Breed Information

TROTE: A two-beat movement made of the alternate beat of successive diagonal legs, which produces a dry sound as the legs hit the ground in the following manner: tas tas tas tas.

GALOPE: A movement of diagonal steps executed in a three beat series: the first beat is executed by the impulse of one hind leg, a second beat is characterized by the landing of the opposite hind leg and its diagonal fore leg, a third beat marks the landing of the opposite foreleg from the one that initiated the three beat movement.  The sound produced is: catorce, catorce, catorce, or one two, three, one two three, one two three.

TROTE Y GALOPE REUNIDO COLOMBIANO

WHAT IS DIAGONAL TROT? It is a form of traveling of many breeds of horses. This movement involves the lifting and placing of the diagonal limbs (left hind leg and right front leg T1, and substituting its weight for the other hind leg and front leg T2).  T1= first tempo and T2= second tempo; to create a cycle that moves and touches the ground with its four legs. Horses with this modality are known as the Paso Trote-Galope and the movement is a four beat rhythm.  All of these movements are transmittable and executed with ease.

ORIGIN OF THE TROTE-GALOPE HORSE: We know and accept that the Spanish Conquistadors brought their horses to Latin America in 1493, arriving first in the island known today as the Dominican Republic.

WHAT QUALITY OF HORSES ARRIVED TO LATIN AMERICA?  If for the second voyage, the great Colon brought horses and their supplies along with the other great treasures, plus all of the obstacles that were overcome, we assume that the horses in the small ships were the best war-horses. 

WHAT MODALITY DID THE SPANISH HORSES HAVE THAT CONQUERED AND COLONIZED AMERICA? These horses were Trote and Galope and other horses performed what was called Ambladura or Andadura and its derived movements.  The numbers of each modality will never be known. It is important to note that the Spanish learned from the Arabs that stallions were the only horses they rode and the mares were brought along just for breeding purposes.

SOME REFERENCES ABOUT THE DESCRIPTION OF OLDER MODALITIES

 AND SOME OF THE MODERN PIONEERS FROM THE AUTHORS ON THE SUBJECT.

In 1958, Doctor Layfield of the expedition Chaplain, talks about the horses found in Puerto Rico, referring to them as magnificent.  He said: “They were trotty”  and also makes reference to the lateral gait. This was taken from the book “The Paso Fino Horse,” written by the distinguished researcher of the Caballo Criollo, Dr. Jose M. Laracuente, from Puerto Rico.  (page 17. 1983) 

In 1767, the trot was the most common modality in Spain.  The book, “Methodical Instruction for Horses,” written by Mr. Garcia Ramirez de Arellano, explains the mechanics of the gait, Trote y Galope, and the differences of the same. 

In 1865 in Colombia, a great teacher of the horse emerged, Mr. Jose Maria Vergara y Vergara, with a book titled, “ Advice to my Colt.” In the book, he said, “ If you only know of Trote y Galope, a carriage horse you’ll be; so you will have the advantage to pull an omnibus in peace and a carry a colonel in war.” 

In 1898 in Colombia, the book, “El Moro,” was published by Sr. Jose Manuel Marroquin.  In Chapter VII (p. 61) he said, “ Trote: gait in which opposite legs move simultaneously.”

 In 1970 in Peru, Sr. Luis Malaga Bravo, in his interesting study “The Peruvian Paso Horse,” said, “ When the horse reaches the northern sandy land, its movements were the tranco (pace), and the Trote y Galope”.  (Source:  “Collection of Documents of Peru.”   Department of ICA). 

In 1968 in Ecuador, Dr. Luis de Ascasubi published in his book, “The Paso Horse and his Equitation,” Lima, Peru. In it he analyzes and clarifies concepts about the Spanish Paso Horse of the 15th Century.

As we can see from the different literature on the subject, it is clear that horses of Trote y Galope did come to Latin America. In Colombia, this type of horse has had great roles in the big farms for the managing of cattle, especially in the states of Tolima, Huila and Valle del Cauca. It is well known that in order to work cattle (which in those times was very wild and the terrain had a lot of brush), the horse had to trot and run in order to be able to guide and contain the cattle.  Since in all breeds there are good, mediocre and bad quality horses, and since it costs the same to maintain them all, selection was managed by the rule that “The horseman knows and will always prefer to ride the best". Exceptional horses began to appear.  They had great conformation, even and collected movement, their Galope was easy and compact, and were gentle with good mouths.  They began  to increase their economic and cultural value, arriving to the agricultural shows and appearing to national festivities and small towns to be admired by all. 

