Prepare Your Paso Fino for Competition

Whether you’re a novice rider or an experienced equestrian competitor, entering a competition with your Paso Fino horse for the first time can be incredibly exciting. The dynamic fluidity of the Paso Fino’s four-beat gait, along with this horse breed’s natural energy and enthusiasm, elevate the competition experience to a new level. Likewise, the Paso Fino’s versatility allows this hardy little horse to perform in a variety of disciplines: In addition to shows dedicated exclusively to the Paso Fino, they can participate in trail and endurance riding competitions that test their agility, stamina and focus. Demonstrating elegance, beauty, and athleticism in equal measures, the Paso Fino is regarded as one of the finest “all-around” competitors in the equine world. 

In this guide, we will explore the world of Paso Fino horse competitions, including how to prepare your Paso Fino for competition, what to expect at events, popular training techniques, and how to improve your performance. Following the correct steps before competing ensures a rewarding, memorable experience that will safely challenge your horse.

Before you enter a competition with your Paso Fino, you will need to know your horse’s strengths and aptitudes, enhance their physical condition, and refine their gait and responsiveness. For example, not all Paso Finos can perform the “Classic Fino” gait, so if you plan to compete in shows dedicated exclusively to this breed, you will need to own a Champion Paso Fino. (Paso Finos cannot be trained to perform the Classic Fino; to be eligible for shows, the horse’s gait must come naturally.) However, Paso Finos that cannot perform the Classic Fino gait may still excel in other disciplines, such as Western and trail riding. Ultimately, building a successful partnership requires a thoughtful alignment of abilities and preferences between horse and rider, along with a close bond.  

If you are not sure which class your horse will excel in, consult a reputable Paso Fino breeder or trainer (in Canada, you can find qualified professionals in your area via the Canadian Paso Fino Horse Society). These experts can assess your horse and provide guidance on how to prepare for competitions. The steps below can also help you get ready to compete with your Paso Fino:

Conditioning your horse is essential to ensure peak performance, soundness, and overall well-being during competitions. Unlike training, which teaches the horse specific skills, physical conditioning focuses on improving strength, stamina, and endurance. Physical conditioning typically involves the following stages:

Before physical conditioning begins, you must create a nutrition plan for your horse, check your equipment, and verify that your Paso Fino is healthy. Begin by scheduling a veterinary examination to address potential issues early and ensure your horse is fit for competition. Your horse should also visit a farrier to have their hooves inspected (and trimmed, if necessary). Maintain routine veterinary and farrier care throughout conditioning. 

During competition season, ensure your horse receives a balanced diet tailored to their energy requirements, workload, and competition schedule. Though Paso Finos are known for being “easy keepers” that thrive on less energy-dense foods, you may need to increase your horse’s intake of high-protein forage (such as alfalfa hay) to help them meet the demands of physical conditioning. You should also consider supplementing your horse’s diet with Omega-3 fatty acids to give their coat an attractive sheen and support their cardiovascular health. Consult with a veterinarian or equine nutritionist to develop a nutrition plan that supports your horse’s conditioning goals.

Finally, make sure you’re using a well-fitted saddle and appropriate tack to prevent discomfort, injuries, and performance issues. Regularly check and maintain your horse’s gear to ensure safety and comfort during conditioning and training.

To avoid overexertion and injuries, condition your horse gradually by slowly increasing the intensity and duration of exercise over time, beginning with walking exercises. Build up your horse’s stamina and fitness level progressively by riding at slower paces for about ten minutes per day. Then, over several weeks, work up to riding for 30 minutes daily and introduce faster paces, such as the Paso Corto and Paso Largo. 

When you feel confident your horse is in good shape, you can establish a consistent exercise routine that includes a mix of groundwork, lunging, riding, and varied activities to engage different muscle groups and maintain overall fitness. Exercises that require your horse to transition between paces are particularly useful for building fitness. Activities such as trail riding, hill work, flatwork, and interval training are also great ways to keep your horse mentally engaged, build muscle strength, and improve cardiovascular function. 

Remember to always warm up your horse before exercise with a gentle walk to prepare the muscles for work. Similarly, cool down your horse after exercise with a gradual decrease in intensity to help prevent muscle stiffness and aid in recovery.

Allow your horse adequate rest and recovery time between conditioning sessions to prevent fatigue and muscle strain. Incorporate rest days into your conditioning program to give your horse time to recuperate and recharge. 

Similarly, pay attention to your horse’s body language, behaviour, and responses during training. Be attuned to signs of fatigue or discomfort (such as panting, poor coordination, or shifting position frequently) and adjust your training intensity or schedule accordingly to protect your horse’s well-being and prevent injury.

With the help of your vet and trainer, keep track of your horse’s progress, performance, and physical condition through regular assessments, such as body condition scoring, muscle evaluation, and weight monitoring. Adjust your conditioning program as needed based on your observations.

