The PPRPF horse in the USA and the American Federation

Rafael Arbelo · The PPRPF horse in the USA and the American Federation

In the last 15 years the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino Federation of America, the main entity representing the Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino horse in the USA, has seen a decline in the numbers of horses participating in their shows. Last year (2007), they had about 45 horses and in 2006 they had 15 horses. In years prior to 2006 it was pretty much more of the same ...

In your opinion what can the Federation do to boost the:
1. Number of horses participating
2. Attract new members to their entity
3. Bring the breed to a respectable place of prominence

Your input is VERY WELCOME !!!

BigJ

Getting word out. That's gotten better because of folks like Mandy and Mildred plus Ramon. They are dedicated and true believers.

More exhibitions about the PPR. Most are associated with shows by having paso fino classes, but maybe try other ways?

Recruit members. Or recruit "active" members. Members who will participate in other paso fino activities like the CONFEPASO, like PFHA, like going to PR and support the breed--any time, any place. Quit being isolationists.

Market horses. Right now, the PPR is competing against the Colombia horses. Really it sounds like sour notes to me and I love the PPR. If I think it sounds like sore losers imagine how it sounds to everyone else that's with paso finos or outsiders. Instead trying to compete, compliment. The PPR has many superior qualities, yes, better than the Colombian horses in general, but too much time is spent talking about how much prejudice there is against the PPR. Well, a good product is a good product, people will buy something if they can use it and sell it.

Breed wisely. Don't knock two PPRs together and think it's something special. Worse advertise something as special just because you think have the tag "PPR" makes it so.

Maintain strict standards for the PPR. Stop this purity crap for the sake of saying it's "pure"...yeah, so? Is it any good, that's what I want to know? And how so? Because it competed against 1 horse? Test the breed against anything out there.

Ferrum

Rafael,
you said
Last year (2007), they had about 45 horses and in 2006 they had 15 horses.

They must have done something right! that is a 300% increase in only one year.

BigJ
The denomination of "Pure" is not there by choice, but to differentiate two breeds. It is not "crap".

BigJ

JoAnn the term is "Puerto Rican Paso Fino" when I was in Puerto Rico. Enough said. The term paso fino belongs to Puerto Rico. When did it become necessary to use the word "pure" before the phrase and why? That is what I mean by crap. Do you really believe "Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino" distinguishes the horse as a separate breed? And who is deciding what is pure and what isn't by what means?

Now these same people wanting to stake a claim on the word pure is trying to rid themselves of the mixed strains by calling them "American Paso Finos". Now that is "pure" crap. I'd like to interview all the horses born in other countries, including Puerto Rico, from the result of mixed strains and see if they are "American" or not. I understand Puerto Rico was resentful of the term "Paso of Americas". Isn't that what a horse of mixed strains is and aren't all the countries, including Puerto Rico part of the Americas?

I used to point out the differences between Colombian and Puerto Rican to help people distinguish the two for breeding purposes, but I don't think I'll do that anymore. I'm going to begin discussing what is paso fino and take a newcomer around to see if they can tell what is Puerto Rican and what is Colombian.

A fine example of this was when I joined the 2005 tour with Cesar Romero with two couples. One couple had raised "pure" Puerto Rican Paso Finos for 20+ years. Another couple were relatively new to Puerto Rican Paso Finos but had made recent purchases in Puerto Rico.

We stopped at the owner of Don Coqui for a demonstration one day. One of the first comments was about Regalo and how she moved like a Colombian paso. I was shocked and disappointed. So, how successful is the program in Puerto Rico when breeders in the USA cannot tell the difference? To be even more pointed, why is the tag necessary in Puerto Rico? Cannot Puerto Rican breeders tell the difference?

Rafael is not telling the whole story:
2005 was 30 horses
2006 was 15 horses
2007 was 45 horses

He also isn't revealing the horse attendance for previous shows he did not attend. I bet because he doesn't know and can't get the information readily.

And the reason for the change was because of change of location. But, of course, having the full history of attendance would refute this.

The location was changed back to where it is convenient for most of the horses owners in a very specific geographic location near Columbia, South Carolina. In 2006 the location wasn't that much further in North Augusta, South Carolina. It costs money to house a horse at a horse show, so less horses attended.

What Rafael also didn't say and should have if he is going to paint the picture of how a 300% increase is distributed with 30+ classes. Try 1-2 horses in a class. He also didn't mention the classes in Pennsylvania and how many attended or how many horses in a class. Why Pennsylvania? It's another enclave of PPR owners. Participation is directly related to required traveling distance.

He was trying to be diplomatic, but if those in PR read this they will think he shouldn't be worried.

Do you know why PFHA succeeded in the beginning?
1. General distribution of paso fino owners throughout the country.
Paso fino owners were in Wyoming, Canada, along the Atlantic seaboard from Maine to Florida, along the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to Texas, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, etc.

2. Willing to travel long distances to support each group. My shortest traveling distance to a show was a 5 hour drive; there were no paso fino shows in the state I lived in. I had to travel out of state to every show. Typical driving distance was 8-12 hours. People came from all over to make sure the shows were well attended. Even then we had classes with only one or two horses in them.

