 400 men took the town of Lares, Puerto Rico.

the fastest, the strongest, the most beautiful and the best gaited were awarded.

When the “Asociación de Dueños de Caballos de Silla de Puerto Rico” (Puerto Rican Saddle Horse Owners Association) was founded in 1943, it had three objectives: to promote the riding, breeding, and improvement of Puerto Rican Paso Fino saddle horses; organize contests and exhibitions, and establish a genealogical record. Their first contest took place that same year, and it included the following categories: 1. Potro de Paso Fino (Paso Fino Colt) 2. Caballo de Paso Fino (Paso Fino Horse) 3. Yegua de Paso Fino (Paso Fino Mare) 4. Caballo de Andadura (Andadura Horse) 5. Caballo de Volteo (Farm Work Horse) 6. Caballo de Bellas Formas (Bellas Formas Horse) 7. Yegua de Bellas Formas (Bellas Formas Mare) 8. Caballo de Condiciones Generales (Versatility Horse)

9. Mejor Semental (Best Stallion) 10. Mejor Yegua de Recría (Best Broodmare) In 1965, this organization changed its name to “Federación del Deporte de Caballos de Paso Fino de Puerto Rico” (Puerto Rican Paso Fino Horse Sports Federation). In later years, the other two Paso Fino sports organizations on the island would emerge: “Asociación Nacional” and “Asociación Insular.”

What is important to know is that the change of name reflected the change in how the breed was seen. From a saddle horse owner association to a Paso Fino sports federation. And by Paso Fino sport, the organizations on the island meant the Paso Fino classes exclusively (equivalent to the Classic Fino on the mainland). The more importance the organization placed on the Paso Fino sport, the less important the versatility became. Andadura, Volteo (Farm Work), and Condiciones Generales (Versatility) classes were dropped, and Bellas Formas declined in interest and became

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

7

Will Sanders and his Puerto Rican Paso Fino horse Legolas (Carroberto de CdC x Caricia de CdC). Will is the author of the book Baroque and Academic Training Concepts, Made Easy to Understand and Apply for You and Your Horse. Legolas is portrayed on the front and back cover of his book.

an accessory class.

While this happened in Puerto Rico, the story of the sport in the continental United States took another direction. Americans fell in love with the Puerto Rican Paso Fino because of its versatility, so, when the sport was picking up, show classes were designed to embrace and enhance the diversity of gaits in the breed. The Pleasure and Performance classes evolved from the Condiciones Generales class, which is why the horses are shown at Paso Corto and Paso Largo instead of the Fino gait. The glass of water challenge is still practiced. And there are many races, fun classes, and costume classes that evoke the time when the breed was considered a true saddle horse.

There are two noteworthy images used to describe the Paso Fino horse. For example, I love when enthusiasts say

8

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

that the Puerto Rican Paso Fino is the Cadillac of horse breeds. They really are! They are the smoothest and most comfortable ride of all horse breeds. The Paso Fino breed was developed as a saddle horse, a horse meant to be ridden for pleasure or transportation. It was supposed to be smooth and comfortable and sound and calm and easy to control.

But it was also developed to do farm work, so they have strength and brío, which is the desire to work. As we see at the beginning of this article, their ancestors, the Jennet that the Conquerors brought to the New World, were war horses and that spirit is still inside them. But the Jennet was also a popular riding horse in Spain because of its comfortable amble, a characteristic that was improved when the Paso Fino gait was developed. So instead of a Cadillac, I think of the Puerto Rican Paso Fino as the ‘4WD all-terrain SUV with the luxury package included’ of horse breeds.

The other image is that of a prima ballerina dancing with such grace that it makes her movements look easy. Our breed has had several horses named after ballet terms (Adagio, Allegro, Allegretto, Bailarina, Ballon, Cabriola, Danza, and others). There is no doubt that Puerto Rican Paso Finos are graceful horses, but, like ballerinas, they are also great athletes. And like any good athlete, our horses can excel in any sport for which they are trained.

Both images speak about versatility. Horses that can do-it-all, do it with style, and do it with comfort. That is the essence of the Puerto Rican Paso Fino. That is the heritage they received from their ancestors, which our forefathers perfected to create the best saddle horse breed in the world.

When we speak about the versatility of the Puerto Rican Paso Fino, people automatically think of the Corto and Largo gaits, but these horses are capable of so much more.

For example, do you know that some lines have “cow sense” and make excellent ranch horses? Or do you know the Cupido line is highly valued by Andadura breeders because of the speed they can achieve in their Andadura races?

Puerto Rican Paso Fino can do almost anything. There is an owner in California that does dressage with his Paso Fino. There is another that uses her horse for rescues in Oregon’s mountains. Another one in South Carolina taught her horse to jump, and she also does trick-riding on him.

Puerto Rican Paso Finos are being used for cow work, running barrels and poles, and long-distance events such as endurance and pleasure long-distance riding. There is a Puerto Rican mare that was trained as a police horse in South Carolina. She not only passed all the tests but also broke the record time in the obstacle test and has done wonderfully in the field. On the island, a group of young enthusiasts is rediscovering the breed’s versatility and they are competing very successfully in dressage with their Paso Fino horses. A young woman trainer is also doing bridle-less riding in her training. You name it, Puerto Rican Paso Fino can be used for almost any equestrian discipline.

But that is not all. Their comfortable gait makes them wonderful therapy horses. People who have a hard time riding due to old age and those who have had back or knee

Rigoletto ridden by Miss. Simonpietri in the equitation class.

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

9

Every horseperson has a reason to own or bred a particular breed of horse. Mine is a matter of culture, pride, and love. I have known the Puerto Rican Paso Fino since birth. I grew with them, learned to ride on their back, and they have been a part of my life for over six decades. During all those years, we participated in many activities, mostly show-related. But I also went on cavalcades with my Paso Finos. I remember one time there was a Christmas parade through Old San Juan, and I took my Fino mare; people asked me what I was doing on her as if a Fino should be exclusively for the show. The same happened on a cavalcade at a big farm; we were celebrating a friend’s birthday and I went on a Fino colt. Pure Puerto Rican Paso Finos can handle everything. They are athletes and are like luxury SUVs, remember?

injuries and have been told that they will not be able to ride again could find new hope in a Puerto Rican Paso Fino.

I had to admit that my vision of Puerto Rican Paso Fino’s versatility has been biased since childhood. When I speak or write about what these horses are capable of, I cannot help thinking about Rigoletto, my grandfather’s favorite horse.

My grandfather, Francisco Rodríguez, and his brother-in-law, Jaime Vallés, were two well-known breeders in their time. Many important horses were born at our farm.

Possibly the one you would know best is Alicante. But of all the horses owned and bred by my grandfather, Rigoletto was special for him. He was a son of Guamaní out of the mare Ballon, a daughter of Niño. He had nice conformation, excellent gait, and exceptional temperament. I was just a child in the early 60s, but I remember my grandfather riding Rigoletto at the farm during the week, inspecting the pastures and checking on the livestock; then, on Sundays, it was either a horse show or a cavalcade with his friends.

At shows, he was exhibited in Bellas Formas, Paso Fino, Condiciones Generales, and “Equitación” (nonprofessional riding). Rigoletto was the horse that could do it all: work, pleasure, and show. I grew up with this idea of the Puerto Rican Paso Fino: horses that are capable, functional, and versatile, and all of this is done with the most comfortable gait for its rider.

10

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

Those are my reasons, but what are yours? Maybe you want a comfortable saddle horse capable of giving you the smoothest ride. Perhaps you are looking for a horse you can work with on your ranch. Or one that will participate in endurance or your favorite equestrian discipline. Maybe you are interested in showing. Or, possibly, you are trying to get back on the saddle after an injury. No matter your reason to own a horse, the Puerto Rican Paso Fino is the answer.

Far left, Rigoletto ridden by his owner, Francisco Rodríguez, at a cavalcade.

Bottom left, Rigoletto and his owner working at the farm. Above, Francisco Rodríguez and Rigoletto got the first prize in the Bellas Formas class.

Bibliography:

Endnotes:

Delgado Mercado, Osiris. El Caballo en el Proceso Histórico y Cultural de Puerto Rico. Publicaciones Puertorriqueñas, 2007.

1 “Jíbaro” is a term used for a rural inhabitant of the mountains of the island; similar to the term hillbilly used on the mainland. Today is used as a moniker of pride in Puerto Rico.

Laracuente, José M. Historia Cronológica del Caballo Puertorriqueño (Revisada y Actualizada). Puerto Rico, 2011.

Bennet, Deb. Conquerors, The Roots of the New World Horsemanship.

Amigo Publications, California, 1998.

Ledrú, André Pierre. Viaje a la Isla de Puerto Rico en el año 1797.

Translated to Spanish by Julio L. De Vizcarrondo. Imprenta Militar de J. González, Puerto Rico, 1863.

De Hostos, Adolfo. Historia de San Juan, Ciudad Murada. Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, Puerto Rico, 1966.

Alonso, Manuél A. El Gíbaro: Cuadro de Costumbres de la Isla de Puerto Rico. Barcelona, España, 1849.

Wolfsberger, W.W., Ayala, N.M., Castro-Marquez, S.O. et al. Genetic diversity and selection in Puerto Rican horses. Sci Rep 12, 515 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-04537-5.

2 The unmarried young women wrote their names on pieces of paper, and these were tied with ribbons to rings and hung up so that the young men could pass at “paso largo” with their horses and a stick. Those who can grab a ring with its stick had the honor of the first dance with the girl whose name was on the paper they grabbed. La Gran Enciclopedia de Puerto Rico explains that the race of the rings is one of the most beautiful games in the town festivities.

Photos: Photos of Rigoletto from Francisco Rodríguez, Romualdo Olazábal, and David Lang collections.

Cothran, E. Gus. Analysis of Genetic Diversity in the Puerto Rico Paso Fino. Texas A & M University, 2007.

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

11

COVER FARM

Margarita’s Paso Fino Farm: Versatile Horses Achieving Their Full Potential William Arias Jr. William Arias Jr. is a retired U.S. Navy Commander. William is a native of Puerto Rico, and has dedicated his retirement days to conserving the Puerto Rican Paso Fino. He owns Hacienda Borikén in Kentucky along with his wife Teresa.

