Only
thirty years ago the first of the worlds most exciting horses were introduced to the
United States - the "Caballo Peruano de Paso", the Peruvian Paso Horse. Since
then thousands of North American horsemen and horsewomen have begun to rediscover the
great pleasures of naturally gaited horses; and horse fanciers throughout the country are
turning to the Peruvian Paso horse as the ideal mount for the twentieth century horsemen.
Thanks to it's unique four beat lateral gait, the inherited trademark of the breed, the
Peruvian horse is the smoothest riding horse in the world today. He is also one of the
showiest of all horses because of an inner pride and energy which make him travel with a
style and carriage as if always "on parade". The "termino", a
graceful, flowing movement in which the forelegs are rolled to the outside as the horse
strides forward is unique to the breed and completely natural.
Thanks to a long standing practice of not breeding animals with an unsuitable disposition,
the Peruvian horse has one of the world's best temperaments. A long and often intriguing
history adds to the excitement of owning a Peruvian horse.
A Long and Proud History
The introduction of the Spanish horse to the
American continent was carried out by the Conquistadors in their quest to conquer the
different native civilizations. The first horses were brought to the island of Santo
Domingo by Christopher Columbus in 1493 to establish the first breeding operation. The
horse raising activities were soon extended to new colonies in Central America to satisfy
the needs of mounted troops and in a few years it was no longer necessary to import horses
from Spain. For the conquest of Peru in 1532 Francisco Pizarro obtained 25 stallions and
the same number of mares from the Royal stables in Jamaica. According to his secretary, he
left Panama with 37 horses and headed for the northern coast of Peru. After the arrival of
reinforcements from Panama he undertook his march to Cajamarca, the seat of the Inca
government, with only 62 horses.
In the years that followed the fall of the Inca empire many Spanish settlers began
arriving in Peru, attracted by the fame of it's treasures. The new settlers also brought
with them their horses from Central America. By the time many large haciendas flourished,
their wealthy owners could afford to improve their stock with the best horses available
directly from Spain. At the time of the conquest of America this Spanish horse, the
classic Andalusian, was the most outstanding breed of riding horses existing in Europe.
This horse had been developed over many centuries by crossing the Iberian horse, an old
breed of native riding horses, with the Berber (Barb) horse brought from the mountains of
North Africa by the Moorish invaders. In Peru, the classic Andalusian horse became the
foundation for the Peruvian horse, which has kept most of the characteristics that made
the Andalusian so valuable during the conquest of South America.
It is interesting to note here that the Andalusian horse in Spain has changed through the
influence of other European breeds introduced by foreign Royal Houses that ruled Spain for
two centuries. Four hundred years of selective breeding and the influence of geographic
and climatic conditions in Peru have improved the harmonious gait, the smooth ride and the
gentle disposition that have become the most outstanding characteristics of the Peruvian
horse. Today's horse was mainly developed to satisfy the need for a smooth and comfortable
ride when overseeing plantations and traveling from one settlement to another. The horse
has been kept in a more pure state as there was no need to cross with other breeds to
produce taller, heavier or faster horses as was the case in other countries such as
Mexico, Argentina or the United States.
For hundreds of years many generations of breeders in Peru have contributed to keep,
maintain and improve this outstanding breed. Now that the interest in the Peruvian horse
has extended to many other countries in the world, with great emphasis in the United
States, the breed is getting new support to carry it further. Today's breed standard helps
to preserve the qualities of the breed and contributes to setting directions for the
future.
A Picture of the Perfect Horse
The Peruvian horse projects an image of high
energy, strength, stamina, grace and beauty. His muscling is well developed without
exaggerations, giving him a refined appearance. The height is between 14 and 15.2 hands.
The head is of medium size with a straight or slightly concave profile. The muzzle is
small with oblong nostrils that extend easily. He has dark, expressive eyes set well apart
and medium length ears with fine tips curved slightly inwards. The neck is of medium
length with a gracefully arched crest. It is set on high and runs well back into
discretely marked withers. The mane and forelock are naturally long and full.
The back is short to medium in length, strong and rounded. The shoulder is long and very
well inclined with an open angle at the elbow giving the front limbs free and graceful
movement. The chest and rib cage are wide, deep and well muscled. The bottom line of the
barrel runs nearly horizontal. The loins are medium in length, broad and well muscled, the
croup is rounded and moderately sloped. He has a naturally low set tail and carries it as
if tightly held between the buttocks. It is full and reaching almost to the ground.
The long, muscular forearm is set forward to allow for a long, sloping shoulder. His knees
are well defined and flat. The cannon bone is short with well defined sinew. The pastern
is of good length and springy with a slope equal to that of the shoulder. The hind leg has
a moderately long thigh and gaskin, well muscled, to allow the hind leg to reach well
under the horse without placing undue strain on the fetlock joint. The hocks are distinct
with prominent tendons, tight skin and with slightly more angle than other light saddle
breeds. Again the cannon bone is short and all legs are refined and show adequate
perimeter in relation to the size of the body. The hoofs are hard, rounded and of good
size with sloping walls.
