I received this letter from Atty. Quijano Eduardo part of the article by Jan Kubes to, from there, going into an analysis of the problems of our race ... like all the writings of Edward, exceptional!
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Greetings:
A long time ago I read the reflection by Jan Kubes . A reflection, in my opinion very serious, coherent and relevant. If one delves into reading it, I think, that the author asks the question: the frantic pace Colombian horse itself is a functional horse ¿or a "robot" horse? Evidently Mr. Kubes is placed in making this analysis from the viewpoint of a person who practices the equestrian sports and horse knows the scientific rigor and holistic vision. That is, the European horses.
Looked at from this perspective, holistic, rational and scientific, kinetic characteristics and skills of Colombian Paso Fino horse "enabled" so much admired here in Puerto Rico and the United States may face a number of very serious difficulties. I understand that horse ran fine line between "rational taming" and "functional meeting" to a device that is useless and even exemplary exposed to extreme stress and physical and psychological injuries can be permanent generator at an early age. I've heard that these special horses suffering from many injuries that become incorrigible. I clarify that I know personally. Nor do I know of no studies that have investigated this issue of the physical effects and consequences of this training and conversion of Colombian horse riding gauge "fine pitch" enabled.
In my view the root of the problem lies in Mr. Kubes that takes more than 30 years willing to spend "bait." The designation of Colombian horses and "half blood" like horses "fine pitch" when they are not necessarily imposed a need to create a "model" of step that is neither thin nor step nor trot trail. This is a completely artificial form of movements and antagonistic to the nature and kinetics of horse ethology. You try to put a copy of flight movements in succession natural diagonal moments of suspension and intense and rapid shift in lateral succession that has moments of suspension. This obviously generates a bystander trained many questions and doubts "What is that?
This proposal by the "paso fino" enabled we have seen over the years means very quickly (which I personally appreciate as a great quality) and a very slow traslacción another positive quality but with a serious flaw in the lack of symmetry. In fact, over and over again we have seen as the most prominent Colombian horses and mares nominated for "paso fino" unable to move or transfer the center of gravity towards the front with some of these tips in the same way as with the tip the opposite side. This, without doubt, is a technical feat of training the Colombian chalanería is in our view inappropriate and detrimental practice for example. The only thing that is a win with exceptional aesthetic projection. But it is an aesthetic projection attached to a motion or kinetic equine dysfunctional and above all, is not remotely a racial characteristic. In my view, this is the reason why it is so frequent that the Colombian horse out of the "mode" during competitions.
Many times I have heard and in practice is an idea shared by all farmers and assemblers of Paso Fino horses pure speed horse that "Colombian" is not attainable by our pure horse. Actually, I have not yet granted that point. I have not granted for several reasons. First I think the Colombian horse has received better environmental conditions in the womb of his mother. It is also clear that Colombian farmers have selected a corpulent animals exceptional. So they, and they have done in relation to this aspect a great job, worthy of study and imitate.
Until that happens on the other hand, there is a sector purism still prefer the relatively slow movements horse because they think he says that more delicate. And that has kept the speed is a quality favored with all the energy and enthusiasm that requires the development and breeding of the race.
Of course, not all breeders are purists that vision. For me (and I know that this idea is shared by many breeders purists) speed is a virtue inherent athleticism to "fine pitch". From the point of view of physiology is an indicator of strength and athletic power. So you should by strict scientific reasons the speed should be part of the set of attributes and qualities that we aspire to exhibit a Paso Fino horse as top athlete. Naturally, there is a limit. The limit when speed would compromise the rhythmic order of four times in succession lateral symmetrical. While this is not compromised ... is a quality that I think should always be valued. The Paso Fino horse that "boot skates and fire" because of its speed, timing, short traslacción tread and flexible low-factly is the one with the best chance to prevail and position itself as an exemplary high economic value in the s . XXI in all markets.
Not argue the point that inbreeding and inbreeding is associated with loss of fertility, vigor and the emergence of undesirable alleles genes. However, I am of the opinion that in our Paso Fino horse breed loss of athleticism, morphological and temperament has been due more to lack of selection and the "glorification of mediocrity" that the factor of inbreeding.
The starting point to support this interpretation is that the "inbreeding" as with any breeding system that does not practice or produces a gene / allele to become "good" to "bad" one "desirable" to an "undesirable." Simply increases the likelihood that a gene / allele and the corresponding phenotype is revealed because it increases homozygosity.
Rinse and repeat, as always, I do not own the truth. Therefore, my opinions or views of the contribution as an interpretation. Naturally, the importance of the issue of Paso Fino for me these views are not original or individuals. But are the result of studies, discussions and exchanges with people who have studied the subject with great rigor.
A racehorse researcher concludes that after studying extensively the history of the best racehorses in England:
By teaching that offer statistics, we establish two points or principles:
1 ° - The need of inbreeding, or rather the impossibility of avoiding it.
2 ° - The degree of approximation to look for inbreeding.
This degree can set it free four or five generations, because it is made in this way, as we have obtained the best results in tracks like the stud farm. You should not despise the inbreedings clutchless two, and three generations especially, because if not always produce a result set as regular performers at racetracks, provided, however, good stallions and mares remarkable.
