Paso Fino | PetMD

The Paso Fino horse breed originated after Spanish conquistadores first introduced horses from Spain to Latin America and the Caribbean over 500 years ago.

These beautiful horses are strong, intelligent and known for their smooth gait that makes for a comfortable ride. According to Paso Fino Horse Association.

The Paso Fino horse has an extremely natural, four-beat gait. This makes driving them comfortable even over long distances and on varied terrain. They are an excellent choice for older riders or people suffering from aches and pains such as back pain.

Trotting is not the natural gait of the Paso Finosa, but they walk and gallop like horses without a gait. The Paso Fino gait can be divided into the following speeds:

• Classic up this is the slowest speed and is great for showing off your gait in competitions.

• short step it is slightly faster, trot-like, and can be used for recreational or off-road riding.

• long step this is the highest speed.

• Height: 13 to 15.2 hands (52 to 60.8 inches)

• Libra: 700 to 1000 pounds

• Life expectancy: 25 to 40 years

• Coloration: Variety of colors; may have white markings. Maybe he has tiger eye (yellow, orange or amber iris).

In addition to daily care of your horse, remember to schedule veterinary examinations, including: dental care, vaccinationsand others preventive care to keep the horse in the best condition possible.

Degenerative fasciitis of the suspensory ligament (DSLD)

Paso Finos are susceptible degenerative suspensory ligament disease (DSLD)i.e. a painful and progressive disease that may have a genetic basis. This condition causes damage to the suspensory ligament in the legs and can occur in horses of all ages.

Symptoms of DSLD include:

• Swollen stem

• Abandoned limb

• Increased fetlock angle

• Disability

• Weight shift

• Difficulty standing

• Pain

There is no cure for DSLD. Your veterinarian may recommend ways to provide support and relief, such as stretch rest during flare-ups, exercise restriction, anti-inflammatory medications, therapeutic shoes, and supportive shoes.

Disability

Walking breeds may be at risk disabilityespecially in the ankle and knee joints. Horse joints are equivalent to human ankles, while the knee is higher and resembles a human knee. So while the Paso Fino horse’s gait is one of the breed’s best traits, it can put it at risk for lameness.

Lameness can be acute (sudden) or chronic and can range from mild to severe. It may have various initial causes, such as:

Symptoms of lameness may include:

• Pain

• Edema

• Stiffness

• Point or drag your finger

• Reluctance to move or stand

• Not putting any weight on the limb

• Limping

Your veterinarian can make a diagnosis of lameness along with a treatment plan based on the cause. For example, a horse may need stall rest and anti-inflammatory medications (Balance, phenylbutazone), regenerative therapy or surgery.

Exercise and lifestyle changes may also be recommended.

Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS)

Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) can be compared to diabetes in humans because it causes the body to process insulin incorrectly. Paso Finns are at risk of EMS, but you can take steps to prevent this, such as keeping your horse healthy body condition score.

Symptoms of EMS may include:

• Difficulty losing weight
• Easy weight gain
• Obesity
• Localized fat deposits, often on the neck, ribs and head of the tail
• Founder

Changes to diet and exercise can help your horse lose weight and manage EMS, but there is no cure for this condition.

Follow your veterinarian’s recommendations for the safest way to help your horse lose excess weight. For example, you may need to follow a diet that is lower in calories and sugar grazing snout Or slow feederand increase the amount of exercise you do with Paso Fino.

What to feed Paso Fino

The Paso Fino horse is easy to breed and gains weight quickly. Because the breed is at risk for equine metabolic syndrome, it must be provided with a diet that will not lead to unwanted weight gain.

Check with your vet if you are unsure how much food to feed your horse to avoid feeding him too many calories. Your veterinarian can also provide guidance if your horse has a health problem that requires a special diet or supplementation.

The general rule is that a horse should be fed 2% of its body weight forage every day. For example, an 800-pound Paso Fino horse would eat approximately 16 pounds of feed in a day.

In addition to pasture, you can provide hay from legumes and grasses – those low in starch and sugar may be a good choice for Paso Finos.

Paso Fino horses that are more active will require more calories than those that are not working or performing, so they may also need concentrates and grains such as oats, wheat and barley to provide additional energy.

Horses need salt every day, along with fresh water. You can also give them supplements such as vitamins, minerals and healthy fats to provide essential nutrients, energy and joint support, especially in competition or competitive horses.

Paso Fino are athletic, confident, energetic and versatile. They make great family companions because they are friendly and gentle, and can also be used to work on ranches and more therapeutic riding horses.

Paso Finos can also compete in various equestrian disciplines, such as:

• Riding on trails

• A pleasure to drive

• Driving

• Barrel racing

• Resilience

• Dressage

Start with socializing and foal training. Use consistent, gentle and positive training techniques with these sensitive and delicate horses. For example, don’t put a lot of pressure on the reins as this can make the horse nervous.

As they learn more complex directions and commands, you can also engage in a variety of activities with the curious and responsive Paso Fino. Vary training sessions to keep this intelligent horse interested in learning.

Paso Fino horses can be cared for like any other breed. Use horse care tools such as: curry combelegant brush, finishing brushAND facial brush for cleaning the fur and every part of the body.

If your horse gets very dirty and regular grooming is not enough to clean it, you can use shampoo it is gentle and created especially for horses.

You may need to spend more time on the Paso Fino’s mane, fringe and tail as they are long and thick. Use mane and tail brush to remove dirt and tangles, but be gentle to avoid breakage. You can also use A untangles AND conditioner to make this hair smooth.

Some owners even decide to do so braid the tail and mane for easier maintenance.

Hoof care

Clean your hooves with Paso Fino daily selecting hooves which will remove dirt, mud, stones and other contaminants that may get stuck in them. You can use this time to check your hooves for signs of problems such as cracks, abscesses and thrushwhich can be treated under the supervision of a veterinarian.

In addition to scheduling veterinary checkups to examine your horse’s hooves, work with your farrier regularly. They can recommend the law Shoesand also trim the hooves and make sure they are balanced. These important steps can help keep hooves healthy and prevent injuries.