B2—Lancaster Faming, Saturday, April 23,1983
BY JOYCE BUPP
Staff Correspondent
Hooves beating an almost
musical rhythum, “Bonito de
Colombia” gaited gracefully past
the stable and training barn, his
mane and tail fluttering in the light
breeze that wafted over Fieldstone
Meadows rolling hills.
Colombia is a Paso Fino, one of a
breed of horses that move so
smoothly on their feet that they
almost seem to be dancing, but
with the style and spirit of a prima
donna. In fact, Paso Fino means
“fine step or fine gait.”
Paso Finos originated in Spain
and share common ancestry roots
with the Arabians, tracing back to
parentage from the Spanish Barbs,
Jennets and Andalusians. It is
believed that Columbus brought
the first Paso Finos to the Western
hemisphere on his second voyage
to explore the New World.
What makes the Paso Fino’s gait
so unique is the lateral movement
of the left and right pairs of legs.
Both legs on one side of the animal
move ahead at the same time.
However, the hind foot strikes the
ground just a fraction of a second
ahead of the front foot, creating a
smooth, one-two-three-four
rhythum. Because of the
smoothness of this gaiting, the
rider of a Paso Fino feels neither a
forward or backward pitch, or a
rolling movement to either side.
“Paso Finos are the smoothest
riding horses in the world,” attests
Lee Glatfelter.
Lee first heart of the relatively
rare breed in 1971, when she
spotted a picture in a newspaper of
a Paso Fino on display at a show in
Harrisburg.
She, and husband. Art, a York
insurance firm owner, enjoyed
horseback riding on their 40-acre
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Like all youngsters, these yearlings show endless curiosity
about what’s happening outside the fence around their own
backyard.
It’s school time at the Glatfelter Paso Fino breeding farm for junior herd sire “Bonito
de Colombia.” Trainer Bob Kilgore, left, and his assistant Rodney Miller work the double
lead lines used in training and exhibiting Paso Finos in the lead classes. Imported last
summer from Colombia, South. America, the young stallion will compete in his first
confirmation classes in just a fewweeks.
Finos -
Paso
Fieldstone Meadows farm near
New Bridgeville. (Art was the
purchaser of this year’s Farm
Show champion steer;.
Though plagued with arthritis,
Lee refused to give up riding, but
had purchased a smooth riding
Tennessee Walker mount. Reports
of the Paso Fino’s unique gaiting
immediately captured her in
terest, and she began researching
the unfamiliar breed.
But it wasn’t until six years
later, in 1976, that the Glatfelters
traveled to Puerto Rico to take
their first look at the Paso Finos
being bred there.
“We rode them there for the first
time, along the ocean,” she
recalls. “It was just beautiful.”
Conformed enthusiasts after that
introduction, the Glatfelters im
ported their first Paso Fino the
following year. At that time, there
were a mere 2,000 individuals of
the breed in the United States.
Although that figure has now
tripled, barely a dozen breeders
across the country maintain a
breeding herd of over 30 head.
Sixty of the beautiful horses now
roam the neatly fenced pastures
around the beautifully-landscaped
Glatfelter home and stables, in
cluding the stallions, mares,
yearlings and the spring crop of
colts and fillies.
An almost constant stream of
visitors flow through Field Stone
Meadows, including owners of
mares arriving for breeding
services.
Senior herd sire is “Sonrio de
Verde," Art’s personal riding
favorite and a former reserve
national .Paso Fino trail class
winner. Purchased from a breeder
in Georgia, the stylish and spirited
dark stallion is known more af
fectionately as “George.”
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11 smoothest riding horses in the world"
*
FieMstone Meadows 1 champions
“Dona Francesca” is Lee Glatfelter’s riding mount and a favorite of the brood mares.
This six-year-old now has a colt sired by a reserve national champion performance class
winner.
“Columbia,” the 30-month-old
youngster and junior herd sire, is
presently in schooling under the
farm’s top-notch trainer, Bob
Kilgore. Imported last summer
from Colombia, South America,
the young stallion is being readied
for his initial appearance in the
conformation classes on this year’s
show circuit.
Because the breeding season
in'his native home runs opposite
ours, “Colombia” must face
competitors several months older
in the classes.
Eight major shows are included
on the circuit, each requiring
several days of travel. The five to
seven head in the show contingent
are entered in the range of classes,
covering physical conformation,
performance, pleasure, trail and
the “classic Fino,” scored on the
most correct form- or gait, the
epitome of the desirable Paso Fino
on the move.
The Spanish use the word
“brios” to sum up the character of
the classic Paso Fino. “Brios”
encompasses the striking spirt and
fireiness of the breed, but with the
sense of control that enabled these
horses to work long hours in the
fields, as many still do in parts of
South and Central America.
Within just a few hours of birth, a
Paso Fino breeder knows if a foal
has gaiting ability.
“It’s a natural gift of God,” Lee
explains. “They’re bom doing it,
and babies just hours old will gait
beside their mothers. We can
refine it, but not teach it. Gaiting is
inbred.”
Some individuals require just a
few weeks for the refining
schooling, while others perfect
Field Stone Meadows in southeastern York County is one of
mere handful of Paso Fino breeding operations with more
than 30 in the herd. The farm, outside of New Bridgeville, will
host York County's 4-H horse and pony club’s field day next
Saturday.
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their gaiting finish more slowly.
Some simply can never do the
classic gait.
In the training and showing of
lead classes, animals are handled,.
with two leads lines, one held out
each side of the trainers.
In some countries, it has been
common for Paso Pino trainers to
use artificial devices to aid in
refining the gaiting technique.
Jagged pieces of metal are
sometimes fit across the nose,
causing the horse to hold its head
in a position that aids the overall
gaiting form. Sometimes hooves
have beent rimmed to excess to
cause a horse to move its feet more
desirably.
Domestic show judges are ez
tremely strict in checking for even
the slightest hint of scars, or
evidence that such artificial
devices have been used on horses.
In fact, if a breeder shows a horse
that carries such marks, it must be
proved beyond doubt to the judges
that the scars were incurred before
the horse crossing through U.S.
customs.
“I like that rule,” says Lee,
lavish in her praise for the strict
judging ethics enforced on the U.S.
showring circuit.
Everything about Paso Fino
exhibiting focuses on the natural
beauty of the horse.
Only very simple leather halters
are permitted, and never any
ornate haltering or saddle
equipment. Riders, however, dress
with the Spanish flavor, in
costuming of the Flamenco style
black pants, ruffled skirts and flat
topped black hats.
Most of the horses are exhibited
“barefooted,” although show rules
do permit a light, ten-ounce racing
plate to be used on the hoof.
About five or six years elapse
before a new breeder begins to see
the results of the selection
program and the ability of the
offspring to perform in exhibition.
Last year, the Glatfelters
exhibited four of their own-bred
yearlings* but only in the con
formation classes. Thisyear those
maturing hroses will be entered
intheirfirst saddled classes.
“We will not ruin a horse by
showing it too young just to win a
ribbon,” Lee stresses. “No horse
goes into saddle training until it
has reached at least 22 months of
age.”
With a practiced eye for trait
selection, Lee looks for a horse
with width and depth of chest, and
with straight, properly set legs up
(Turn to Page 84)