Their smooth-as-silk action gets into your soul," says Annie Keith of Jamestown, Tennessee. She and her husband, Danny, own 10 Paso Fino horses, and wouldn't have it any other way. "Spending all day on the trail without a single bounce or jog is my idea of pleasure riding."
The Keiths own and operate the Timber Ridge Horse Camp Ground, adjacent to hundreds of miles of trails in the popular Big South Fork River and Recreation Area.
"While some of the trails we ride can be quite formidable, our Paso Fino horses approach every obstacle with surefooted confidence," Annie says. "They have the heart and spirit to meet every challenge. Aficionados call that 'brio.' The Paso Fino is a proud breed, and we're proud to ride them."
In recent years, as a generation of aging baby boomers discovered the benefits of the smooth-moving gaited breeds, the Paso Fino has enjoyed increased popularity. Today, the Paso Fino Horse Association boasts 45,000 registered horses, and 8,500 members.
PFHA executive director C.J. Marcello encourages trail enthusiasts to join the association's trail riding programs. "Both the Pasos for Pleasure and Ticket to Ride programs award national recognition and prizes for hours logged in recreational riding or on trail rides," he notes. "The Paso's fluid natural gait, athleticism, balance, and stamina make them great partners on the trail." Read on for more about this smooth-gaited breed.
'Love at First Ride'
Betty Rankin of Spring Hill, Tennessee, spent January 1, 2005, on the trails with her Paso Fino gelding, Tio. "We have a saying: 'Whatever you do on New Year's Day, you'll do for the rest of the year,'" she says, smiling. "And I plan to do lots of trail riding this year!"
Betty and her husband, Kenny, have owned Paso Finos for 11 years. "We had 16-hand-high Tennessee Walkers," says Betty, who's a petite five feet tall. "Nothing against them, but life with a compact, 14-hand Paso is just so much easier. And their smooth-moving gaits - well, it was simply love at first ride."
The ultra-smooth gaits that the Rankins love are natural to the Paso Fino. In fact, it's so instinctual that it's not unusual to see a newborn foal moving in gait around the pasture. While training may refine the Paso's natural gaits, artificial training aids are neither necessary for any horse nor allowed in the show ring.
The Paso's lateral, four-beat gait leaves three feet on the ground at all times. The footfall is evenly placed: right rear, right fore, left rear, left fore. There's scant up-and-down movement of either the horse's shoulders or croup to impact the rider. It's a rhythmic and evenly cadenced gait, and any movement is absorbed by the horse's back and loins.
The Paso's smooth gait comes in three distinct speeds:
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The Classic Fino is slow-moving and collected, with a rapid foot-fall, like dancing in place. The Fino is primarily a show-ring gait, not used on the trail.
- The Paso Corto is an effortless, medium-speed gait, most commonly used on the trail. It's comparable in speed to a trot, and the athletic Paso Fino horse can travel at the Corto for hours, effortlessly carrying his rider for great distances.
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The Paso Largo is the fastest, least collected gait, but should always maintain balance and smooth action.
The Paso Fino also performs the same gaits as other breeds, including the four-beat walk, and the three-beat lope or canter.