W

e all want versatility: the one tool that can do it all (or at least most of what we want). Knife collectors value their Swiss Army Knives.

Woodworkers impress with their Shopsmiths. Where would cooks be without the food processor that grinds, chops, whips, slices, shreds, mixes, juliennes, and more! We even show it in the vehicles we purchase. J.D. Powers, the marketing research company that analyzes market data and produces rankings, reports that over 80% of car sales are SUV and Trucks1. That’s no surprise since we value versatility in almost everything else. You can look great in a SUV or truck whether going out to dinner or a fancy event while still being able to use the same vehicle to drive up to the trailhead pulling a trailer or perhaps picking up hay and feed.

However, in the interest of maximizing production, sometimes we default to the specialized. The knife collector probably doesn’t use the Swiss Army fork at home: it’s kinda clunky. For the woodworker, it takes time to shift between tools so a large manufacturer would not use a Shopsmith. A production level kitchen uses individual commercial grade tools to process foods. And of course, we are still making cars: commuting at 15 miles per gallon gets expensive. Specialized tools and variety are still important attributes.

12

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

Regardless, we still crave versatility. The Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino can do anything. Whether it’s roping, sorting, trail riding, eventing, jumping, barrel racing, pole bending, galloping, endurance, dressage, drill team, physical therapy, or pulling a wagon, this versatile horse can do it all but with a unique trait: you can work, play and ride all day in comfort! Other breeds excel in specific areas but none can claim to be the smoothest horse in the world.

History has demonstrated the versatility of these horses over the centuries in Puerto Rico and today several owners throughout the United States continue to successfully engage these horses in various disciplines. In this issue of Born to Gait, we travel to Lexington, SC where Margaret and Clifford Fisher share the Paso Fino passion displayed at Margarita’s Paso Fino Farm. Their horses have done so much and continue to do more.

As you travel to the farm you would not expect to find such a large parcel in this suburban area. I recall my first visit while pulling our 44 foot combination through residential streets hoping not to put myself into a difficult situation and breathing a sigh of relief as we entered the sprawling acreage. At one time this was the outskirts of the capital city of South Carolina, Columbia, and primarily an agricultural

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

13

zone. But today the two cities, and others, seamlessly meld to form the greater Columbia metropolitan area. However, regardless of the encroaching subdivisions with single family homes surrounding, this family homestead stands tall. The 68 acre property shares multiple paddocks, a large 8 stall barn with many amenities, two homes and a large pond together with Owens-Fisher Construction: the endeavor that pays the bills.

Clifford has always loved horses but growing up in the city made it challenging to indulge in equine activities.

Unexpectedly, his construction endeavors facilitated his entry into the Puerto Rican Paso Fino experience. At about the age of 30, his CPA recommended he find an activity in which to lose money. What a better choice than horses!

As the adage goes; how do you make a million dollars with horses? Start with two million dollars. By any measure of achievement, the Fishers have been successful.

At about this time, a superintendent on one of the company’s projects had just bought two unregistered Puerto Rican Paso Finos. Clifford had no idea about the difference between a Paso Fino and a Quarter Horse. The superinten-

14

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

dent asked if he could leave them on his property for a while and in Clifford’s words, “He did, and here we are.” The Paso Fino journey began!

The first horse at Margarita’s Paso Fino Farm was purchased from Gail Brown of Palmetto Pride Paso Fino Farm. Clifford can’t remember if it was Brisa, which he still owns, or another, but at one time the herd boasted 35 Puerto Rican Paso Finos. Plenty of horses to train and enjoy! After a few dry competitive years, he had his first champion (which was also purchased from Gail for $5,000); Toro Negro, a stallion. At the first show with the three year old horse, Toro Negro swept all his classes. Shortly after the show, Clifford went to visit Gail and a man visiting the farm offered him $10,000 for the stallion. Since this was Clifford’s first champion, and he wasn’t in the sport to make money, he declined. Two weeks later while getting ready to breed him, Toro Negro kicked the stall and would not stop resulting in blowing his leg out. The injuries made him lame so he was gelded and let out to pasture. Toro Negro was put down in November 2022. He enjoyed over 20 years of eating and being petted.

In addition to the yearly Celebration Show at the South Carolina State Fair, Clifford attended a couple of shows in New Jersey (sponsored by the North Atlantic Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino Organization), Illinois, and an August show that used to be held in South Carolina. However, Clifford did not just show his horses. He took it on as his mission to use the Paso Fino in all types of activities “Just to prove a point.” Most of his competition were Quarter Horses. Although the horses are smaller and shorter, Clifford successfully proved the point of the versatility of the Paso Fino by excelling in these activities.

Cliffords horses have participated in two real working ranch cattle drives from north of Billings, Montana to the Canadian Border. The Paso Finos excelled at herding cattle!

Among the horses was Clifford’s go to steed Brisa. At one drive, an older gentlemen from the ranch who had a roomful of trophies, buckles, and awards for quarter horses had been observing Clifford’s horse for two weeks and asked if he could ride the horse. When he returned from his ride the older man proclaimed that this Paso Fino did everything the Quarter Horse does if not better. He told Clifford that if he ever wanted to sell this horse he would buy it! “The whole family nearly fell over, what in the world is granddaddy saying!” This guy had earned a new respect for the Paso Fino and had never seen one in his whole life. This was a great compliment and validates the versatility of the breed.

Several of Clifford’s horses have been trained to be in the mounted police force. This is not a simple process and includes many different types of activities. One of these events is endurance riding. The mounted police sponsor several 100 and 150 mile endurances races in the mountains of North Carolina. Riders must qualify by participating in Saturday trials of 20 miles over a three month period.

Both races had to be completed in 4 days and included a 50 pound backpack; who says Pasos can’t carry a large rider! The course included going up and down hills, over creeks, and several 40 and 70 degree climbs. Riders were required to dismount every 5 miles and then walk 1 mile while holding the horses’ tail to be pulled along and up the hills. Clifford remembers the other riders bouncing up and

down the whole day while he traveled smoothly. They could hardly walk when they got off but Clifford walked just fine.

Of the 20 horse/rider teams that typically started only 4 or 5 would finish. Clifford’s horses always finished.

Mounted police horses must be able to keep calm in loud and dangerous situations. To prepare their steeds for service and to encourage training, several events are held each year to prepare the mounted police horses. Twice yearly an exhaustive test is conducted. Parts of the obstacle event test includes: opening and shutting a gate, standing in a 10 foot square and firing a gun 6 times while requiring that the horse stays in the square, going over a teeter totter, a bridge, and a power pole. In addition you had to swim a pond and then be exposed to harassment: rockets, firecrackers, squirt guns, bags, or whatever a crowd could do to you. The time limit to complete the course was 10 minutes and the pass rate was typically 1 in 20 with no one completing it the first time. Clifford was told a Paso Fino could never do it.

Brisa passed the first time and the next year broke the state record by ten seconds by completing the course in less than 3 minutes. Ultimately, Clifford qualified 3 Paso Finos for mounted police work. War horses throughout history would be proud of Brisa and her pasture mates.

Clifford recalls one mounted patrol where he and Brisa had been assigned to crowd control for a football game at Spring Valley High School in Columbia. This event was

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

15

early in the local re-establishment of the mounted patrol unit and was pivotal in demonstrating its effectiveness.

Mounted police are ideal for these environments since they are up high, weapons are safe, and you could see several hundred feet around. If there was a fight you could respond quickly. At this event, as police tried to arrest a person involved in a fight, the suspect decided to run away. The suspect, thinking he could evade police, went into a nearby Walmart. Clifford and Brisa pursued the suspect into the Walmart and upon the greeter’s direction were able to capture the suspect in a stall of the restroom. All mounted police work is done without leaving the saddle so the suspect was handcuffed and led back a mile and a half to the paddy wagon at the high school. This was only one of dozens of interactions in which an adrenaline filled Clifford and his mounts have engaged over the years. Clifford credits Brisa as a small horse (13.3 hands) with a huge heart.

The ever versatile Brisa, with Clifford tagging along, has

also participated in the Extreme Cowboy events of the wellknown horse trainer Craig Cameron. During one event in North Carolina, Clifford was able to participate as a mounted police officer competing against professional participants

16

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

who travel this horse circuit monthly competing for trophies and money. With a multitude of challenging obstacles and about 70 participants, Brisa qualified to participate in the championship round of 4 horses. Craig Cameron had never seen a Paso Fino compete like that! For the championship round, the contestants leave the arena while the obstacles are replaced. Unfortunately, Clifford was a little nervous and messed up Brisa’s chance to emerge as number 1. How many horses of any breed can show up at an event in which they have never participated, against professionals, and emerge as a finalist? Pure Puerto Rican Paso Finos can do it! This link is to the 2018 Extreme Cowboy Association World Championship. No Brisa but it gives you an idea of the competition. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiUVPrJKjWw Of paramount emphasis for Clifford and of potentially enduring impact for many is the annual production of Jesus is His Name. This is a Broadway quality production where a cast of 103 actors, representing 33 churches, share

the Gospel of Jesus through the re-enactment of his birth, life, death, and resurrection. In production since 2016, the free show is scheduled for multiple performances each December at the South Congaree Arena in West Columbia

SC. For one scene, Brisa, at a walk with Clifford mounted and dressed as a Roman soldier, travels on a platform that is 4 feet high and 8 feet wide in the middle of a screaming crucifixion scene, and an audience of 2500 people, without flinching! Then she stands silently as the scene unfolds.

Horse people will come up after the show in awe that Brisa can do this without hurting herself or anyone else. The ultimate compliments are from our fellow horse folks. This is a link to, This Man called Jesus, an older production of the current show with Brisa in the introduction, then again at 7:40, and finally at 1:29:43: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=w25sspAioZc . Clifford can also be seen in the production leading his camel and donkey. He also brings his sheep and Macaws for different scenes. I encourage you to visit the website for Jesus is His Name at https://www.jesusishisname.com. The home page will greet you with Clifford and his donkey.