Another important event:
Duplication of females higher in the pedigree of a thoroughbred race is a method of breeding that goes back hundreds of years ago and more recently has been popularized by the observation of Leon Rasmussen, who for many years emphasized the repeated occurrence of these females among the ancestors of great runners, successful stallions and mares outstanding. Rasmussen's observation was so repetitive and constant that has been adopted as a theory for planning crosses and the same has been called "Rasmussen Factor".
I just want to note that the "inbreeding" is a method to genetically improve a race even though you can also occasionally lead to adverse outcomes.
Cultural factors that have influenced the decline in quality of the breed
I think here one of the factors that most influenced the loss of qualities and positive attributes in our horse has been the belief that a brother of father and mother, that is, a full brother was also the brother of "genes". Many people thought and think that if a copy was full brother to another outstanding performance, this was also an animal with an enormous potential as a player. This is not true. This can be much more severe in the case of females used poor quality.
Confusing the factor of probability with luck. Many breeders are still betting on luck. They think that a remote ancestor may fife, "if you're lucky." That puts breeder breeds in large numbers in search of that possibility. And that is creating a growing population of animals registered, but not quality. The effect of this practice is that it increases the frequency of undesirable genes on race and necessarily, diminish the good. Remember, do not accumulate genes are replaced. No one should expect that two parents can produce poor quality horse or a top copy.
Records without information relevant nor reliable. While it is true that with DNA testing we are getting reliable information we have not given the most important step is to record relevant information about qualities and characteristics of movement, size, health, etc.. we know that are heritable. To this we must add that we do not know the degree of heritability that has the style of the footprint, speed and stride Paso Fino horse. Personally, I think it is a highly heritable trait. But I do not know for sure.
Caste no picture. Many breeders have not understood that genes "down block". And when you want to improve a quality in their upbringing identify the unit that has that quality but unweighted other features that can be serious weaknesses or flaws. Still, use it. The result is that the baby is most likely in all of lower quality than its predecessors because it probably masked now has more defects than did their parents. And if we say that the purpose of a scientific breeding is to have better products, generation after generation, as long as this is possible, it is clear that we are on the wrong track.
Nor have we developed strategies to help heritable factors connected to the horse's athletic quality to be passed from parents to children. There is strong empirical evidence that shows that "inbreeding" should be combined with the concept of "crossing balanced." There must be a female in this generation of grandparents or great-grandparents to connect the common ancestor of excellence. If that is not done, the best qualities of this common ancestor no "down" (Rasmussen Factor).
Lack of a system or competition model that allows us to identify the innate and heritable traits that make the difference of the Paso Fino horse as a race. For example: Table of resonance that is the main attraction of a Paso Fino competition is not necessarily an ideal instrument to determine the natural ability of the Paso Fino horse to run the ideal dynamics of a Paso Fino horse. Do not forget that the Paso Fino is "dynamic stability". Even, sometimes sounding board has been used against a horse strong and powerful performance with maximum stability and dynamic because it sounds like diz "hard" and prefers a horse footprint diz weak and soft because it is a "horse delicate. "
I think our competition itself requires major surgery to both identify the qualities that give economic value to the horse as to generate an attractive and exciting spectacle for the viewer. The actual competition, in my view and it seems that for the general public does not meet any of the two.
I agree with everyone and all these ideas, obviously, so humble and sincere. I hope I can be a stimulus to generate such fruitful dialogue above all the great positive changes in human history.
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I just want to make two comments ...
As Edward says, many people think Purism execution speed of our horse can not reach the levels we see today in the Paso Fino Colombiano ... like Eduardo, I think that our race does go in that direction, but in different ways ...
The improvement of a race can take many paths, some are natural and involve a slow evolutionary processes ... including, for example, inbreeding is the (near or far) ... others seek an accelerated method to introduce certain features "now" ... an example would be "out-crossing" ...
In the case of Colombian Paso Fino ... the progress we've seen over the past two decades does not respond to a natural process ... but the introduction of foreign genes through the Trail crosses with animals ... this "out-crossing" has improved speed and the collection, but has taken its toll in the loss of natural and sustainable ...
On the Trail Purism and we do not want us "out-crossing," but we are improving by the slow lane of inbreeding ...
This brings me to the second comment ... inbreeding is one of the most used tools in the improvement of many species: horses, dogs, cats, birds, livestock, etc ... but the blood, only blood, not a magic wand to achieve results ...
Eduardo has already indicated that many use the inbreeding expecting a "grand slam" ... also explained that having a superior example of descent does not warrant that has inherited the genes we want to bring forward ... is important to keep in mind that two brothers / sisters complete / as not always have inherited the genes of the outstanding features ...
The part where they fail most of the breeders, I have repeated so many times that I lost count, is to maintain superior products and discard the lower ... for example, make a cross and the filly did not make the grade for the track is, that did not inherit the features we wanted ... so instead of throwing it away, send it to fenced for use as a mother !!!!!!!!!!
Finally, I really liked Edward's comment about reassessing our skills ... we should do a conference between the entities, farmers and other representatives of Purism where you can redefine the way to evaluate our dogs ... someone picks up the baton??
PD-Ed, thanks for that excellent reflection!
It looks much enthusiasm Cialitos Cup this weekend ... and no wonder, no desire to compete and to see again our favorites, measured face to face with each other ... for me, there are some specimens I would like to see competing Cialitos together ... and lends itself to enjoy a few duels, Rookie would say, "Pulse-pounding" ...! 