The preferred colors are solid with dark skin, black, bay, brown, chestnut, palomino,
gray, roan, buckskin, dun and grulla colors are accepted. Excessive white markings and
pink skin are undesirable for breeding animals. He has a uniquely timed lateral four beat
gait with lift and termino of the front legs. As the horse increases it's speed he goes
from a normal walk into the Paso Llano, the Sobreandando, the pace and finally the canter
with smooth transitions between all five gaits. The best gaited animals will perform the
Paso Llano with it's equally spaced four beats over a wide range of speed. A description
of the fine points of this very unique gait, not seen on any other breed of horses, must
be the subject of another article. With a beautiful horse bred and trained to these
exacting standards, both the novice rider and professional can participate in a variety of
events.
A Smooth and Exciting Ride
In no other breed is the quality of the horses ride
judged to be as important as in the Peruvian Paso Horse. The owners continue to insist
that the show judges ride the top placing breeding and performance division horses in
order to select the winner. The practice allows the judge to better select for such
characteristics as brio, smoothness and balance, all traits highly valued in the Peruvian
horse.
The training methods and riding style or seat for the Peruvian horse are based on the
traditional Spanish "a la gineta" way of riding. This Iberian style of
horsemanship was used in the battlefield or for work with bulls and cattle and showed a
deep seat with bent knees. Combined with a smooth gaited horse, this style gives the most
luxurious and safe ride. This incomparable ride has made the Peruvian horse the choice
mount for a growing number of Americans. Riding the Peruvian horse down a sandy riverbed
with a group of good friends and a full picnic basket redefines the term "pleasure
riding". When one can do this with a couple of dynamic show and breeding stallions
side by side with a group of beautifully refined mares the regal character and noble
temperament of these horses becomes evident.
If you enjoy leisurely competition, the Champagne class in one of the many regional shows
will surely fit your style. Riders complete several laps and maneuvers with a full glass
of Champagne in one hand. The competitor completing the class with the fullest glass is
the winner. As the horses are so smooth, even the rider placed last has enough Champagne
left to toast his competitors.
Peruvian horses showing off with the traditional, hand-crafted saddles and tack are the
highlight of many parades throughout the country while ladies riding sidesaddle dressed in
elegant, colorful costumes are a feast for the local television crew at different equine
events. Peruvian horses in the United States have competed very successfully in
competitive trail and endurance events as tough as the famous Tevis Cup. The same horses
are being used in many programs for physically challenged children and adults, where the
great intelligence and gentle disposition so often found in all Spanish breeds is
imperative. For other dedicated horsemen the Peruvian horse offers even greater
challenges.
A Challenge for a Lifetime
In many countries around the world, knowledgeable
and patient horsemen have found their live's greatest challenge and satisfaction in the
breeding and raising of Peruvian Paso Horses. Few breeds require the balanced combination
of so many, often contradicting traits and characteristics, to achieve a perfect horse.
True brio, one of the most outstanding characteristics of the Peruvian horse, requires the
horse to be gentle, responsive and willing to work while delivering an abundance of
energy, pride and stamina whenever asked for by the rider. The horse pushing his nose
under the handlers arm and asking to be petted will often be the "hottest", most
exciting competitor when asked to perform. Another essential trait, the super smooth ride
over a wide range of speed, is hard to achieve when the horse is expected to show
spectacular motion with high lift and termino. It is equally difficult to breed and train
a horse with a high head carriage, a beautifully arched neck and a high level of
collection, while at the same time reaching far under the body with the hind legs and
extending in the front to deliver an efficient ride.
The most challenging aspect in the breeding of Peruvian horses is the requirement that all
these traits are to be completely natural.It is not hard to understand the joy and
satisfaction every breeder of Peruvian horses displays while watching a six days old foal
moving in perfect four beat paso llano and carrying his neck and head like a fully trained
show horse. If breeding these horses doesn't challenge you, try competitive riding in the
many open reining or musical exercise classes now offered at many regional shows. The
traditional Enfrenadura reining patterns originate from working with bulls and cattle,
requiring an exquisitely trained horse and a high level of riding skills. The horse is
directed with body weight and leg action and the rider needs great balance and very light
hands on the reins. The horse needs to always be alert for the next move and show quick
reaction with elegance and flexibility. Over the past years a growing number of Peruvian
horse enthusiasts have also discovered that they can be successful in endurance
competitions. The legendary stamina of the Barb ancestors carries the Peruvian horse over
long distances and the smooth ride certainly makes it easy for the rider to stay in the
saddle for these long and tough rides. The Peruvian horse with his versatility and
unmatched noble temperament will continue to attract many new aficionados.
A Bright Future
Today there are approximately 10,000 pure bred
Peruvian Paso Horses in the United States. Their number has been growing steadily at a
rate close to 10 % per year. Over 3,000 owners are members of the two established breed
organizations and many participate very actively in promotional and other social events
organized by over 30 regional clubs. Novice riders and newcomers to the breed find the
Peruvian horse easy to ride and once they have experienced the luxurious ride and
exquisite temperament they find it hard to stay away from these magnificent horses.
The "Caballo Peruano de Paso" is one of Peru's cultural extravaganzas and
represents a living monument to this country's heritage. More dedicated owners and
breeders around the world are discovering this jewel of a horse each year.
Credits:
As the publisher of Conquistador Magazine and great aficionado of Spanish horses, Heinz
Reusser has been an owner and breeder of Peruvian Paso horses for fifteen years.
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