Clifford is winding down on his horse and animal activities. His wife, children, nor grandchildren share the animal passion. His wife, Margaret, has a nursing degree and worked for about 5 years for the police before being elected the Lexington County Coroner. With her second job of keeping Clifford in line she doesn’t have time for horses.

The children, 1 girl and 3 boys, all work with the family business of Owens Fisher Construction. The 5 grandchildren (the oldest being 7 years old) are already in so many other activities leaving little time for horses.

Throughout the years Clifford has owned many different animals. He has trained them for multiple activities. His Paso Finos, in addition to what has already been detailed, have also pulled wagons and carts. As a registered exotic animal owner he has also owned zebras and llamas. He has used these animals in many public and private events including his favorite ministries of live nativity scenes, This Man called Jesus, and Jesus is His Name. Clifford credits his success with animals to his training method of irritating the animal until they just give up and do what’s asked just to get him to stop. In wisdom, he encourages all horse lovers to ignore the established stereotypes of the dainty pony and try the Puerto Rican Paso Fino horse because they can and will do anything!

Endnotes: 1. Trucks And SUVs Are Now Over 80 Percent Of New Car Sales In The U.S. Shilling, Kurt, published: January 27, 2022, accessed: January 8, 2023. https://jalopnik.com/trucks-and-suvs-are-now-over-80-percent-of-newcar-sale-1848427797 2. All information and quotes unless separately attributed are from interview conducted with Clifford Fisher on November 30, 2022.

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

17

FEATURED ARTICLE

About the Pinto Patterns in the Puerto Rican Paso Fino Stefanie Schermerhorn Trademark Farms Pinto Pasos and Pinto Paso Fino Horses

T

he origins of the Paso Fino have been written and rewritten for hundreds of years. From the landing of ships to the selective breeding and development of a breed. The breed we now know as the Paso Fino started with available stock and were animals of necessity. It would be hundreds of years before selective breeding would evolve into the modern breed for modern uses. Selective breeding would take many directions; varied purposes and preferences of people. Records and historical stories were passed down from breeders and family members. Farm to farm, region by region. Later farm and family records were written and shared. Eventually, breed associations were developed to maintain pedigrees. Simply the details which would become history were in the hands of people who were developing the breed in the direction they desired. At times, information was lost, omitted or altered and the narrative changed. This is common in many breeds, human intervention is frequently responsible for dramatic changes in a breed.

what was loaded on the ships, and included color and markings of livestock. On one ship alone, three horses are described to have spotted body markings, and another 2 with excessive face and leg markings. We now know scientifically that excessive white and pintos’ patterns are controlled by a number of genetic markers, not a single “gene” from limited breeds that would prove impurity. Some of the spotting genes are dominant, others recessive but each is passed generation after generation, making the argument that these colorful horses are very likely descendants from the original “spotted” stock that landed and would become part of the gene pool that influenced the contemporary Paso Fino.

The near loss of “pinto” genetics in the modern Paso Fino is an example of human intervention. Over time, Paso Finos with pinto patterns, excessive markings and “high white” were eliminated from competition, then eliminated from registration within some associations. We often hear that pinto markings were signs of impurity, but history provides documentation that horses of color arrived as early as the Cortez ships. Museum archives of ships’ logs describe

At some point, the “traditional” Paso Fino description and preference became a solid-colored horse with no excessive white. At first, this preference was seen in the show ring, not much later some associations refused registration to pintos.

18

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

There are decades of photos and paintings of colorful Paso Finos. Paso Fino Registries have recorded horses with tobiano and sabino markings as far back as the 1920s, champions with pinto markings are recorded in the 1940s.

These animals often had both solid and pinto offspring who continued to be included in registries and were used for breeding and competition.

By the mid-1940s American servicemen stationed in Puerto Rico discovered the smooth-riding Paso Fino. They

and testable, but color testing is not something many Paso Fino breeders utilized at the time, or even today. Unfortunately, a number of horses from this line have been lost and very few descendants are producing colorful offspring.

While there are associations that now allow registration of tobianos, the number of years disallowing registration means that previous modern generations were not registered, or genetically tested so their offspring do not qualify for registration now. Horses with sabino or other white spotting patterns are registerable, but are not indicated as pinto.

Pincel Rey (Pincel x Boca Chica) was one of the first pintos who made the journey stateside from Puerto Rico and began spreading color.

grew to not only admire the breed for its smooth ride and versatility, but for some discovering pinto-marked horses in the breed was an additional quality. There is no doubt of the fascination for loud color that North Americans have when it comes to their horses. Servicemen recognized that the Paso Fino was unlike any other riding horse that existed back home, so upon returning home to the States after WWII, several servicemen began to export Paso Finos from Puerto Rico. Horses of all colors including tobiano and sabino pintos were sent stateside, and from that, eventually, a group of owners banded together to form the first Paso Fino association in the USA in 1964. Pinto Paso Finos originating from Puerto Rico were among those that were registered in the early years. Some had been registered in Puerto Rico, others were offspring of horses that were from registered stock. And some were from stock that had been denied registration during the rule excluding excessive white.

If the bloodlines and the pinto patterns that exist in the breed are to be preserved there needs to be a concerted effort by those interested to work together, genetics tells us that having only one pedigree of specific attributes will not create a wide enough gene pool to lead to conservation. Owners and breeders will have to get involved with genetic testing and associations must work diligently to improve accurate descriptions based on genetic results.

To date, genetic testing has identified the tobiano, sabino and W20 genes within the Paso Fino breed. W20 which is considered a booster and can be responsible for expressions of typical markings. There are currently two horses identified with sabino-like patterns that have been tested for all patterns and are thought to be carrying a currently unidentified W pattern. With the discovery of more patterns, the breeders will test these horses again.

Marisol Sin Par (Pincel Rey x Apache) was born in 1964.

More recently in Puerto Rico there was a resurgence of acceptance of horses that displayed loud white speckling markings (belly spots, tall stockings over knees and hock extending into frothy patterns towards hips). These markings are indicative of the sabino pinto pattern. For a period of time, this resulted in increased breeding and more sabino pintos being produced. In reviewing registrations and information on these horses, not one was described as a “pinto”.

Science had already advanced with genetic testing, it would not be long until the sabino gene (sb1) would be identified BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

19

tobiano gene) 50% of the time, tobiano (TT) (homozygous - both parents passed the tobiano gene) 25% of the time, and SOLID (no tobiano pattern from either parent) 25% of the time.

Sabino (SB1)

Siete Potencias del Brujo (Brujo de Kofresí x Josefina Carissa), bred by Carmen Barreras and owned by Robert and Marcia Carrico.

Sabino is an incomplete dominant gene. This means that only one copy from one parent is needed to express itself, but two copies will result in a different phenotype (appearance). The homozygous form of sabino will result in a horse that is white or nearly white from birth. Unlike Overo (a gene not found in the Paso Fino breed) and some White spotting genes, there is no lethal form of sabino.

Pinto definition – Alternating patches of white and any other equine coat color appearing in random shapes and sizes. It is a generic term, not a singular gene.

Tobiano (TO) Tobiano is a dominant gene, which means that it requires only one tobiano gene from one parent to express itself - this would be the heterozygous form of tobiano. A heterozygous tobiano has a 50% chance of passing the tobiano pattern to any of its offspring. The homozygous form of tobiano (requiring one tobiano gene from EACH parent) means that the probability of a horse passing on the tobiano pattern to all of its offspring is 100%. There is no lethal homozygous form of tobiano. Breeding of two tobiano horses can produce tobiano (Tt) (heterozygous - one parent passed

Left, pic of a pinto mare and her filly, from North Atlantic Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino website. Above, Classic Fino mare La Doña is an example of the sabino pinto pattern (photo by Jo-Ann Ferré Crossley and Arsdelicata).

Dominant White 20 (W20) W20 is a dominant gene. This mutation is thought to have a more minor effect on protein function as well as a subtler effect on the amount of white expressed unless in combination with other dominant white alleles (and perhaps other white spotting genes). In combination with other white pattern alleles, W20 has been shown to increase the amount of white patterning, producing an all-white or nearly all-white phenotype.

Photos by Denisse Cancel and Paso Fino PPR Facebook group.

20

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

PASO FINO (Puerto Rico) The Paso Fino is famously known for its spectacular gaits—the fino, corto and largo—which are smooth, effortless and comfortable for the rider.

Origins: The foundation of the Paso Fino is old Spanish or Iberian stock. They have the same bloodlines, inherited from horses brought to the Americas by the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century; however, different environments have caused slight variations in terms of character and conformation.

The Paso Fino is a naturally gaited horse, like the Peruvian Paso or Peruvian Stepping Horse and another lesser known breed from Colombia, and although it is predominantly a working horse on the coffee plantations of Puerto Rico, these gaits make it remarkable. They are spectacular to watch, the main ones being the fino, the classic gait of the showring, performed with the horse balanced and collected, the corto, executed with only medium collection and light contact in the bit, and the largo, the speed form of the gait.

There are other two variations, the sobre paso, a much more natural gait in which the horse is allowed a loose rein and is relaxed, and which is used in general riding rather than the showring, the other is the andadura, which is a fast pacing gait. However, this is uncomfortable and is only performed for short periods. The rest of the time the

horse’s effortless gait makes it extremely comfortable and smooth to ride, its gliding action making it popular for trail riding. Paso Finos are also in great demand for showing and displays.

Appearance: The head is fine, almost Arab-like, with a straight nose and flaring nostrils, longish well-shaped ears and intelligent eyes. The body is very Spanish, similar to Andalusian’s, with a medium-length back with slightly sloping quarters and a low-set tail. The legs are sturdy with large hocks.

Characteristics: The Paso Fino has an excellent temperament. It has great enthusiasm and is obedient and easy to ride, seemingly enjoying the company of human beings.

Despite its small stature is very strong, in fact, even the smallest will easily carry a man over hills and rough terrain.

Colors: All colors.

Height: 14-15 hh.

“The Ultimate Guide to Horse Breeds,” Andrea Fitzpatrick, 2021.