The Colombian men from such states as Antioquia-Caldas, Cundinamarca-Boyaca, Valle del Cauca, have always been interested in breeding and owning excellent horses, and having them for personal pride.  Now there are more than 120 national shows where fans and other owners get together to admire these great animals, the Colombian Criollo Horse. Owners, trainers and salesman with great knowledge and alertness are always out to find the best horse.  They will buy and enjoy, maintaining them with pride, and continue to improve the quality of the same. 

By these standards, Colombia can show the world with these horses, great conformation, very smooth in the cadence of their movements, along with great carriage and style of their hind legs and fore legs, their head, always up high and with arched necks. 

This is the horse of Trote y Galope, produced in Colombia, revealed for the service of the horsemen in the rest of the world. -  Jaime Mejia Escobar

We describe the Trocha as a resting movement that the horse executes to travel from one place to another.  The word “Trocha,” according to the dictionary, means, “A great stretch of wilderness that can be used as a chute.  An open path in the brush.”  This definition from the dictionary helps us understand the name “Trocha” we ascribe to the gait that many of our horses execute.

   The dictionary also says the word “Trochar” is "to trot."  In our case, we define Trocha as a very short and quick trot, without cadence and of great smoothness that gives the rider a good ride in flat or rolling terrain, and an even better ride in rough terrain.

   Trocha is the most comfortable gait for those trails or natural paths (trochas) that are found throughout all of the land, especially broken terrain, that riders can encounter during their outings. 

   Trocha is a very ancient movement, a diagonally executed, four-beat rhythm that differs from the Paso Fino which is executed laterally and diagonally.  In Trocha, we hear a sound like "trah, trah, trah, trah", a rhythm that is peculiar to this movement and very noticeable to the ear.

   At the end of the last century and the beginning of this century, many people utilizing  their horses for transportation and work, enjoyed this trocha gait.  It allowed them to traverse their ranches and mobilize their livestock.

   We do not have many records about when Trocha was “born.”  It is a fact that many of the Conquistadors used these horses and others that executed the “Paso Castellano” to get them through all of the rough terrain they had to cover to colonize the Colombian countryside, in such states as Antioquia, Caldas, Santander, and some areas of Cundinamarca.

   When we speak of Trocha, we have to remember those times when our horse was our mode of transportation, our companion, our right hand throughout all of the difficult tasks that we encountered together.  They had that very smooth and silent Trocha.  During long journeys, they would get mixed with the Paso Fino in order to rest a little; and today we are looking and analyzing it as its own masterpiece and entertainment in our shows, to demonstrate the variety of gaits or modalities that our “Colombian Criollo Horse” can execute.

   This modality has been the subject for a number of important men of Colombian literature like Tomas Rueda Vargas, who salutes the modality that provided so much enjoyment and pride as we rode our horses through the countryside.  In Sr. Jose Manuel Marroquin’s work, “El Moro” (The Grey One), he refers to the Trocha gait when he says: “My natural gait is the gateado (crawling), that looks like only one leg is moving at a time, in order to rest or allow the rider to rest when he deserves attention.  I’d rather have the Trocha.  Trocha is a movement where the opposite hind leg and foreleg move simultaneously, without releasing in a rough way the weight of the body, like in the trot. 

   In this way I am able to maintain, in a light way, the body weight over one foreleg and back leg at a given time”.  Sr. Jose Maria Vergara y Vergara, the great critic, poet and custumbrista (someone who writes about customs), when he advises his colt he says graciously and graphically: “If you get a soft Pasitrote (horse of travel), you should be; and if you Trot with a voluntary Pasi Trochado and a soft mouth, secure feet and beautiful figure, I could not do more for you than I did for my heart, which I gave to my wife.”

   Another verse shows us that the Paso and Trocha, in their beginnings, are very close and for this reason let’s remember “Un Picador a la Antigua”, 

                        It is Trocha in its movement,

                        that is expected first,

                        since it is the base

                        for the Paso in this place.

                        Leaning forward

                        the body relaxes, so it Trochas

                        with it causing a show

                        of  loose movement and beauty.

                        After this, we collect the gait

                        and we force to Trocha,

                        even better at night,

                        as he minds and behaves.

                        Later we teach it the Paso

                        that we call “Colombiano”,

                        for this in a flat plain

                        is adequate for this case.

