We knew colombian horses during the years I worked in Colombia. It is a very beautifull country - in the north is washed by Caribbean Sea, in the west by majestic Pacific, in the interior run from the south to the north 3 massives of Andes with almost 6.000 m high white peaks, in the east spread wide llanos, in the south Amazon jungle. This geographical and climat diversity gave origin to the very varied fauna and flora very attractive to us. One of the species causing special attraction are their marvelous horses.

Colombia is one of a few South America countries where is still possible to discover the objects of pre-colombian indian cultures we are very interested in. So we used the opportunity to visit the region of San Agustín in the south of the country towards the border with Ecuador where it is still possible to discover old indian´s tombs and a lot of residues of these cultures could be seen. So we could not let excape such experience and decided to go there and try to see everything possible. But in the place we found out that if we really wanted to see the tombs it was not possible by foot and the only other possibility was in horse. We had never rided a horse before but me and my at this time 3 years old daughter Lucia were enthusiastic about such experience. The horses brought by native man were really not very attractive looking, very slim little horses, but their qualities consisted in something else. In very sharp slopes and ravines of the Ands they changed to chamois or wild goats and with incredible firmness and security stepped un and down in pathes where we surely would not have had the courage to enter - but for these horses it was no problem.

Another experience we made when we visited our friends Rosa and David in hacienda El Triunfo in Honda where we came with small Czech colony. To all of us was offered the possibility to ride the horses used for vaquería, it means working with cattle. Nobody had previous experience with riding but almost everybody wanted to try it. So some 15 saddled horsed were brought to us and go where you want to - hacienda has about 10.000 hectars. No explanation how to handle a horse, no helmet - in hacienda nobody would understood for what purposse such object should serve. So we took a ride - somebody around the hacienda, me and my daughter went to the wild nature for about 4 hours. Incredible experience! To ride a horse in such country was the most natural thing, the horses were very sure, we handled them without thinking, their loayality and obedience toward the riders were very natural. So we walk, trot and galoop, no one problem accured, nobody fell down. Now, after certain experience with european horse clubs, horses and riding styles I noticed how exceptional such experience was!

Apart from specific smooth gait of these horses and their very good character such ride was possible also thanks to the way they were trained. After coming back to Czech republic we tried to continue and visited few horse club, but my daughter sum our experiences to one sentence: "Daddy, if we are going to continue to ride please look for a colombian horse because we are not going to torture us in those". She had in mind trot of european horses and traditional English styl of riding which in comparison with colombian horses and the experience she had with them she considered as a torture. The definitive break-point in my hesitation and the beginning of the addiction to the passion called paso fino colombiano are responsible 2 horses I had the opportunity to ride and that I never will forget. In hacienda in Rio Negro I had the opportunity to ride one of the best horses of today - 8 years old bay stallion Reflejo De La Estancia, son of the legendary Capuchino x La Bruja. The ride was a hard-to-believe dream when the horse reacted to my thinking and made the turns before I gave him conciously any order. Another exceptional horse was 11 years old white mare Juguetona of my friend Ramon Vargas when we ran in the hills like a hell in maximum speed shouting Yupeee!! like teenagers. Other not to be forgotten experience was another ride with Ramon when I rided 3years old mare Flamenca with just on the fingers counted lessons of training. During her first ride outside of finca we walked narrow way and were crossed by the bus full of shouting people. If it were not enough when passing us the driver of the bus blow a clacson. I almost said Adios to my life expecting violent uncontroled reaction of Flamenca but to my big surprise she followed her mother without moving an eyebrow. Phantastic character.

Very closely to paso fino in my scale od preferences is trocha y galope and surely it is thanks to not to be forgotten ride on 3 years old gray stallion Antanas Mockus, later on 1999 World champion in Tampa. Trocha of this breed is to me more pleasant than trote specially when spending long time in the saddle.

I was also very impressed by the resistance of colombian horses. I still have in my mind the shock of my countryman with long experience with racing horses who could not believe his eyes after galloping to the steep rocky slope the horses were not affected. According to his experience all race horses after such ride would have lamed and started to shout to my colombian friend about irresponsibility. He to the contrary did not understand what the visitors was talking about because they rided there all the life and their horses never had have problems because of it.

It took several years but finally I could fullfill the wish of my daughter and import 5 years old stallion of paso fino colombiano Bonachon del Rey (pedigree).
. In Czech republic this horse was first presented in the prestigious exposition "Horse of the year 2001" in Lysá nad Labem.
causing a real sensation in the audience. Bonachon is in spite of his brioso temperament very friendly and after 3 month training in bosal could ride him also my children without any problem. In countryside riding he moves with exceptional security, his energy is inmense and incredible his will to go forward - I never stimulated him instead I only limit his speed. We also imported young mare Islera del Gavilan (pedigree) who will receive her first lessons beginning 2003 to accompany us in the rides.

PEDIGREE:

REFLEJO de Quebrada Grande - in the original from Colombia
REFLEJO de Quebrada Grande - detailed pedigree
RESORTE de Quebrada Grande - detailed pedigree