Illustration by Arq. José Vivó, 1992 (from Romualdo Olazábal collection).

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

21

GENETICS

The Genetics of the Color Spectrum in Our Puerto Rican Paso Finos Paola Matos Ruiz & Xiomara R. Arias

The genetics article in the previous magazine issue focused on the genetics of tiger eyes, which is a unique trait of the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Finos. In this article, we plan to continue promoting the genetic diversity of the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino breed by exploring the genetics of coat colors and blue eyes. We also plan to illustrate the genetics of coat and eye color through a case-based learning series using a Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino cremello horse as an example.

M

utations. We hear this word and may have vastly different impressions of what it means. Do you think of ugly mutants, abominable creatures that come from the depth of toxic waste? When we are children, this is what may have come first to our minds. Despite being perceived as atrocious by some, mutations allow the world to be filled with diverse beauty and benefits for species’ survival. Divergent biological aspects create a planet with many new and appealing sights. Our world would not be nearly as beautiful or diverse without the possibility of mutations. Due to mutations, we have the diversity of coats and eye colors we appreciate nowadays in horses.

22

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

Red and black are the primary pigments in horses’ base coat colors. The interaction of the genes Melanocortin Receptor 1 (MC1R, abbreviated as E) and Agouti-signaling protein (abbreviated as A) determines the base coat color in horses1-2. How these genes are co-inherited dictates the final base coat color product.

The MC1R gene plays a role in determining the black and red pigments and is known as “extension” or the red factor locus. Three alleles are known for the base coat color dictated by the MC1R gene: E, e, and ea. Two copies of the recessive alleles (e/e, e/ea or ea/ea) alleles would produce only horses with a red base coat color (e.g, chestnuts, palominos, red duns) because this genotype masks the expression of

Sueño de Paz (Ensueño Dorado x Platanera Dorada) is an example of a cremello stallion with blue eyes.

other genotypes that could be co-inherited through a genetic mechanism known as epistasis. The Agouti gene determines the distribution of black pigmentation in horses and acts as a modifier to determine bay versus black. From the absence of the Agouti dominant copy (A/a or A/A) and recessive red factor alleles (e/e, e/ea or ea/ea), we can get black horses if the horse genotype at the MC1R gene is E/E or E/e. In the presence of one or two copies of Agouti (A/a or A/A) and one or two for the MC1R gene (E/e or E/E), the horse may have a bay color phenotype with black pigmentation restricted to the mane, tail, lower legs and ear rims.

These areas of black pigmentation are referred to as “points”.

In other words, Agouti modifies the black pigmentation on

the horse’s body, except for the points mentioned above.

While black and red (also known as eumelanin and pheomelanin, respectively) are the only pigment types present in horses, mutations can cause a different distribution of pigments, resulting in our diverse color wheel of horse hair.

For example, the cremello, smoky black, smoky cream, and perlino colors are the results of a mutation, primarily affecting the Cream locus9-10.

The Cream (C) locus located in chromosome 21 is where the Cr and N alleles are found9-10. Cr refers to an allele with a variant in the MATP gene that produces color dilution, whereas N refers to an allele without the variant9-10.

Since horses are diploid, they will inherit an allele from each

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

23

Embajadora de Krysia (Doble Réplica del Caribe x Lombardia de Krysia) is an example of a chestnut mare.

of their parents. The Cream locus can present a different phenotype for homozygotes (e.g., Cr/Cr) and heterozygotes (Cr/N). For example, if a horse is homozygous for the Cream allele (e.g., Cr/Cr), it means it has two copies of the Cream dilution variant. Depending on the base coat color (e.g., chestnut, bay, or black) the homozygous (Cr/Cr) horse would be expected to be cremello (chestnut base), perlino (bay base), or smoky cream (black base). If the horse is heterozygous, Cr/N, it has one copy of the Cream dilution allele, it would be expected to be either palomino (chestnut base), buckskin (bay base), or smoky black (black base). If the horse is recessive for the absence of the variant at the Cream dilution locus, N/N, its phenotype should show its base coat color.

The presence of two copies of the Cream dilution allele at the C gene locus does not render a horse an albino. Albinism refers to the inability to produce pigment and, therefore, a complete lack of color, which presents itself as white.

The presence of Cream does not result in the absence of color; rather, it changes the distribution of pigment. Albinism is currently not a phenomenon that has been described for horses. Although from manifestations in other species, albinism often causes reddish/pink eyes11. Cremello and perlino horses have blue eyes, therefore demonstrating that they are not albinos.

24

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

Pintos, similarly, are a result of a variety of genetic mutations. The patterns of pintos that have been observed in the Puerto Rican Paso Finos are: Tobiano pintos (TO), Sabino pintos (SB1) and Dominant White 20 (DW20).

Tobiano pintos are a result of a chromosomal inversion in chromosome #38. The specific genetic mutation observed in our breed’s Sabino pintos has not been identified, but it might involve the KIT gene. The Sabino mutations tend to vary among horse breeds; the specific mutation for the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Finos has not been identified scientifically, but we predict it might involve the KIT gene4.

The DW20 results from a point mutation at the KIT gene (c.2045G>A) and results in prominent white markings in the leg and face, more in its homozygous form than its heterozygous form3. From talking to breeders in Puerto Rico who own offspring of the Grand Sire of the Breed, Linaje D’ La Excelencia, the DW20 mutation has been confirmed genetically through genetics panels ordered by the breeders themselves. Based on pedigree analysis, most likely, Linaje is a carrier of this mutation because of his paternal grandmother, Jackeline.

So far, research has not found evidence about the Tobiano, Sabino, and DW20 mutations resulting in adverse health effects. In contrast, gray horses, which have also been

Magnum de Heart of Gold (Ser Externo Esperanza x Ilusionista) is an example of a black stallion.

These stallions will always pass on one of their Cream alleles to their offspring. This means that if you mate them to a bay mare, you will (mostly) get buckskins. We say ‘mostly’ because if the bay horse base coat color genotype is heterozygous for the MC1R gene (e.g., E/e), there is a 50% chance the offspring will be a palomino, and if you mate them to a chestnut (e/e), you will get a palomino.

Omega de Pride (San Mateo Mako x Herencia de Kofregrama) is an example of a bay gelding.

observed in our breed, do experience adverse effects by being at a higher risk of developing melanomas in their lifetime due to depigmentation of their skin. Gray horses are a result of a mutation (i.e. duplication of intron 6) in the gene syntaxin 17 (STX17) that results in progressive depigmentation of the skin by inhibiting the production of melanocytes5-6. They are born gray and progressively their hair color transforms to white. The pattern of inheritance is autosomal dominant, which implies you only need one copy of the mutated allele of gene STX17 to develop this pattern. In other words, they lose their hair pigmentation which serves as an armor to protect their bodies against the dangerous sun UV light and are prone to develop skin cancer. According to most recent research, 70-80% of gray horses will develop melanoma (skin cancer) by the time they are 15 years old5-6.

It is important to clarify that some of the skin tumors gray horses develop are benign; about 66% become malignant7.

The cremellos of our breed not only contribute to the maintenance and boost of the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino coat color spectrum but also eye color diversity. These cremellos have blue eyes primarily due to their genotype at the Cream locus. It is important to highlight that blue eyes have been observed on horses of all coat colors but are more prevalent and more likely to be inherited from double-dilute horses, such as cremellos, and genes that cause white, such as pintos. In our beloved Pure Puerto Rican Paso Finos, blue eyes have been observed in pintos, cremellos, and even bay horses. Interestingly, some of the bay horses with blue eyes have one of the two eyes affected. This phenomenon is called heterochromia.

Sueño de Paz (Ensueño Dorado x Platanera Dorada) is a cremello with blue eyes - Sueño de Paz sire and dam were both palominos. Therefore, he inherited one copy of the Cr from each parent to have a cremello phenotype. Sueño

Compositora de Sueños (Sueño de Paz x Sara de Plebeyo), palomino mare.

To current knowledge, there are only two Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino double cream diluted stallions worldwide.

They are both cremellos, with Sueño de Paz residing in Puerto Rico and Rayito de Oro residing in the mainland United States. Sueño de Paz sire is the palomino stallion Ensueño Dorado and palomino dam Platanera Dorada. Rayito de Oro is the son of the palomino stallion Cale’s Helado Oro and buckskin dam Tostada Hidalgo.

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

25

Casta Diva (Abayarde Puro x Cantares de Nan) is an example of a roan filly.

de Paz’s owner, Ms. Viveca Venegas Vilaró, kindly accepted our request for the genetic panels of her stallion and some of his offspring. His genetic panel confirms he is red-based (e/e) and homozygous for the Cream locus (Cr/Cr). He is also homozygous for the Agouti trait, but this trait is masked by the presence of two copies of the red factor (e/e). Given his homozygosity on the Cream locus, he can only produce buckskins or palominos when bred to a bay mare or palominos when bred to a chestnut mare. When bred to a palomino, Sueño de Paz offers a 50% chance of producing a cremello. When bred to a chestnut mare, he produces 100% palominos.

Interestingly, Sueño de Paz is a carrier of the tiger eye allele 2. Therefore, this outstanding cremello Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino stallion not only can produce palominos and buckskins, but can also help increase the number of Pure Puerto Rican Paso Finos with tiger eyes if bred to a car-

26

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

rier or tiger-eye mare. From the data shared by Ms. Venegas Vilaró, Sueño de Paz has already produced offspring with tiger eyes. Here are some examples of his offspring (genetic panel information was confirmed): 1- Compositora de Sueños (Sueño de Paz x Sara de Plebeyo*) - Palomino mare with tiger eyes.