Once your horse is in good physical condition, you can start using advanced training techniques to refine your Paso Fino’s gait and transitions, focusing on smoothness, rhythm, and balance. Advanced exercises build on the foundational principles of Paso Fino horse training to improve collection, extension, and maneuverability, allowing you to showcase your horse’s versatility and athleticism during competitions.  

Some advanced training techniques to consider include:

Lateral movement training exercises (such as leg yields, shoulder-ins, haunches-in, and half-passes) help improve the horse’s body alignment, suppleness, collection, and responsiveness to aids, contributing to a more polished performance in competitions. 

Try practicing leg yields on a circle to enhance your horse’s lateral flexibility and improve their ability to bend correctly, which is essential for maneuverability. (Unlike leg yields on a straight line, leg yields on a circle require the horse to maintain a uniform bend through their body.) Leg yielding exercises also teach the enthusiastic and sometimes “forward riding” Paso Fino to slow their tempo. 

Similarly, the half-pass – an exercise wherein the horse moves sideways along a diagonal line while the rider sits effortlessly in the saddle – is an excellent way to refine your horse’s step. Performing a successful half-pass requires perfect rhythm, balance, tempo, and cadence. Once your horse masters this exercise, try changing pace during the half-pass to further improve the smoothness of transitions.

Turning on the forehand is another useful technique when preparing for Paso Fino horse competitions (particularly Trail and Versatility classes). This exercise involves asking the horse to turn on the spot with their hindquarters, using their front legs as a pivot. Turning on the forehand improves responsiveness, coordination, and balance while strengthening the horse’s back.

Incorporate circles of varying sizes, serpentines, and figure eights into training sessions to improve your horse’s balance and agility. Circle exercises challenge your horse to maintain rhythm, impulsion, and suppleness while navigating curved paths and turns. They also require the rider to keep a perfectly balanced seat, use aids correctly, and maintain awareness of their position in the ring, making circle work a helpful tool to improve riding skills.  

Using ground poles, cavaletti, or raised poles in training exercises encourages the horse to lift their legs and improve their coordination while naturally building strength. Ground poles are placed at different intervals for different gaits (i.e., closer together for the Classic Fino or spaced further apart for the Paso Corto and Paso Largo), teaching the horse to precisely control the speed, balance, and cadence of each gait. Ground poles can also be used to emulate obstacles the horse might encounter on the trail and teach them how to respond appropriately.

Unlike other gaited horses, Paso Finos are relatively easy to train for competitions owing to the naturalness of their gait and their willingness to learn. Showing a Paso Fino does not require years of specialized training, making these horses ideal for beginners hoping to advance their skills. However, it’s crucial to remember that patience and consistency are key when mastering advanced training techniques with any horse. Regularly practice and reinforce the skills your Paso Fino has learned, providing predictable cues, aids, and rewards for correct performance. If possible, seek feedback from an experienced Paso Fino horse trainer to ensure your training program will optimize your horse’s gait quality or trail performance. A trainer can show you how to make adjustments to your plan slowly, without confusing your horse.

Paso Finos are famous for their beauty and elegant carriage; as such, appearance is an important part of showing and competing with this horse breed. Competition participants are expected to present their horses with impeccable grooming: A well-maintained coat, mane, tail, and hooves are a must. Tack and equipment should also be clean and properly fitted, with no signs of damage. 

On competition day, groom your horse thoroughly. First, clean out your horse’s hooves with a hoof pick to remove dirt, rocks, and debris. Then, use a curry comb (working in gentle circular motions) to loosen dirt, dust, and hair from your horse’s coat. Remove the loosened dirt with a dandy brush before using a body finishing brush to smooth out the coat and give it a polished look.  

Avoid brushing sensitive areas on your horse’s body, such as the face and lower legs. Instead, use a soft, damp cloth to gently wipe your horse’s face, including around the eyes, nostrils, and muzzle, to remove any dirt or sweat. 

After brushing your horse, carefully comb through their mane and tail to remove tangles and debris. Use a detangler spray to make the process easier and avoid creating split ends. Keep in mind that artificial hair enhancements are not allowed during Paso Fino horse shows, so you will need to use nutrition, gentle combing, and conditioning sprays to bring out the elegance of your horse’s mane and tail. (Keeping your horse’s mane and tail braided between shows can also reduce breakage and sun damage for a naturally lush look.)

To put the final touches on your horse’s appearance, use a clean towel to wipe down their entire body before applying a coat conditioner or shining spray to enhance the natural gleam and smoothness of the Paso Fino’s coat. You can also use a hoof conditioner or polish to give your horse’s hooves a healthy shine. 

Before competing with your horse, thoroughly inspect all tack, including the saddle, bridle, and other equipment. Check for loose stitching, worn leather, poor fit, or any other issues that might affect your horse’s comfort or performance during the show.