                        Since Trocha is the base

                        to achieve Paso,

                        we will teach this Paso

                        soon without delay.

   To explain what was mentioned above, we must look back at the country shows that preceded the small town shows, which were numerous and well attended.  This is where all the farmers got together to sell their cattle and buy their working horses and the mules that were so essential as well; and the herds of colts that would satisfy those who really appreciated the use of this horse.

   In the past, the shows, better called exhibitions, no stalls or arenas were available.  Everything took place at the main plaza (square), attended by everyone in town without any promotion or cost to the public.  The judges were chosen by the mayor of the town and the show management.  They were chosen from all of the known farmers in the vicinity that were very horse-oriented.  The criteria that was followed came more from the taste, experience and common knowledge of a good horse.  The horses were picked as the “Best Stallion” and the “Best Mare”, without specifying whether it was Paso Castellano, as it was called then, or Trocha.

   In the big cities, the shows were organized in a bigger fashion, like the Centennial Show of Bogot, where horses like “El Rey”, owned by Aureliano Marino and ridden by that great horseman Elias Paez; and “Sarraceno”, owned by Eduardo Garnizo, came to fame.  At other shows it is important to mention the horse “Mahoma”, owned by Roberto Bermudez; “Marino”, owned by Jose Jaramillo from the Dept. of Quindio; and “Cometa”, owned by Dr. Fidel Ochoa in Antioquia.  These were horses that had strong abilities in the Paso Castellano and the Trocha.

   I have made this statement about our shows and exhibitions in the past to simply point out that “Trocha” has always been part of our Paso breed since the ancient days of this horse.  No great distinction was made about it. Since our horse was used strictly for work and the plain enjoyment of the farmers and any other individual that had the privilege of owning a horse with brio, good gait and that was well trained, whether it was Paso Castellano, Trochador or Galpero (Gallop).

   ASDEPASO was created in 1946, the first equine association in Colombia.  Rules and regulations were established, and criteria and the division of the classes by age groups were formed.

   In the first few years of ASDEPASO, a judging system was formed, separating the horses by regions: Calentanos and Sabaneros.  The criteria was that the horses from Bogot, Ubate, and the valley of Chinquinquira were more fino than the horses from the Calentanos.  The Sabaneros were horses from a more flat terrain, and the Calentanos were horses from a more mountainous terrain, making them different in their styles.  This was maintained until 1953, when the criteria changed from a regional view to a strictly technical form.  

   This is a good time to clarify why I make note of the horse Paso Castellano.  It was not until the middle of the century (1952) that our horses were invited to the United States to put on an exhibition in the city of Dallas, Texas.  ASDEPASO changed the name from Paso Castellano to “Horse of Paso Colombiano” to honor our breed as they represented Colombia in such an event.

   It was not until some time later that ASDEPASO separated modalities at, i.e., Paso Colombiano, Trocha, Trote, etc., at the shows.  Once the modality of Trocha was established, its importance in the shows gradually grew.  As time went by, the classes and age divisions got larger.  Due to the growth of the breed in the country and the crossings of so many bloodlines, Trocha has suffered many variations, as described by a dear friend, Raul Estrada, in his book, “Colombian Chalaneria (Horsemanship).”

   In my opinion, Trocha has been around since the beginning of the breed.  The good horses were able to effortlessly execute both modalities in great form, depending only on the cues of the rider.  Trocha is a low, soft and relaxed movement, a product of pure bloodline crosses.  Trocha was called the movement that “came from the Finos.”  Today, we have a quicker movement with more action of the front legs, but it makes it a less smooth trocha and less relaxing for the horse that executes it.  It is more exciting in show form than the working form.

   Undoubtedly, since the 1960s, the breeders have made a great effort to separate and strengthen the bloodlines to produce a more Fino and/or more Trocha horse.  Due to this effort, we have today the great quality of Paso Fino Horses around us.  Trocha today in Colombia has separated itself tremendously from the Paso Fino, but I credit a lot of it to the training and handling of the riders.  I say this, because we can see in our young colts and fillies that as they start their training, some will trocha or trot and as they get further and are asked more of, then they settle into the Paso Fino.