2- Cantares de Nan (Sueño de Paz x Sara de Plebeyo*) Buckskin mare with tiger eyes. *Sara de Plebeyo (Plebeyo x Sarita M.) - Is a bay mare heterozygous for the red factor (Ee). Therefore, she has a chance of producing 50% palominos and 50% buckskins when bred to Sueño de Paz. The versatility of the Puerto Rican Paso Fino is one of the key features of the breed. While we often focus on what they can do in terms of riding and intelligence, we must

not neglect to recognize the brilliant diversity of color that also contributes to the uniqueness of the breed. Preserving color while maintaining the important aspects of the Puerto Rican Paso Fino—gait, conformation, intelligence—is an important task to take accountability for and continue. We must not forget that the tiger eye is one of the defining features of the breed that can genetically show the Puerto Rican Paso Fino is different from other similarly gaited breeds. The tiger eye indicates that our breed has been bred separately from other populations, creating a unique breed in need of conservation.

Padre de Margarita (Brillador de Pisgah x Reina de Margarita) is an example of a tobiano pinto.

Cantares de Nan (Sueño de Paz x Sara de Plebeyo), buckskin mare.

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

27

Genotype

Phenotype

One or two dominant copies of the red factor gene (MC1R), in the absence of the Agouti Black1-2 dominant allele, annotated as E/E or E/e

Example of Puerto Rican Paso Fino Horses Magnum de Heart of Gold (Ser Externo Esperanza x Ilusionista)

A single dilute horse with a black base, in the Smoky Black (usually absence of Agouti. Possible genotypes: E/E, confused with black, but Cr/N, a/a or E/e, Cr/N, a/a genetically not black)9-10 A double dilute horse with a black base, in the absence of Agouti. Possible genotypes: E/E, Smoky Cream9 Cr/Cr, a/a or E/e, Cr/Cr, a/a Presence of at least one copy of the Agouti allele and one copy of MC1R. Example: E/-, A/-

Omega de Pride (San Mateo Mako x Herencia de Kofregrama)

Two recessive alleles for the red factor gene.

(MC1R), annotated as e/e

Chestnut1-2

Embajadora de Krysia (Doble Réplica del Caribe x Lombardia de Krysia)

Two recessive copies of the Cream dilution allele, annotated as (Cr/Cr)

Cremello9-10

Sueño de Paz (Ensueño Dorado x Platanera Dorada) and Rayito de Oro (Cale’s He lado Oro x Tostada de Hidalgo) (Photos of Rayito in the News section.)

One Cream dilution allele in a chestnut base, Palomino9-10 annotated as (Cr/N, e/e)

Compositora de Sueños (Sueño de Paz x Sara de Plebeyo)

One Cream dilution allele in a bay base (at least one copy of the Agouti variant), annotat- Buckskins9-10 ed as (Cr/N, A/a or Cr/N, A/A)

Cantares de Nan (Sueño de Paz x Sara de Plebeyo)

Genetics is still under investigation

Casta Diva (Abayarde Puro x Cantares de Nan)

Roan

Autosomal dominant (at least one copy of the allele carrying the variant at the STX17 gene Grey6 locus) G/G or G/N

Onasis (Boricua x Coqueta) and Nevado Royal (Don Carlos x La Beba de Ana Livier )

Chromosomal inversion in chromosome #3

Tobiano pintos8

Padre de Margarita (Brillador de Pisgah x Reina de Margarita)

Autosomal dominant mutation at the KIT gene (SB-1/SB-1 or SB-1/N)

Sabino pintos3

Photos of Siete Potencias del Brujo and La Doña in the Pintos’ featured article.

Autosomal dominant mutation at the KIT gene (W20/W20 or W20/N)

Dominant White 20 (DW20) pintos4

28

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

Acknowledgments: We want to thank Viveca Venegas Vilaró, who collaborated with us to make this article possible.

References: 1- Rieder, S., Taourit, S., Mariat, D. et al. Mutations in the agouti (ASIP), the extension (MC1R), and the brown (TYRP1) loci and their association to coat color phenotypes in horses. Equus caballus. 12, 450–455 (2001).

2- UC Davis website (Bay, black and chestnut horses): https://vgl.ucdavis. edu/test/agouti-horse, https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/test/red-factor-horse 3- Book- Horse Genetics, 3rd edition | Drs. Ernest Bailey and Samantha Brooks | Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK; Boston; CABI [2020].

4- Hauswirth R, Jude R, Haase B, Bellone RR, Archer S, Holl H, Brooks SA, Tozaki T, Penedo MC, Rieder S, Leeb T. Novel variants in the KIT and PAX3 genes in horses with white-spotted coat color phenotypes. Anim Genet. 44(6):763-5 (2013).

Above, Onasis (Boricua x Coqueta). Below is his great-grandson Nevado Royal (Don Carlos x La Bebé de Ana Livier). Both are examples of the grey color.

5- Curik I, Druml T, Seltenhammer M, Sundström E, Pielberg GR, Andersson L, Sölkner J. Complex inheritance of melanoma and pigmentation of coat and skin in Grey horses. PLoS Genet. 9(2):e1003248 (2013).

6- UC Davis website (Grey Horses): https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/test/gray 7- Yi Z, Gao Y, Yu F, Zhu Y, Liu H, Li J, Murua Escobar H. Interventions for treatment of cutaneous melanoma in horses: a structured literature review. Vet Res Commun. (2022).

8- Brooks SA, Lear TL, Adelson DL, Bailey E. A chromosome inversion near the KIT gene and the Tobiano spotting pattern in horses. Cytogenet Genome Res. 119(3-4):225-30 (2007).

9- Mariat D, Taourit S, Guérin G. A mutation in the MATP gene causes the cream coat color in the horse. Genet Sel Evol. 35(1):119-33 (2003).

10- Locke MM, Ruth LS, Millon LV, Penedo MC, Murray JD, Bowling AT. The cream dilution gene, responsible for the palomino and buckskin coat colors, maps to horse chromosome 21. Anim Genet. 32(6):340-3 (2001).

11- White, D., Rabago-Smith, M. Genotype–phenotype associations and human eye color. J Hum Genet 56, 5–7 (2011).

Photos by Viveca Venegas, Xiomara Arias and Romualdo Olazábal.

Table 1. Summary of the genotype and corresponding phenotype for some of the colors observed in the Puerto Rican Paso Fino.

Disclaimer: This table is not comprehensive and does not include the different color subtypes described in horses of our breed. *N= normal/wild-type allele

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

29

30

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

REFLECTIONS AT 4-BEATS

Versatility and Diversity: Rationale for Breed Preservation Xiomara Arias Xiomara Arias is an undergraduate student at The University of Kentucky majoring in Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology. Along with her parents, she cares for three Puerto Rican Paso Finos at their farm Hacienda Borikén in the rolling hills of Kentucky.

She enjoys showing and promoting the Puerto Rican Paso Fino breed.

V

ersatility – what comes to mind when you think of this word? If you like movies, perhaps a Transformer comes to mind, transforming from car to robot! Perhaps you are on the more practical end of things, and a Swiss Army Knife comes to mind, knife, toothpick, file, screwdriver, and all. Maybe your mind (much like mine) never deviates from thinking about horses and you immediately think of 3-day events – dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. Despite the word “versatile” applying to a plethora of concepts, its meaning is never diminished. Versatility is the ability to adapt to new events and be flexible in skills.

This definition applies well to the Puerto Rican Paso Fino.

Versatility is greatly prized among horse breeders and associations. Versatile horses must demonstrate the ability to be flexible in mind and body. The best versatile horses, to modify an old quote, are jacks of all trades and masters of some! The Puerto Rican Paso Fino is my favorite horse to ride, whether I am competing at a gallop, playing around at a canter, or reflecting at a calming 4-beat gait. Perhaps one of the only events they cannot do is race —but I’m happy to leave that to the Thoroughbreds! Let’s take a look at some examples of demonstrated versatility in our breed.

Mr. Clifford Fischer has trained Puerto Rican Paso

Finos to be police horses. Their size may be an impediment to field work (most police horses have draft blood), but the Puerto Rican Paso Finos can be trained to pass the police horse test. One of Mr. Fischer’s horses even broke a state record in completion time for the obstacle test. I have heard repeated time and again that not every horse can be trained to be a police horse. Despite the size limitations, it is important to note that the Puerto Rican Paso Fino has the ability and intelligence to be trained as a police horse.

Mr. Clifford has also shown Puerto Rican Paso Finos to be well-adapted to endurance races. I am thankful that Mr. Fischer has taken the time to train his horses well and demonstrate their versatility.

The versatility of the Puerto Rican Paso Fino is being demonstrated in Puerto Rico by Nicole Aviles, her students, and Nora Marrero. These women are pioneering the way for Puerto Rican Paso Finos in competitions such as dressage, jumping, and barrel racing. The elegant, precise, and fluid gait of the Paso Fino is perfect for such events.

Puerto Rican Paso Finos have also been trained to compete in rodeo events. Randee Randall in Oregon has trained her Puerto Rican Paso Fino to barrel race, pole bend, run keyhole, and cut cattle. Randee has used the same

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

31

of which Puerto Rican Paso Finos naturally have! Other aspects are purely developed by training, and require a moldable mind. The Puerto Rican Paso Fino is an excellent choice for a smooth, intelligent trail partner. Just sit back and enjoy the scenery!

Humans often mistake intelligence for willingness to obey our will. I would argue the exact opposite. Intelligence in animals is the ability to demonstrate thinking for themselves. Truly intelligent animals are the most rewarding for which to develop a relationship. You know that they are not blindly following commands, but have thought and decided that they will put their trust in their rider. I’ve heard some ascribe pig-headedness to the Puerto Rican Paso Fino, not willing to ride a breed that is naturally intelligent and deserves more than being forced to complete tasks mechanically. You are more than welcome to ride an animal that has given up their will, but I would rather have a discussion with my horse and be companions. The Puerto Rican Paso Fino is an intelligent partner.

rodeo horses with search and rescue operations. Being able to show up and run a rodeo event and then be a calm and level-headed search and rescue companion demonstrates an amazing amount of versatility for a single horse.

Would you believe that Puerto Rican Paso Finos are often naturally cowy? I have heard on two different occasions of completely different Paso Fino bloodlines that Quarter Horse trainers were impressed by a specific Paso Fino’s “cowiness”. Randee proudly shows her horse’s aptitude for working with cattle on Facebook. Paso Finos were developed as family AND work horses, with cattle handling being an important part to the work aspect.

