The Paso
Fino Gait
The Paso Fino can perform the same gaits as any other horse. It can do a flat walk, collected walk, canter, and gallup. But, a Paso Fino can do so much more! The Paso Fino gait is a natural four beat gait with the footfall being left hind, left front, right hind, right front. This is the same gait as the natural walk. Yet, the Paso Fino can perform this natural gait at three speeds with varying levels of collection. It is not unusual to see newborn foals gaiting shortly after birth. This gait, though, is gains more definition as the horse matures and can be refined through training. However, no special shoeing or artificial aids are necessary to make the Paso Fino gait. The gait has three speeds: Classic Fino, Paso Corto, and Paso Largo. The horses perform the gait in three styles: the Classic Fino, Performance and the Pleasure styles. The Classic Fino gait is the most exciting to watch or to experience as a rider. The horse’s footfall is very rapid with an even rhythm. The forward movement is very slow, slower than a person would normally walk. The horse is completely collected, with an upright carriage and neck breaking at the poll at almost vertical position. Not all Paso Finos can perform this gait. To perform this gait for a sustained period of time requires that the horse be in excellent physical shape, supple, and be ridden in balance.
The Paso Fino can perform the same gaits as any other horse. It can do a flat walk, collected walk, canter, and gallup. But, a Paso Fino can do so much more! The Paso Fino gait is a natural four beat gait with the footfall being left hind, left front, right hind, right front. This is the same gait as the natural walk. Yet, the Paso Fino can perform this natural gait at three speeds with varying levels of collection. It is not unusual to see newborn foals gaiting shortly after birth. This gait, though, is gains more definition as the horse matures and can be refined through training. However, no special shoeing or artificial aids are necessary to make the Paso Fino gait. The gait has three speeds: Classic Fino, Paso Corto, and Paso Largo. The horses perform the gait in three styles: the Classic Fino, Performance and the Pleasure styles. The Classic Fino gait is the most exciting to watch or to experience as a rider. The horse’s footfall is very rapid with an even rhythm. The forward movement is very slow, slower than a person would normally walk. The horse is completely collected, with an upright carriage and neck breaking at the poll at almost vertical position. Not all Paso Finos can perform this gait. To perform this gait for a sustained period of time requires that the horse be in excellent physical shape, supple, and be ridden in balance.
Paso Corto is the ideal gait for pleasure and trail riding. The Corto moves forward at about the speed of the trot in non-gaiting breeds. The collection of the horse is moderate.The extension of the front legs varies and determines whether the horse is falls into either the Pleasure or Performance style category. Performance horses tend to perform a more animated Corto, with a shorter stride and more rapid footfall. A performance horse exhibits more impulsion from the rear-end. The Pleasure Paso Fino tends to have a faster, more relaxed Corto. There is generally less extension and impulsion. No matter what type of gait one engages the Paso Fino or what style the horse exhibits, the rider should appear virtually motionless in the saddle, with no perceptible up and down motion of the horse's croup. This is also true for the ground-eating Paso Largo gait.
Horses performing the Paso Largo gait can move forward as fast as the canter or gallop of many horses. The top recorded speed for this gait is 32mph. Besides the change in speed the Largo gait is characterized by a longer extension and stride, with moderate to minimal collection. Both Performance and Pleasure styles of Paso Fino perform the Largo . Again, Performance horses tend to be more animated with great hock action and impulsion.