   The trocha movement is an authentic complement of the Paso Fino, when it is executed in the fields during labor to make their job more comfortable, especially in broken terrain.  -  Jaime Mejia Escobar

DON DANILO

(Rey Cometa x La Danesa)

* Out of Contest – Colombian Legacy *

Date of Birth: February 20, 1954
Place of Birth: Bolivar, Department of Antioquia
Gait: Trote, Trocha, Galope and Paso Fino
Color: Palomino
Breeder: Don Oscar Velz
Colombian Registry Number: FC9

Sire:  Rey Cometa, son of Cometa.
Dam: La Danesa, daughter of a Lusitano (a horse used in bullfights) and La Diana (a Paso Fino mare).
 

Don Danilo is the only horse that has been known for his ability to perform the four Colombian gaits: Trote, Trocha, Galope and Paso Fino; he was always already to perform the gait that his trainer gave orders to execute. In his time, his name was mentioned throughout all the Colombian horse world, both in Colombia and in the United States.

 He was bred in “Los Farallones” farm, located in the town of Bolivar, Department of Antioquia, Colombia; by “Don Oscar Velz”, a famous horse breeder, the 20th of February 1954. His first trainer was a man called Gonzalo Calad, who made the horse execute the Trote and Galope gait. But then, it became to be trained by the famous and recognized “Maestro Alfredo Gallego”, who started the horse in the Trocha gait. At age of four, Don Danilo was presented in his first exposition in the city of Medelln, Colombia, there he was decelerated Grand Champion. Since this moment, Don Danilo had won all the rewards and prizes that the Colombian Horse Associations could give to a horse for its qualities; in this way, he was declared “Out of Contest” in the year 1965 in the Exposition of Bogot.

Don Danilo was sold and bought a few times by different people and finally he was bought by “Don Luis Pea Duque” during Armenia’s Exposition for $120 Colombian pesos of this time, which was a considerable price. He took the horse to his farm in the city of Girardot, where he treated him as a real king. Adolfo Gomez, who was considered one of the best Colombian trainers, became to be his new fortunate trainer.

On Friday, the 30th of July, 1976 at 3:00 p.m., the great Don Danilo died. A big one had left, he had gone; but thanks to God and to his genetical potential Don Danilo had left an enormous dynasty of horses, most of them were declared “Out of Contest” like their sire. Some of his famous offspring are: El Arco, Altanero, Candidato, Canario, Don Camilo, Consul, Picasso, Pegasso, Rebelde, La Sherezada, Cumparcita, La Triana, Rosario, Parrandera, and more that there is not enough space to mention them. Most of these horses were Trocha and Trocha y Galope horses.

Like all horses of Spanish descent, the Paso Fino has a distinctive carriage. His proud bearing presents an unmistakable image - a mystique - that is regal, exuberant, graceful and athletic. Paso Finos, indeed, represent some of the finest breeding in horses ever known.

As a breed, the Paso Fino was relatively unknown in the U.S. before the 1940's, despite their introduction into South America, Puerto Rico and Hispaola (the Dominican Republic) and other islands, some 500 years ago. As a type, the Paso Fino, or "horse with the fine step", has been legendary throughout its homeland for centuries. Bred from the mounts of the Conquistadors, the Paso Fino blends the blood of Andalusian, Barb and Spanish Jennet ancestors. Many accounts credit the Paso Fino with preserving the blood and type of the long lost Narragansett pacer, hundreds of which were exported to the centers of Spanish type horse breeding in the islands off the east coast of the Americas.

Paso Finos are dramatically beautiful horses. They present a proud silhouette, of stately, yet energetic grace. A refined head, long, flowing mane and tail, majestic, arched neck, deeply expressive eyes and uncanny athletic ability are all common-place among the breed. Most are compact, yet powerful looking animals with deep chests and broad, well-sprung barrels. Dry legs reveal tough tendons and refined, yet strong, bone structure. Catlike, quick and sure-footed, they are also known for hard, sturdy hooves. Size varies between 13.2 and 15.2 hands, weighing in from 700 to 1000 pounds, with average being around 14 hands and 900 pounds.

Considered a "hot-blooded" horse, Pasos are sensitive, yet tough, well suited to demanding tasks from cattle ranch work, to dressage to competitive trail riding. They are people loving horses and respond remarkably to kind words and positive attention.

History - A short historical summary of the breed.

It was the Moors invasion of Spain that would bring together a wealth of equine genetic material. For over 400 years the Spanish horses reined supreme. The Andalusian, the Barb, and the Spanish Jennet were cross bred to produce the Paso Fino. These horses soon found their way to the New World where they became the mounts for the Conquistadors. Ranches were set up on the Islands of the Caribbean, eventually in Latin America, South America and Southern United States.

