The Most Important Article the Paso Fino Community Will Read This Year

A few weeks ago, I had a conversation with individuals deeply involved in the Big Lick world.

They were unwavering in their belief that what they were doing to their horses was not harmful. And if you’ve ever tried to challenge deeply held beliefs, you know how powerful confirmation bias can be.

Realizing the conversation was going nowhere, I asked a simple question:

Let’s assume—for the sake of argument—that everything you’re doing is completely ethical. No long-term physical harm. No emotional damage. But the public perception of your practices is destroying your breed and leading to its decline… would you stop?

Not because you had to. Not because you believed it was wrong.

But because saving the breed mattered more.

That same question must now be asked within our own community—specifically around the defense of extreme Fino gait training.

Let me be clear: this is not a blanket condemnation. The Paso Fino is extraordinary. It is the only breed in the world capable of executing this gait naturally.

But we have to step outside of ourselves—outside of tradition, pride, and bias—and ask an uncomfortable question:

Is our fixation on fino contributing to the decline of the breed?

And if the answer is even possibly yes, then the next question becomes unavoidable:

Should we be willing to shift our focus to preserve the future of the horse?

Because perception matters.

If the broader equine community—and more importantly, the general public—views certain practices as harsh, unnecessary, or outdated, then we are not just facing a training debate. We are facing a market reality.

And market reality determines survival.

For some, this conversation will be dismissed. Because for some, this has never been about the horse.

It has been about the sport. The status. The identity built within it.

But breeds do not survive on tradition alone. They survive on relevance.

And relevance requires evolution.

Yes—change is disruptive. It is uncomfortable. It challenges long-standing norms. It forces accountability.

But every meaningful transformation begins that way.

What we have experienced over the past year should give every member of this community pause:

* Judges affiliated with the Paso Fino Horse Association defending the use of questionable or prohibited tack under the justification of “tradition.”

* Public ridicule of novice riders by individuals in positions of authority.

* Allegations of officials discouraging engagement with those advocating for change.

* A lack of visible, decisive action in response to credible concerns around horse welfare.

* Inconsistent adherence to United States Equestrian Federation rules in warm-up arenas and competition environments.

* And perhaps most concerning—attempts to intimidate or silence individuals simply for raising questions.

These are not minor issues.

They are signals.

Signals that force us to confront a fundamental question:

Is our association prioritizing the preservation of a sport—or the protection and advancement of the horse?

Because if we are unwilling to draw a firm, visible line in support of horse welfare, transparency, and modern standards… then we cannot be surprised when the world draws its own conclusions about us.

And once that perception is set, it is extraordinarily difficult to reverse.

This is not an attack on a breed.

This is a call to protect it.

The Paso Fino has everything it needs to thrive in today’s equine market—versatility, comfort, intelligence, and beauty.

But it will not succeed if it remains anchored to practices—or perceptions—that the modern world is no longer willing to accept.

The path forward is not easy.

But it is clear.

We can continue defending what has always been done.

Or we can build something that ensures this breed not only survives—but grows.

The choice is ours.

And the time to make it is now.