Mentally preparing for an equestrian competition is just as important as physical training. To set yourself up for a successful and fulfilling competition experience, you must learn how to stay calm and focused on the trail or in the ring. Some strategies for mental preparation before a horse show include: 

Positive Visualization: Close your eyes and imagine yourself riding a perfect round or test. Visualizing success can help you remain motivated to train, boost your confidence, and prepare your mind for a positive outcome. 

Mental Rehearsal: Mentally rehearse the steps or maneuvers you will perform during the competition, focusing on each movement and transition. If possible, complement mental rehearsal by familiarizing yourself and your horse with the show ring or trail you will be competing on.  

Affirmations: Use positive affirmations to reassure yourself and combat pre-competition jitters. While taking deep, slow breaths, repeat phrases like “I am prepared and capable,” “I trust my skills and my horse,” or “I am focused and determined.” Similarly, immediately challenging any negative thoughts that arise may benefit your performance. Try reframing negative thoughts as constructive criticism; for example, instead of thinking, “I can’t jump with my horse,” tell yourself, “Practicing for a Versatility Class is a great way to improve my jumping skills.” 

Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Before a show or event, tense and release different muscle groups to discharge tension and promote relaxation. Starting from your toes and working your way up to your head, focus on each muscle group until your entire body feels looser. Not only does this technique promote calmness, but it can also help prevent injury because tense muscles are more susceptible to tears and strains. 

Goal Setting: Establish clear, realistic goals for the competition, whether it’s achieving a score that’s within your skill level, executing a certain movement well, or just maintaining a positive mindset throughout the event and making new friends. Having specific goals will help you stay focused and motivated.

Mindfulness: Stay present and focused on the task at hand when training or competing. Avoid dwelling on past mistakes or worrying about how you will place; instead, concentrate on each moment and give your full attention to riding. 

Gratitude: Before the competition, take a moment to reflect on what you’re grateful for (e.g., the support of your trainer, friends, and family, the opportunity to compete, or the bond you share with your horse). Practicing gratitude can shift your focus to the positive aspects of your journey and instill a sense of appreciation and joy, making each competition feel like an important milestone

Paso Fino competitions typically feature a variety of classes that showcase the breed’s unique abilities. These may include categories for different gaits (i.e., the Classic Fino, Paso Corto, Paso Largo), pleasure, versatility, and performance categories. Each class has specific requirements tailored to evaluate the horse and rider’s performance. As such, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with how your horse will be judged based on the specific classes you’re competing in. Western and trail competitions, for example, will have very different judging criteria than show divisions. 

Paso Finos may compete in show classes, such as Classic Fino, Performance or Pleasure, where they will be judged on the performance and presentation of their gait and overall harmony between horse and rider. 

Beyond the show ring, due to being a reliable, hardy, and surefooted breed of horse, they are also suitable for trail and endurance competitions, which revolve around athleticism rather than presentation of breed conformation and gait quality. 

Check in at the show soon after you arrive and begin warm-up exercises only as directed. Ensure you maintain proper spacing (avoid crowding other riders) and control over your horse; horses that buck, kick, or exhibit disruptive behaviour will be immediately disqualified. Other grounds for disqualification include prohibited practices such as “soring” and the use of performance-enhancing drugs. In Paso Fino competitions, the natural gait, appearance, and willingness of this beautiful breed are highly valued, so it’s crucial to use only approved training and grooming methods for your show horse.

As a competitor, it’s vital to remember that each event is a learning opportunity – regardless of how you place. Ask your trainer (or an experienced Paso Fino riding instructor) to observe you during the show or event, provided the rules permit it. They will then be able to analyze your performance and provide feedback, identifying your strengths and areas for improvement.

Even for skilled and experienced riders, competition is a journey, not a destination. Take the time to celebrate achievements and milestones as you and your horse progress, and don’t forget to spend time with your horse in relaxed, casual settings. Balancing the demands of competition with camaraderie and horse-rider bonding is essential to both success and the well-being of you and your horse.  

Attending competitions is an excellent way to deepen the partnership between you and your horse, refine the unique attributes of the Paso Fino, and provide enrichment for both horse and rider. Paso Fino competitions allow participants to connect with fellow enthusiasts, breeders, trainers, and riders who share a passion for the breed. By fostering a sense of community, sportsmanship, and mutual appreciation for the Paso Fino horse, these events help spread awareness about the breed, preserving it for future generations.

If you are ready to compete with your Paso Fino horse (or looking for a trainer to help hone your riding skills) contact the Canadian Paso Fino Horse Society for more information. The CPFHS is Canada’s leading resource for Paso Fino shows and events and provides a place for professional trainers, breeders, and enthusiasts to communicate. No matter what your goals are for showing or competing with your Paso Fino horse, our vibrant network of experts can help you advance.