Mundial 2007
Paso Fino World Cup Show
By Cindy Oswald, owner of Westwind Ranch Paso Finos: Sarah and I have just returned from the 2007 Mundial (World Cup Show) in Jacksonville, Florida. For those unfamiliar with this event - it is held only every two years and encompasses some of the finest Paso Finos in the world. The Mundial is hosted in Puerto Rico, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and other countries before it returns to the United States, so it won’t come back around to the US for about eight years.
It was really interesting and the judging is quite different than the judging in US shows! Much, MUCH more strict! Horses are brought into a special area, clean and unsaddled and are inspected for minimum height requirements, measuring the horseshoes for strict size and weight requirements, visually checking overbite, and other anomalies. (Indeed, there were many professional farriers on site busily putting on the required shoes, making sure no nail heads were below the shoe, but instead, rasped off flush with the shoe and clinches were immaculately clean and neat!) Several horses were excused prior to the competition for being under the height restriction - a few horses were excused for not making the height by ¼ inch! Two stallions were excused prior to the competition for underdeveloped male anatomy.
All horses are then saddled and bridled in this area and are not allowed any warm up prior to going into the arena. Tack and headgear, is of course, inspected. Once in the arena, the judges allow a short warm up time and each horse must go over the Board. (Paso Fino horse shows include a "Sounding Board" or "Fino Strip" which is a wooden strip approximately 4 feet wide, 6 inches high, and 48 to 60 feet long. As horses are ridden one at a time the length of the board, judges and spectators listen to the sound of the foot fall to evaluate the horse's rhythm and accuracy of gait.) After the warm-up, any horse not in gait is immediately excused and throughout the process, only those in gait remain in the arena until all of those that are left are the ones that meet the initial requirements of the class. Then, the competition begins in earnest and the remaining horses continue in the competition.
The judges are very quick in their initial ruling and strictly adhered to in all of the classes. This approach seemed to be consistent throughout all of the classes and applied consistently and fairly, giving no favoritism. Indeed, it seemed that any minor mistake does not go unnoticed! A point system is assessed giving credit for the positive attributes, as well as points deducted for minor faults in the performance of each horse. Spectators saw top national and international champions excused for minor mistakes. Some were excused for being in Trocha rather than in Fino; for being “out of gait” or not maintaining gait consistently and so forth.
The individual work, in Fino, was stringent. In ALL classes, if any horse at any time, shows any signs of poor manners, it is immediately excused from the competition.
Unlike the system of judging in American Paso Fino shows, it is the consensus of the judges, conferring in the end, that determines only ONE winner, and the placings of second, third, etc. It was not uncommon in the smaller classes that NO first place was given. If there were for instance, three horses in the class, and the judges determined that the “best horse” was not deserving of a first place, a second place was given and no first was given out.
In other classes, no placings were given if the requirements were not met by any of the horses and all of the participants were excused. The emphasis is that this competition represents “the best of the best.” If no horses meet the requirements of the class, no placings are given. Period.
When the classes are pinned, the judges explain to the audience why they placed their class the way they did. They ask that the participants, sometimes, two at a time go out and work briefly and the announcer will then explain why this horse or that horse was placed. This was something I really appreciated and the experience not only sharpened my eye, but gave me an even greater education into the importance of how important the “little things” matter in how the judges view things. Since some of the judges speak only Spanish, Carlos Tobon was the interpreter for this part of each class.
We were also treated to classes not held in the United States. Like Trocha-Galope and Trote Galope classes. Amazing horses with a totally different style.
It was also a great opportunity for Amateur Owners to compete in this World Class event. Remember, that in Colombian Mundials, there are no Amateur events. And although there were woefully few Amateurs competing, no matter how they placed, my hats are off to them for having the guts to go and compete at this level! Just to be there and try takes a lot of hard work and dedication!
I would like to let everyone know that there are several competitors from the West that should be recognized for their accomplishments. These horses represent owners “from our side of the country.”
Matt Glover of Berthoud, Colorado swept the World Championship title in both Amateur and Open divisions with his stunning Pleasure gelding, Indulto de Mark-El. After earning a second place in the Amateur Owner Fino stallions (77 months & older) class, with El Pastor del Juncal, Matt went on to capture the Grand Championship with this horse, as well.
From Arizona, K.K. DuBois won the A/O Pleasure stallions (61-77 months group) on Chaquiro de Besilu. This fine stallion also won the Open Paso Pleasure Stallions class ( 61-77 months division) with Trainer Jose Flores. K.K. DuBois continued on, taking the second place award with her horse, Pretencioso de la Virginia in the A/O Fino Stallion (77 months and older) class.
Amateur Owner Yvette Trevorrow, also from Arizona, capably showed her horses in several categories. Yvette won the Reserve Grand Championship at this World event in the Amateur Owner Paso Pleasure mares division with her horse, Torbellina de Toledano. She also took a first place in the A/O Performance mares (61-77 month class) with La Sorpresa Perla Negra.
Also turning in fine performances, our congratulations to Gus Gonzalez of California, first place in the A/O Paso Pleasure schooling fillies (49-60 months) and to owner, Robert Osborne and trainer, Gerardo Matos also from California, for their second place showing of Luna Llena de La Rosa in the Fino Schooling Fillies (49-60 months) class.
There are probably others from the West that were there, and if I have forgotten to mention them, it is only that I can’t recall all of the placings. It is a joyful reminder that the horses from the West can and are competitive. We take back with us many memories, and the experience was beyond words.
Editor's Note: Other fine performances from California Owners and Trainers include Staige DeBenedetti placing First in Amateur Pleasure Geldings riding her trusty mount "Pesty" and placing Third in Amateur Mares on Excelencia DLM. Johnny Lanier placed Fourth in Open Performance Mares riding Renee Hahne's mare Lindita DLM.