Let’s talk about one of my favorite pastimes. Many trail riders self-deprecate by indicating that they “just” trail ride, and their horses are “just” trail horses. In reality, most

trail horses are extremely well trained. Many hours go into training a horse to focus on the rider and be desensitized to stimuli. Some aspects of a trail horse are by blood, such as good-footedness and a predisposition to endurance – both

32

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

I apologize, but I can’t get through an article without talking about my partner in crime, Omega! Omega is by no means the perfect horse (though he is in my heart!) but I believe he is still a good example of versatility. I can throw him into any class and know he will work his heart out for me. At the Celebration Show in South Carolina, he has won Horse of the Show for two years, and won the 2022 Horse of the Show at the local Pioneer Saddle Club show.

Being eligible to win these awards demonstrates that he can compete in a wide range of events. During the Celebration Show Omega went from winning Bellas Formas to winning the Panty Race (my personal favorite class), to competing in Excellence of Gait, to winning Egg and Spoon, and to the Gelding’s Pleasure Championship. Conformation and ground manners, gait ability, speed, and smoothness of gait are tested in these classes, and Omega did not disappoint!

Upon returning home, he nobly allowed my young nieces to ride him. He goes from champion to child’s horse! I know there are plenty of Pasos that can demonstrate the same ability, if not better. Come beat Omega for Horse of the Show! Let’s show off the Paso Fino’s versatility and make each other better with friendly competition.

Within the Puerto Rican Paso Fino there is a wide range of diversity. I believe it would be rather monotonous to have a completely homogeneous breed. The diversity

understand the magnificent versatility of the Puerto Rican Paso Fino. However, there are those who have not discovered our fascinating breed. In my opinion, it is unfortunate that not everyone has had the opportunity to explore the Puerto Rican Paso Fino. As owners, it is our job to display the breed and help others gain awareness of the Paso Fino’s unique qualities. How can we do this? Breed promotion is a crucial part to conservation. In the mainland United States, owners can show their horses in parades during events such as Christmas and 4th of July celebrations. In Puerto Rico, cabalgatas (horse parades) can be held to show camaraderie among Paso Fino owners. The main idea is to promote the breed by using your horses in the public eye – the horse’s versatility will speak for itself.

within our breed is complex, interesting, and worth conserving. The variations in phenotype make it possible for breeders to develop their ideal horse. I feel fortunate to live in an age where genotype can inform decisions made for a specific phenotype, though just the topsoil of horse genetics has been uncovered. Within our breed we have variations in size, temperament, conformation, gait, and color. The differences between the three main Puerto Rican Paso Fino populations (Eastern mainland U.S., Western mainland U.S., and Puerto Rico) allows breeders to maintain old bloodlines and refresh linebreeding with new blood. While variations exist, the Puerto Rican Paso Fino breed has it fixed within their blood to be intelligent, adaptable, and beautiful (though I may be biased on the last characterization). You, the owner, can mold the horse to your ambitions. We won’t know the extent of the breed’s versatility without trying new

The origin of the Paso Fino and its development as a breed is attached directly to the 4-beat lateral gait. This gait adds an extra level to the breed’s versatility. The Paso Fino can be an excellent trail horse, surefooted and brave. They can show, jump, run speed events, and even be police horses.

But, the most special part is that they can do all these tasks with comfort for the rider. The Puerto Rican Paso Fino was bred to be a versatile family horse. When I ride my horse, work in the barn with my dad, or go to shows, I am filled with proud fervor towards this breed of horse. It is my responsibility to preserve my culture and heritage, and for me that starts with the Puerto Rican Paso Fino. The versatility of the Puerto Rican Paso Fino knows no bounds, provided you have a conversation and teach them how to execute their job. Join the Puerto Rican Paso Fino family and let your Paso take you to new horizons!

events and pushing the limits of what is deemed possible for the Paso Fino.

Now, if you are reading this you may already fully

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

33

News from Kentucky Hello from Kentucky! We had a nice cold spell, but everyone is doing well with their heated water buckets and blankets when needed (though Omega doesn’t need one – he is like a wooly mammoth!).

Embajadora is continuing training at Hacienda Radiante.

She will be coming to the Celebration Show in October!

We are pleased to announce a new member to our herd. Rayito de Oro, son of Cale’s Helado Oro and Tostada Hidalgo, has made the move from Texas to Kentucky. We are excited to add him to our herd and include his temperament, gait, conformation, and cremello color to our breeding program. He is a pleasurable stallion and will be offered for A.I. to serve mares. Look for his information in the Stallions Directory at the end of this magazine.

This section is yours! Send one or two high-resolution photos to editor.borntogait@gmail.com with a short paragraph. Please, PPR Paso Fino horses living in the continental United States and Canada only.

34

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

News from Oregon 2023 has been a great year in the Pacific Northwest region.

Six new foals to continue their effort is the conservation of the breed. All foals are by Armani del Sol, the Puerto Rican Bellas Formas Champion standing at stud in Oregon.

But that’s not all. The region also has a new stallion, Don Tata (aka Tater), a Puerto Rican import sired by Poema de Altura out of Sombra del Brujo. With this new stallion, genetic diversity in the PNW herd continues to increase.

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

35

News from Florida James Zeno and Finca La Charca new filly is a beauty! Cleopatra de la Charca is by Mago de Pride out of Melodía del Caribe, Jaime’s foundation mare. Melodía was bred to Romeo de Pride for a 2024 foal.

Pedro Burgos and Criadero Villa Burgos are celebrating with the birth of Romeo de Pride’s first foal. Pascua is the proud mom of this wonderful colt that carries the blood of the best PPR Paso Fino horses in the United States.

The Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino Federation of America 2022 Classic Grand Champion Pleasure and Performance colt is back home in Florida. Diseño Taino D’Mi Borinquen (Mago de Pride x Aroma de Las Magnolias) is proudly owned and deeply loved by his owner Denisse Cancel.

36

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

News from South Carolina Born to Gait would like to congratulate Shaw Laney and Cedar Lane Stable on the acquisition of the Pure Puerto Rican filly by Plebeyo de Pride out of Reina de Pride.

Palmetto Pride Farm, home of Mago de Pride, Plebeyo de Pride and other amazing horses, has been very busy with last year’s crop and the arrival of the new 2023 foals. It is good to see that the breeders are active and the number of horses is increasing.

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

37

News from Texas Promoting the breed is as important as breeding, and that is one of the many things Dr. Ramón Bodón and Kofresi Royal Farm are doing throughout the schools in Killeen, Texas. During his visits, Dr. Bodón tells the students about the training of the Puerto Rican Paso Fino, its history, and its endangered status. “It is important to create experiences where students have the opportunity to learn firsthand about our breed,” told Dr. Bodón. Two thumbs up to Kofresi Royal Farm for this initiative.

News from Missouri A new match made in heaven for Tracy Hernández and Buckeye Ridge Paso Finos! A 2024 foal is expected by Imperio Royal, the great Classic Fino and Bellas Formas champion, out of the great mare Camelia de Pride. Congratulations on such a wonderful cross!

38

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

In Memory of Eduardo Figueroa

This year we received the sad news of the passing of Eduardo Figueroa Conde. The Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino breed will always be indebted to him and he will be remembered as one of the greatest of the Figueroa dynasty.

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

39

ANN CELEBR SHO OCTO 202

40

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

NUAL RATION OW OBER 22

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

41

42

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

43

44

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

45

Owners’ directory ALABAMA Barbara Thompson Montgomery, AL T.

Cindy & Brent Forehand Paces Creek Stables Monticello, FL T. 850-661-7777 E. bcforehand@gmail.com

E.

Edgardo Fullana

CALIFORNIA William Sanders Baroque Dressage __, CA T. E.

COLORADO Eric Aurelius Testori Englewood, CO T. E. 1_cipo@yahoo.com

FLORIDA Ann Shirley Ashley Benifay, FL T. 801-622-3237 E. Penny Bollhorst Mayo, FL

Pedro Burgos Castadero Villa Burgos Tallahassee, FL T. 787-244-0832 E. pfg2121@yahoo.com Denisse Cancel D’Mi Borinquen Paso Fino Micanopy, Florida T. 352-246-9983 E. denissecancel@hotmail.com

46

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

Karl Nussbaum Dreamalot Scottsburg, IN T. E.

Palm City, Florida T. 561-797-8052 E. fullanae@hotmail.com Barbara Preiss

KENTUCKY William & Teresa Arias Hacienda Boriken

Weirsdale, FL

Salivisa, KY

T. 352-821-1300

T. 904-233-0092

E. cwpreiss@aol.com

E. william@ariasonline.net

Carlos Rosado Hacienda RB

Xiomara Arias Hacienda Boriken

Ocala Florida

Salivisa, KY

T.

T. 904-233-0092

E. wen_bur@yahoo.com

E. xio@ariasonline.net

Ruth L. Thompson Raison Dunnellon, FL

MICHIGAN

T. 740-935-5252

Rosie Spagnuolo Bickert Gentle HoofBeats Paso Finos

E. ruth@raisongroup.com James Zeno Finca La Charca

DeWitt, Michigan T. 517-490-7712

Morriston, FL

E. bickertr@msu.edu

T. 845-522-3361

www.gentlehoofbeats.com

E. civillawcasemanagement@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/rosiebickert

T. 540-493-6423 E. pennyb@sitstar.net

INDIANA

GEORGIA Rufino Figueroa Toccoa, GA T. 706-244-1294 E. rufinofigueroa@icloud.com LuAnn Lackey Ellijay, GA

Debra Sandusky Adrian, MI T. E. Karen Timberman Waldron, MI T. E. timberidgekb@gmail.com

T. 706-636-1682 E. llackey@ellijay.com Rence Slappy

MINNESOTA Víctor Rivera

Fortson, GA

Eden Pairie, MN

T. 706-505-5217

T. 952-835-5665

E. arslappy@gmail.com

E. cucourivera@hotmail.com

Owners’ directory MISSISSIPPI

NEW JERSEY

Janet J. Brown

William & Mildred López Criadero López Paso Finos

Meridian, MS T. 601-917-4700

Vineland, NJ

E. giddyupgogo11@yahoo.com

T. 856-794-8843

Bonnie Cannon Shannonwood Farm Wiggins, MS T. 601-928-9777 E. luvselah@gmail.com

MISSOURI Jesse & Tabitha Dillanhay Lockwood, MO T. 417-861-4523 E. Tracy Hernández Buckeye Ridge Lockwood, MO T. 417-861-0303 E. pfrider@earthlink.net Lauren Hill Sarcoxie, MO T. 417-338-9374 E. John & Cassandra Kline

E.