The Spanish stock contributed to many of the modern day American breeds, the Mustangs, the Quarter Horses, and Appaloosas just to name a few. While the United States grew and grew and more and more horse were crossed, the blood was soon diluted except for extreme cases of isolation or careful attention to breeding practices.

This was the case in the Latin and South American countries. The Paso Fino became a prized possession of Puerto Rico and their National Horse. Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and other Latin Countries bred the Paso Fino in semi isolation. It wasn't until World War II and a good fifty years after the peak of the last great world horse culture had ended that the Paso Fino was rediscovered by the American soldiers stationed in those countries. Soon they were being imported by an adventurous select few. It was not long before the advantages of the breed became apparent.

Today they are being used in all equine disciplines and are unequalled when it comes to the luxurious ride that they produce. For no other equine is called Los Caballos la Paso Fino, which some day I hope you experience, The Horse with the Fine Walk.

Paso Fino  Horse Association (PFHA) Breed Standard

For information of the public and the guidance of the breeders, the following standards for conformation and description of the basic natural gait were prepared in 1967 by Rosalie McWilliams after consulting with leading authorities on the Paso Fino horse.

GENERAL IMPRESSION: a light horse of great grace and style and with definite, but controlled, spirit. No extreme muscling.

HEAD: The ears should be short and generally curved inward at the top. Eyes, widely spaced and large, shall have a soft expression and not show white around the edges. The profile is straight or slightly convex just above the nostril not between the eyes. This feature comes from Andalusian blood. The concave or dish face is not typical and a extremely Roman nose is not desirable. The lips should be firm and well formed and the nostrils should be large and dilatable.

NECK: Medium in length, set on at an angle permitting rather high head carriage, but neck is carried in an arch. Throat latch should be well defined, but not to narrow.

FOREHAND: Shoulders are sloping with great depth through the heart. Moderate width through the chest. Withers well defined, but not pronounced.

BACK: May vary from short to long and still be quite typical. Extremely short coupled or long backs should be penalized in the halter classes.

CROUP: Sloping, but rump should be well rounded. Tail is set low but carried gaily when the horse is in action. Extremely low or too high tail sets are undesirable.

LEGS: Straight, rather delicate in appearance, but having strong tendons and well separated from the bone. Hooves are small.

MANE & TAIL: As long and as full as possible. Forelock also left long.

SIZE: 13 to 15.2 hands with 13.3 to 14.2 being the most typical. Weight from 700 to 1100 lbs. Full size may not be attained until the fifth year.

COLOR: Every color can be found with or without white markings.

DISPOSITION: Gentle at hand but spirited under saddle.

GAIT: The Paso gait is essentially a broken pace, a lateral, not diagonal gait. The sequence of the hooves are: right rear, right fore, left rear, left fore; the hind foot touching the ground a fraction of a second before the front foot. When performed on a hard surface, a definite 1, 2, 3, 4 beat can be heard. This serves to eliminate the jarring effect of a true pace and causes the rider practically no up and down movement. The motion of the horse is absorbed in the back and loins giving the rider comfort. This gait is performed at three speeds with the collection of the carriage decreasing as the speed increases.

They are :

PASO FINO  Sometimes called "Fino-Fino" the classic show ring gait. It demonstrates rapid, steady, unbroken rhythm of the hooves with every slow forward speed. Performed with the horse balanced and collected.

PASO CORTO  A more relaxed form of the gait that is commonly referred to as the natural Paso gait. Paso Corto is the ideal trail and pleasure gait, executed with only medium collection and light contact on the bit. Most Paso Fino horses prefer this gait to walking.

PASO LARGO  The speed form of the gait. The same 1, 2, 3, 4 rhythm must be maintained and the rider should appear motionless in the saddle as he should be at all speeds of the gait.

A Paso Fino can, of course, walk in a free manner and may have a delightful canter!

 *There are currently more than 250,000 Paso Finos estimated worldwide. Having enjoyed tremendous growth, in excess of 60%, since 1992, the Paso Fino Horse Association moved its offices from Bowling Green, Florida to Plant City, Florida, in 1995. They have over 30,000 horses and 7,000 members. The World Cup, or Mundial, is sponsored by an international organization, CONFEPASO (Confederation of Paso Fino) which represents eight countries, Europe, the United States, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Panama and Aruba for the purpose of international promotion and competition.

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