Three Distinctive Paso Fino Gaits

Classic Fino- the horse is balanced and fully collected, utilizing extremely rapid footfall with exceedingly short steps, used for show purposes.

Paso Corto- the same four beat pattern but with moderate speed and collection which would be similar to the trot of non-gaiting breeds and used comfortably for pleasure and trail riding.

Paso Largo- the fastest speed of gait in which the paso horse can reach speeds equivalent to a canter or slow gallop, speed ranges vary with the individual horse’s genetic ability. 

Photo: The two time National Largo Champion, Reserve National Largo Champion, Reserve Florida State Pleasure Champion and Title of Proficiency , Coral's Alejandro de Vez and Ms. Dianne Collins of Florida, are elegantly exhibiting the smooth largo gait of the Paso Fino horse.

Paso Fino Gait Patterns

The gait of the Paso Fino is initially observed in newborn foals. In the photo, Don Dorado is performing a naturally even spaced, four beat (1-2-3-4),  sequenced gait with each foot contacting the ground independently. You can distinctly hear the cadence of the footfall in the rhythmic sounds of “ti-ca, ti-ca, ti-ca, ti-ca.” 

This footfall pattern is the same for the natural walk: left rear, left front, right rear, right front as in the three gaits of the Paso Fino ( fino,corto,largo). Each of the Paso Fino gaits is executed at "different speeds" and with "varying degrees of collection."

In all three gaits the rider should appear "motionless in the saddle" with no up and down motion and the horse is equally motionless in the croup (the highest point of the hindquarters). 

Photo: Coral's Don Dorado de Vez