NEW YORK Louie Giorgi Mt. Pisgah Paso Finos

E. theoneacrewood@comcast.net David & Millie Holderread Blue Bird Paradise Paso Finos

E. mtnxtreme@gmail.com

E. smoothride@bluebirdpasofinos.com www.bluebirdpasofinos.com

OKLAHOMA Tonia Colburn Cuatro Beat Pasos Muskogee, Oklahoma T. 918-441-9902 T. 918-781-9901 E. cuatrobeat@yahoo.com www.facebook.com/Cuatro-Beat-PasoFino-Horses-1508319659481832

OREGON Janice Chipman Aurora, OR

Peg Cornell Corvallis, OR T. 541-754-3984

T.

E. rob.cornell@comcast.net

Wilmot, NH

Gaston, OR

T. 541-929-5338

Wentzville, MO

Cheryl Watson

Turk & Debbie Gravley

Corvallis, OR

E.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

E. vonszel@gmail.com

T. 845-532-3535

T. 417-335-1428

E. ron501@swbell.net

T. 503-830-7520

New Kingston, NY

T. 503-983-8702

Ronald Palmer

Terrebonne, OR

T. 503-929-7161

Kissee Mills, MO E. jckline123@gmail.com

Robert & Ann Graham

Joshua Dallman Eugene, OR T. 541-953-464 E. joshuadallman@gmail.com Summer Douglas

T.

Vernonia, OR

E.

T. 970-690-2840 E. moparsummer@gmail.com

Heather LaBarre Hillsboro, OR T. 503-708-3985 E. lsbarrefamilyfarm@comcast.net Josey & Bruce Machado Puerto Rican Paso Fino Heart Throbs Prineville, OR T. 503-983-8702 E. prpfheartthrobs@yahoo.com E. 4hoofbeats@gmail.com Rhonda Marquis Terrebonne, OR T. 541-420-9398 E. hrsnarnd55@gmail.com Paula Miller Baker City, OR T. E. kurt_pj@q.com Wanita Miller Philomath, OR T. 541-929-3507 E. wmillerdgreen@yahoo.com Dee Myers Golden Sunset Ranch Baker City, OR T. E.

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

47

Owners’ directory Robin Perry Grants Pass, OR

Mandy Orvosh Heart of Gold Paso Finos

T. 541-660-6042

Rochester Mills, PA

Batesburg, SC

E. randarubin@gmail.com

T. 412-400-5132

T. 803-657-5682

E. 9-orvosh@yahoo.com

E. gailbrown45@hotmail.com

Donna Randall Winds of Freedom Farm Albany, OR

SOUTH CAROLINA

T. 541-730-0588

Marueen Adkins & Alexis DeMeza

T. 541-990-2212 E. donnaparty69@live.com www.facebook.com/windsoffreedomfarm www.donnaparty69.wixsite.com/ windsoffreedom Laura J. Sparks Eagle Creek, OR T. 503-539-4424 E. Margie Stevenson Grants Pass, OR T. 541-955-8378 E. margies@oigp.net Randy & Deeanna Marie Wallace Mountaindale, OR T. E. 1_cipo@yahoo.com Mark Watson Portland, OR T. E. karlawatson@comcast.net

PENNSYLVANIA

Columbia, SC T. 803-894-6173 T. 803-466-0029 E. madkins270@pbtcomm.net Grayson Anthony Lexington, SC T. 803-356-0875 E. ranthony@sc.rr.com Regan Anthony Lexington, SC T. 803-479-5632 E. ranthony0427@gmail.com John A. Ashley

Gail Brown Palmetto Pride Paso Fino Farm

www.facebook.com/ purepuertoricanpasofinohorses Sam & Glenda Cerezo Camden, SC T. 803-432-8306 E. Jim Davis Camden, SC T. 803-432-3611 E. Staige DeBenedetti Camden, SC T. 209-810-7490 E. sprinceh@mindspring.com Joyce Dickinson Valley Stream Farms Leesville, SC

Gilbert, SC

T. 803-718-3347

T.

E. joyce.dickinson@davita.com

E. Elizabeth Baerreis Cornwell Farm

Lindsy Dickinson Valley Stream Farms Leesville, SC

Swansea, SC

T. 803-718-5587

T. 803-568-2258

E. lcdickinson0117@gmail.com

E. rubs@pbtcomm.net Diane Black & Richard Tidwell

Gloria C. Douglass Merrylane Farms

Aiken, SC

Columbia, SC

Gail Brennan

T. 803-646-3446

T. 803-254-1239

Indiana, PA

T. 803-646-3335

E. gcdouglass@aol.com

T.

E. dianepaso@gmail.com

E.

E. kf4joi@yahoo.com

Lorna Gay Campbell

Fernando Bodón

Tionesta, PA

Lexington, SC

T. 814-755-3768

T. 803-705-9907

E. hunterrun@verizon.net

E. postiza2000@aol.com

Edwardo Figueroa Batesburg, SC T. E. familiamunguia@hotmail.com Clifford Fisher Margaritas Paso Fino Farm Lexington, SC T. 803-331-0091 E. clifford@owens-fisher.com

48

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

Owners’ directory Juan García

Johnny Lanier

Kayla & Brandon Sturkey

Kershaw, SC

Kershaw, SC

Aiken, SC

T. 803-475-1136

T. 803-475-1136

T. 803-295-1723

E.

T. 803-508-1383

Ann & Al Gilpatrick Conway, SC T. 803-645-8837

Stella Manberg-Wise Great Blazes Farm

T. 803-646-1429

Windsor, SC

E. gilpatrick@yahoo.com

T. 803-646-3327

E. bsturkie07@gmail.com E. kaylapaso803@gmail.com Bill & Lori Sutton Carolina Brio Paso Fino Farm

E. greatblazesfarm@gmail.com

Irmo, SC

Lexington, SC

www.facebook.com/Great-Blazes-FarmPaso-Finos-PLUS-1114680431877243

T. 803-606-9537

T. 803-530-5110

www.greatblazes.com

Cindy Griggs

E. griggsck@windstream.net Teresa & Ronnie Grissom Pelion, SC T. 803-429-1695 E. rtgrissom1@yahoo.com E. grissomt@rcgov.us Rosemary Harrell Eagle’s Rest Johns Island, SC T. 843-442-7005 E. rosmith26@hotmail.com Roni Hicks Leesville, SC T. 803-532-3003 T. 803-318-0102 E. ronilynnhicks@gmail.com E. wondermybaby@aol.com Jim Holland Florence, SC T. 843-665-6615 E. Maggie & Tom Johnson West Columbia, SC T. 803-791-3459 E. maggie1501@sc.rr.com Joan Kalec Leesville, SC T. 803-361-4935 E. joankalec.art@gmail.com

Melina Marsh Country Springs Lexington, SC T. 803-319-4231 E. marshmelina@yahoo.com Diane & Ronald Maury Foxhill Farm Wagener, SC T. 803-351-1589 E. Clyde & Francis Meares

E. dzineforu@aol.com Katelin Swygert Wagener, SC T. 803-600-3767 E. mercerdeshull@aol.com Lynn & Kevin Swygert Wagener, SC T. 803-600-3767 E. klkswy@aol.com Cathy Tack Leesville, SC T. 803-381-5992

Columbia, SC

E. tackat@yahoo.com

T. 803-772-5945

Michelle Thomas Macree

E. Beth Postell Ravenel, SC T. 803-763-9339 E. Greg & Rita Rice Elgin, SC T. 803-206-3909 E. gregr@reborn..com E. paso5777@gmail.com Patti Smith

Cameron, SC T. 803-823-2792 E. Jennifer Watkins Palmetto Pride Paso Fino Farm Batesburg, SC T. 803-657-6967 E. jenniferwatkins100@gmail.com www.facebook.com/ purepuertoricanpasofinohorses Robbyn Young Ravenel, SC

Columbia, SC

T. 704-778-2777

T. 803-422-1817

E. robbyncita@yahoo.com

E. montage@sc.rr.com Donald F. Smith Cayce, SC T. 803-794-0770 E. vasmith@sc.rr.com

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

49

Owners’ directory TEXAS

WASHINGTON

Mary Berg Sonriente Paso Finos

Sharon DeLaney Enumclaw, WA

Taylor, TX

T. 206-321-5087

T. 512-998-9719

E. delasl@aol.com

E. mary@k9element.com www.facebook.com/sonrientepasofinos Ramón and Mildred Bodón Kofresí Royal Farm Killeen, TX T. 254-462-7982 E. salsabodon@aol.com www.facebook.com/Kofresi-RoyalFarm-550812661692030 Marj Douglas Rancho Mi Estrella

CANADA César A. Romero Saskatoon, Canada T. 306-242-9309 E. cesar.alejandro.romero@gmail.com www.facebook.com/PA50F1N0 Stefanie Schermerhorn Trademark Farms Saskatchewan, Canada

Dale, TX

T. 306-500-1746 (Sask)

T. 512-787-3019

T. 731-845-3718 (Tennessee)

E. marj_douglas@yahoo.com

E. info@pintopaso.com

www.facebook.com/ pasofinosofranchomiestrella

www.facebook.com/pintopasofino www.pintopaso.com

Rafael and Margarita García Velarama Royal Farm Killeen, TX T. 808-778-8164 (Rafael) T. 808-779-0094 (Margarita) E. boricuakendo@gmail.com E. margaretgarcia109@gmail.com

VIRGINIA Patricia & James Muncy Bentonville, VA T. 540-635-9568 E. John & Trish Novaro Zuni, VA T. 757-859-6449 E.