3. People who dedicated themselves to the organization and growth. We didn't get along, we still don't, but we had a goal, get the paso fino on the map. Horses wouldn't still be imported today if there wasn't interest. Now we have classes with 20-30 horses. We have shows people are willing to drive all day, not because they need to support the show but because the show supports their needs.

Why does Spectrum attract attendees from other countries? Colombian, Puerto Ricans, Dominican Repulicans, for example, in addition to residents of the USA I meet from all over. Our PFHA Nationals have even attracted out of country horses to qualify and compete. I didn't see any of the same Puerto Ricans at the PPRPPFFA show and many are PPR trainers and owners. Some with enough funds to attend but choose not to.

This is the difference that Rafael is talking about. About an organization which began with renting football fields and had only enough money to stake out an "arena" with wooden posts and ropes. With people traveling sometimes more than a day to take a horse. PFHA was built on a vision, with conviction in the paso fino and dedication to make it work.

The other side of this coin, the real message, the lesson to learn is there are parts of the USA where PFHA was a force and is no longer. We have lost 2-3 regions in the past few years from lack of interest and participation. We have show locations no longer financially supporting themselves due to lack of attendance so they have canceled shows. Areas of the country that had active regions are barely hanging on.

The goal of PFHA has been sullied by personal gain and self-promotion. PFHA judging compromised for the same reasons, distrust and disinterest have taken over.

As long as we worked for the breed, worked to keep the paso fino as the goal, we could overcome many, many obstacles from money to market. Now it is about money and market and not the breed.

EDIT: Here's something to think about. The Puerto Rican Paso Fino needs numbers. Well, when a consensus was attempted they purposefully left out the PFHA horses. Why? I was told of dubious pedigrees. How funny!

Funny because the consensus wanted to count the horses in the PPRPFFA but guess how many originated from PFHA breeders before the association existed?

Next, as you mentioned to me is the movement to accept some horses in the registry with a small percentage of Colombian bloodlines. I think that is a wise decision, particularly when they are too close to tell the difference for the majority of paso fino owners. Will PFHA horses qualify?

There is this attitude that drives people away from breeding to Puerto Rican horses and it concerns the mixed strains. A Colombian will say, look at that horse it's got good Colombian blood. A Puerto Rican will say, look at that horse I hope no one blames the Puerto Rican blood. Colombians will breed to mixed strains and claim improvement. What are Puerto Ricans doing? They are trying to bastardize the mixes and want nothing to do with them because they are "impure". Good move. Soon owners of mixes will have only one choice about where to take their mares and they WILL become Colombian horses in only a few generations.

Actually, that has already happened. I've been advised on several separate occasions over the years not to mention I have mixes I want to breed to Puerto Rican stallions because some "purists" won't breed my mares. So I'm limited in accessing Puerto Rican stallions and I'm punished for having Puerto Rican blood in my mixed herd. Colombians will breed my mixed mares and embrace the offspring. They are happy to see Colombian blood in my mixed herd. The Puerto Ricans are ashamed. If I have a 3/4 PR mare I'm forced to look for other means. Puerto Rico wants to limit my breeding to nothing but other mixes or Colombian horses. If my mare offers some of the rarest of Puerto Rican blood, Puerto Rico is willing to give all that up because the mare has a drop of "unpure" Colombian blood.

Numbers? Last I heard a PR stallion spits out the same amount of semen as a Colombian horse. Puerto Rico is close enough to the USA to ship to the most northern reaches while Colombia is not. Rather than pushing to breed to PR stallions Puerto Rico ignores PFHA. How many mares are registered with the PPRPFFA? I think only one PR horse could impregnate them all.

Ferrum

Hi Big J,
I think you are coming into this topic with a lot of baggage from past experience with people and this has nothing to do with the word pure. Some “People” want to use it some not for whatever reasons. Sometimes just to point out what exactly we are referring to or talking about, so we can then “talk”about a particular thing together.

The Puerto Rican horse IS a separate breed. This is not about words it just “Is”. Call it PPR, PRPF or whatever.

You say “these people,”. I have no idea who you are talking about nor can I fairly just, Guess.

You want to say Puerto Rico is part of the Americas, fine. Puerto Rico is also in the Caribbean, an Island, etc etc.

Many people raise animals for 20+years yet have no clue what lies behind in ancestry that only proves they don’t care to know. Besides, it takes getting out to shows, subscribing to magazines and seeing the results of others to know what is going on in any breed of animals.

It seems just great you plan to take newcomers, of all people, instead seasoned and educated horse peoples to see if they can tell what is a Colombian Paso Fino and what is a Puerto Rican Paso Fino. This way you can prove to your satisfaction they are the same breed I guess.

Good location is topic for improving attendance, you can help by discussing that I am sure, and your input is valued.

The topic of the PHHA and it’s succsess or not and the "why’s" is a great topic but another topic.

I am so sorry that dubious pedigrees are a problem in the PFHA. I don’t know who decided to leave them out or why, (as you have not disclosed that) but that is another topic.

