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Registered with Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino Assoc: Royalty’s Prince Killian Thorin
(Kili) PPRPFFA Registered #: N27RUSA15
Sex: Gelding.
Age: 12, soon to be 13 in April 2025 Color: Redish Black Bay
Height: 13.3 Hands Location: Oregon
Ken Goodenough’s herd in Oregon. He has been trained by me using natural
horsemanship techniques from the well-known trainer, Micael Gascon. He has never
bucked or reared in his life under saddle. Kili is super affectionate and has a massive
will to please. He has been fearless, as most of his life he remained a stallion, up till
2024. He never bred a mare. He was castrated to help preserve his health and
mentality. Most of his life, he has lived on my father’s property, where he had ample
pasture to run, and an open shelter. Kili is very hardy to Oregon winters and does not
require blanketing unless it is severely cold and wet outside. (below 20 degrees)
I did not start riding him until he was 5 yrs old, even then it was lightly, as he is on the
shorter side, at 13.3 hands tall. I trained him to a rope halter a snaffle bit. Kile LOVES
the snaffle and is a gem in the saddle. I used a treeless saddle when training and an
English jumper saddle. He is great with bareback riding too. Kili also loves any body of
water! Point him to a river or lake and he will go swimming, literally!
Kili knows how to lunge with just your finger direction, back up all the way to end on a
20’ lunge rope, flex and yield on the ground. Kili Loves to be in your pocket if you let
him, but will respect your space when asked to.
Life events took me out of state, while Kili remained in my father’s care as a pasture pet
for almost 5 years. Amazingly, he remembered his training with very little refreshing.
Kile does need miles under saddle, as I was never able to do that. He bathes well and
stands patiently for farrier. He loads well and stands without question into any trailer.
He stands tied pretty well. Stands quietly for saddling and will go any where you direct
him. Kili would make an Amazing trail horse, as he is very sure footed. Kili wants to be
everyone’s friend and does not have a mean bone in his body. Even as a stallion. He
has remained barefoot his entire life and has healthy hard hooves. Currently on an 8
week barefoot trim schedule. Needs to be trained to collect under saddle to get great
gait. Kili has a very hardy constitution. Never had colic or health issues. He is
currently boarded in Molalla Oregon.
Serious interested buyers only. Please contact Summer Goff. (970) 690-2840
The History of the Paso Fino
The Paso Fino horse’s journey to the Americas began more than 500 years ago with the importation of Andalusians, Spanish Barbs from North Africa, and smooth gaited Spanish Jennets (now extinct as a breed) to the “New World” by Spanish Conquistadors.
Bred for their stamina, smooth gait and beauty, “Los Caballos de Paso Fino” — the horses with the fine walk — served as the foundation stock for remount stations of the Conquistadors. Descendents of the Conquistadors’ horses are believed to have spread into North America after the Spanish soldiers forayed for a brief time into this territory.
The modern-day mustang has traces of his Spanish forbears. Our own Nez Perce Indian tribe may have mixed some Spanish stock into their famous Appaloosas, whose name is derived from the Palouse River region of the Nez Perce’s tribal homeland in Oregon.
Awareness of the Paso Fino as we know it today didn’t spread outside Latin America until after WWII, when American servicemen came into contact with the stunning Paso Fino horse while stationed in Puerto Rico.
Americans began importing Paso Fino horses from Puerto Rico in the mid-1940s. Two decades later, many Paso Fino horses began to be imported from Colombia. For a while, there was some contention as to which country produced the “true” Paso Fino.
Though there are still some self-professed “purists” who advocate for one or the other country, the American Paso Fino — true to our “melting pot” tradition — is often a blend of the best of Puerto Rican and Colombian bloodlines.
The Unique Gait of the Paso Fino Horse
The Paso Fino is born with a gait unique to the breed, and its attitude seems to transmit to the observer that this horse knows its gait is a very special gift that must be executed with style and pride!
The gait is smooth, rhythmic, purposeful, straight, balanced inflexion and synchronous front to rear, resulting in unequalled comfort and smoothness for the rider. The Paso Fino is a graceful, agile and supple equine athlete that uses all four legs with precision and harmony. The gait of the Paso Fino horse is totally natural and normally exhibited from birth. It is an evenly-spaced four-beat lateral gait with each foot contacting the ground independently in a regular sequence at precise intervals creating a rapid, unbroken rhythm. Executed perfectly, the four hoof beats are absolutely even in both cadence and impact, resulting in unequaled smoothness and comfort for the rider.
The Paso Fino gait is performed at three forward speeds and with varying degrees of collection. In all speeds of the gait, the rider should appear virtually motionless in the saddle, and there should be no perceptible up and down motion of the horse’s croup
1. Classic Fino – Full collection, with very slow forward speed. The footfall is extremely rapid while the steps and extension are exceedingly short.
2. Paso Corto – Forward speed is moderate, with full to moderate collection. Steps are ground-covering but unhurried, executed with medium extension and stride.
3. Paso Largo – The fastest speed of the gait, executed with a longer extension
and stride, and moderate to minimal collection. Forward speed varies with the individual horse, since each horse should attain its top speed in harmony with its own natural stride and cadence.
The Paso Fino is capable of executing other gaits that are natural to horses, including therelaxed walk, the canter and the gallop.
About the Paso Fino Horse
The Paso Fino horse reflects its Spanish heritage through its proud carriage, grace and elegance. Modern care and selective breeding have enhanced its beauty, refinement and well-proportioned conformation that convey strength and power without extreme muscling. With its lively but controlled spirit, natural gait and presence, and responsive attitude, the Paso Fino is indeed, a rare and desirable equine partner in the show ring, on the competitive trail rides and on that Sunday afternoon pleasure ride.
Growing in Popularity
The ancient history of the Paso Fino is fast becoming the future of show and pleasure horses in the U.S. and beyond. The Paso Fino is a recognized breed of United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). To demonstrate its versatility, Paso Fino horses compete in Western classes (Trail and Versatility), as well as costume and Pleasure Driving.
Paso Fino horses compete in endurance rides, including the 100 mile rides, sponsored by the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) and the competitive trail rides sponsored by the North American Trail Ride Conference (NATRC). They compete in team penning events, drill team competitions, and are always the crowd pleaser at parades.
They continue to grow in popularity, as one by one, converts are won over through the Paso Fino horse experience. If you test ride a Paso Fino horse, you will quickly display the infamous “Paso Grin”. You just can’t help yourself when you ride the smoothest and most willing horse. For more information contact : www.pfha.org