50

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

This section is a work in progress, if you want to be included in this directory or want to add more information to your listing, please send your information to editor.borntogait@ gmail.com or contact us through our Facebook page www.facebook.com/ BornToGait .

To a rider

(Author unknown)

To a rider, a horse is not a pet and not a friend. Your horse is a best friend, a listener, a partner, and a teammate.

Horses do not care about how many times you may come off, or how covered in dirt you are, and at the end of the day: It doesn’t matter what color ribbon you got. Because it’s your horse who will be there for you, to love you, and cherish every moment with you, to talk to you, and to listen to you.

Stallions’ directory FLORIDA

MICHIGAN

Borinquen de Mi Orgullo

Curioso

Mago de Pride x Belinda de Réplica

Milagro de Nieve x Farola

Pedro Burgos

Rosie Spagnuolo Bickert

Castadero Villa Burgos

Gentle HoofBeats Paso Finos

Tallahassee, Florida

DeWitt, Michigan

T. 787-244-0832

T. 517-490-7712

Diseño Taino D’Mi Borinquen Mago de Pride x Aroma de Las Magnolias

E. bickertr@msu.edu

Denisse Cancel

MISSOURI

D’Mi Borinquen Paso Fino

Don Juan de América

Micanopy, Florida T. 352-246-9983 E. denissecancel@hotmail.com Don Tatá D’Borikén Poema de Altura x Sombra del Brujo Edgardo Fullana

Juan Jesus x Srta. Constitución Tracy Hernández

E. fullanae@hotmail.com Romeo de Pride

Vaho de Montana x Carmina B Tonia Colburn Cuatro Beat Pasos Muskogee, Oklahoma T. 918-441-9902 T. 918-781-9901 E. cuatrobeat@yahoo.com

OREGON Armani del Sol Barba Roja de Kofresí II x Alborada del Sol César Romero

Buckeye Ridge

Standing at Puerto Rican Paso Fino Heart Throbs

Lockwood, Missouri

Prineville, Oregon

T. 417-861-0303

Contact Josey Machado

E. pfrider@earthlink.net

T. 503-983-8702 E. prpfheartthrobs@yahoo.com

Palm City, Florida T. 561-797-8052

Royalty’s Vaho del Cumbre

NEW YORK Magnum Ser Extremo Esperanza x Ilusionista

Amante de Pride x Yesenia de Toro Negro

Louie Giorgi

Pedro Burgos

Mt. Pisgah Paso Finos

Castadero Villa Burgos

New Kingston, New York

Tallahassee, Florida

T. 845-532-3535

T. 787-244-0832

E. mtnxtreme@gmail.com

KENTUCKY

OKLAHOMA

Rayito de Oro

Cuatro Beat Obsession

Color: Cremello

Color: Tobiano Pinto

Cale’s Helado Oro x Tostada de Hidalgo

Santo Serrano x Milicirin’s Miracle

William & Teresa Arias

Tonia Colburn

Hacienda Boriken

Cuatro Beat Pasos

Salivisa, KY

Muskogee, Oklahoma

T. 904-233-0092

T. 918-441-9902

E. william@ariasonline.net

T. 918-781-9901 E. cuatrobeat@yahoo.com

Royalty’s Prince Killian Thorin Turabo Segundo x Royalty’s Toña La Negra Summer Douglas Vernonia, Oregon Not available for stud services at this time.

Royalty’s Turabo D’Alicante (aka Zorro) David Holderread Blue Bird Paradise Paso Finos Corvallis, Oregon T. E. smoothride@bluebirdpasofinos.com Yuquiyú Cale’s Helado Oro x Medalla de Pride Donna Randall Winds of Freedom Farm Albany, Oregon T. 541-730-0588 T. 541-990-2212 E. donnaparty69@live.com

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

51

Stallions’ directory SOUTH CAROLINA

Boricua x Magia de Réplica

Boricua Plebeyo x Suleyka

Gail Brown and Jennifer Watkins

CANADA Cale’s Ayudo de Pintura San Mateo Mako x Pintura LaCE

Gail Brown and Jennifer Watkins

Palmetto Pride Puerto Rican Paso Fino Farm

Palmetto Pride Puerto Rican Paso Fino Farm

Batesburg, South Carolina

Trademark Farms

T. 803-532-8805

Saskatchewan, Canada

E. gailbrown45@hotmail.com

T. 306-500-1746 (Sask)

Batesburg, South Carolina T. 803-532-8805 E. gailbrown45@hotmail.com Diamante Pechudo x Tiffany’s Travesura Stella Manberg-Wise Great Blazes Farm Windsor, South Carolina T. 803-646-3327 E. greatblazesfarm@gmail.com Fuego Rápido de Pride San Mateo Mako x Diamante Negra de Pride Cathy Tack Palmetto Pride Puerto Rican Paso Fino Farm

TEXAS Amaretto Royal Allegretto Royal x Faraona Royal Ramón and Mildred Bodón Kofresí Royal Farm Killeen, Texas T. 254-462-7982 E. salsabodon@aol.com Galante de Pride

T. 808-778-8164 (Rafael) T. 808-779-0094 (Margarita)

Batesburg, South Carolina T. 803-532-8805 E. gailbrown45@hotmail.com Mago de Pride Rejonero de Labriego x Magia Negra de Toro Negro

Brillador de Pisgah x Reina de Margarita Stefanie Schermerhorn Trademark Farms Saskatchewan, Canada T. 306-500-1746 (Sask) T. 731-845-3718 (Tennessee) E. info@pintopaso.com

E. boricuakendo@gmail.com E. margaretgarcia109@gmail.com Imperio Royal Boricua x Candela de Kofresí Ramón and Mildred Bodón Kofresí Royal Farm Killeen, Texas T. 254-462-7982 E. salsabodon@aol.com Rojo Rey de Cuerno Grande

Gail Brown and Jennifer Watkins

Águila de Negro x Azúcar Morena

Palmetto Pride Puerto Rican Paso Fino Farm

Mary Berg Sonriente Paso Finos

Batesburg, South Carolina

Taylor, Texas

T. 803-532-8805

T. 512-998-9719

E. gailbrown45@hotmail.com

E. mary@k9element.com

BORN TO GAIT • FALL 2023

Color: Tobiano Pinto

Velarama Royal Farm

E. tackcat@yahoo.com

Palmetto Pride Puerto Rican Paso Fino Farm

Domingo del Escudero

Rafael and Margarita García Killeen, Texas

Gail Brown and Jennifer Watkins

E. info@pintopaso.com

San Mateo Mako x Herencia de Kofregrama

T. 803-687-1565

Boricua x Camelia de Pride

Stefanie Schermerhorn

T. 731-845-3718 (Tennessee)

Batesburg, South Carolina

JB Legado de Pride

52

Plebeyo de Pride

This listing includes PPR Paso Fino Stallions properly registered with one of the PPR Paso Fino organizations in the United States or Puerto Rico. The horse must reside in the United State to be included in this list.

If you want to include your stallion in this directory or want to add more information to your listing, please send the information to editor.borntogait@ gmail.com or contact us through our Facebook page www.facebook.com/ BornToGait .

Organization’s directory UNITED STATES

PUERTO RICO

SOCIAL MEDIA

Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino Federation of America

Federación del Deporte de Caballos de Paso Fino de Puerto Rico

Paso Fino Preservation

PO Box 2027, Leesville SC 29070-2027 T. 803-532-8805

PMB 220, #138 Ave. Winston Churchill, San Juan PR 00926-6013

E. gailbrown45@hotmail.com

T.

www.prpasos.org

E. federacionpasofino@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/PPRPFFA

www.facebook.com/FDCPFPR Asociación Nacional del Deporte de Caballos de Paso Fino de Puerto Rico

The Livestock Conservancy PO Box 477, 33 Hillsboro, St. Pittsboro, NC 27312

Cond. El Atlántico, Aptdo. L-1, Levittown PR 00949-4223

T. 919-542-5704 E. info@livestockconservancy.org www.livestockconservancy.org www.facebook.com/livestockconservancy Equus Survival Trust

T. E. nacionalpasofino@gmail.com www.facebook.com/ AsociacionNacionaldePasoFino Asociación Insular Dueños y Criadores Paso Fino Puro Puertorriqueño

130 Lumber Plant Rd. Lowgap, NC 27024

PO Box 1013, Guaynabo PR 00970-1013

T. 336-352-5520 E. EquusSurvivalTrust@yahoo.com www.equus-survival-trust.org www.facebook.com/ groups/534393013432883

T. 787-365-4087 E. insularpasofino.pr@gmail.com www.facebook.com/ AsociacionInsularPasoFinoPuro

www.facebook.com/Paso-FinoPreservation-773845989440462 Paso Fino, puro de aquí www.facebook.com/purodeaqui Paso Fino Raza Puertorriqueña www.facebook.com/ pasofinorazapuertorriquena/ www.pasofinopur.com PNW Puerto Rican Paso Finos www.facebook.com/ groups/742342929878629 PPR Paso Fino Group www.facebook.com/ groups/1906531239409437 Raza Autóctona TV Paso Fino, Raza Autóctona de Puerto Rico T. 787-910-2729 E. jhuertasmelendez@yahoo.com www.youtube.com/c/ PasoFinoRazaAutóctonadePuertoRico

Oficina de Paso Fino Departamento de Agricultura de PR

www.facebook.com/ pasofinorazaautoctonadePR

Box 10163, San Juan PR 00908-1163

www.facebook.com/ groups/704893746370347

T. (787) 721-2120 E. info@agricultura.pr.gov www.agricultura.pr Paso Fino Puerto Rico Horse Breed Foundation – PFBREED PMB 1736, Calle París #243, San Juan PR 00917 T. 787-403-7545 E. pasofinoprbreedfoundation@gmail.com www.facebook.com/pfbreed

MAGAZINES Paso Fino, Raza de Puerto Rico Magazine Rafael Arbelo T. (863) 838-3932 E. yumac1@hotmail.com www.facebook.com/ PasoFinoaPuertoRicanBreed www.pasofinomagazine.com

Follow us on Facebook @BornToGait