There is no movement to accept horses with any Colombian bloodlines be that a small percentage or not. The only movement is to accept horses with a portion of unknown ancestry simply because the breed existed before the registry did.

Horses of Mixed bloodline are more than welcomed and admired in Puerto Rico and I have pointed out to you that the right registry for them on this Island is Los Abiertos or their partner registry the association for Paso Horses of the Americas.

According to one recent book littered with mistakes one could in theory register a horse less than 12 something % Colombian decent and more than 80 something % PR descent as Puerto Rican Paso Fino. This is a theory far from any fact, because all imports and their progeny have always maintained foreign numbers.

Now you say what Colombians and Puerto Ricans would say making generalizations about those peoples. I have asked you what lines are too close and you never bother to give any examples, I ask you what animals or lines are damaged beyond repair and you chose not to answer me. Instead, you wish to use these statements to justify the crossing the Puerto Rican and Colombian bloodlines when in fact the only thing you want to do is to prove without justification that a certain horse was the product of some master plan to improve “Paso Fino” in a general way, yet you admit you use what stud you already own because you own it with no master plan and because you need not go through the hassle or expense of using another.

You are generalizing about Puerto Ricans and I find it very hard to believe they would not accept your money to breed to their stallions no matter the mare unless she is of such low quality they would rather let you know this than take your money and pretend that the sire alone can guarantee a good progeny.

You say you have been advised to hide the fact you have mixed blooded pasos, let me advice you that is bad advice and you should celebrate and study the lineage of your pasos. Ask the owners of fine Puerto Rican Stallions for yourself if they will serve your mares and come to your own educated conclusions.

Best Wishes,
Jo-Ann

BigJ

Ferrum

Candice and I quote
“Next, as you mentioned to me is the movement to accept some horses in the registry with a small percentage of Colombian bloodlines. I think that is a wise decision, particularly when they are too close to tell the difference for the majority of paso fino owners. Will PFHA horses qualify?”

You know it is so funny that you accuse me of breaking confidence. You not only did this to me, but twisted what I said to your liking, placing your own words in my mouth. I tried reading your thread point by point and answering points systematically falling into the trap of confusing private conversation with public because of my anger at both the manipulation and disclosure.
I am so sorry,

Kerry W · Re: The PPRPF horse in the USA and the American Federation

BigJ

Now I'm totally confused. I thought when you said "too close" I thought you meant close inbreeding. I had no idea you brought up another topic from our private correspondence.

Obviously I misunderstood the correspondence. I'll have to pull it up and look at it again. I thought when it was suggested to accept horse with less than 12% it meant Colombian bloodlines. I still think that is a good idea because few can tell the difference and at that dilution the Puerto Rican horse should dominate. I believe the Puerto Rican horse can pull it off, maybe I'm alone in my thinking. It would give hope to many people who have horses that are 7/8 PR or 15/16 PR or more.

I asked about the PFHA horses because when a census was suggested the PFHA horses were rejected to be worth counting. There is also some confusion about the reciprocating program between PFHA and the PPR registeries. I figured since the Federation has already accepted mixed horses at one time they had reconsidered their position.

EDIT: Might what to consider people owning mixes or Colombians don't necessarily believe they are better or have been "improved".

Ferrum

Does a calendar exist where you can see all PRPF and /or PPR shows in relation to each other on a time line?

Florida seems like a apt place for PRPF shows. I am more ignorant on what happens outside the island.

Jo-Ann

Ferrum

Candice,

The whole above thing is so twisted I would not bother to try and "decode" it.
To get the facts strait, I am personally unaware of any "Movement".

Blank pedigrees existed in the old registry before I was born. As far as I know today all registries concerning PPR are "closed" yet except horses from each other.

For the exact requirements we should ask the registry in question.

I am interested in the census if that is published online.
Jo-Ann

caliber

Sure Jo-Ann, I personally think if both countries can work together... I don't see why could never happened if intended anytime soon.

In Florida we have wonderful PPR horses, many of them wont show, many of them are not even registered with the US Federation. The Federation wont offer them anything other than one show in South Carolina, that wont even meet their standards. (I am only saying what they said).

So, I personally think, it will be the ideal.....

Saludos

dcancel

Well I will be joining you guys in Florida soon as a new resident in Gainesville, so lets find out who owns all those PR Paso Finos and lets get them ready for some shows.

caliber

I have to say that is one heck of a news! Welcome to Florida! Denisse!

Can you give us a time frame?

dcancel

I will be down in Gainesville last week of July for good. starting a new job at UF. It will take me a little to get settled in but I am sure that we can all get something off the ground. I am looking forward to meeting everyone down there and going to the shows.

caliber

That is fantastic Denisse! our farm is only 30 minutes from the University, I am sure you will feel like home. Just let me know! and you know Mi Finca es tu Finca..... Best of luck! looking forward.

Let me kow! if you need anything.....

The PPRPF horse in the USA and the American Federation

Re: The PPRPF horse in the USA and the American Federation