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A Time to Reflect
By: Raul Risso
Having attended the recent LX Peruvian National Show and First World Congress of
the Peruvian Paso Horse held in April of 2005 at the Mamacona Fairgrounds in
Lima Peru, we were impressed with the number of many new exhibitors and the
record of 745 participating horses. The “aficion” in Peru is growing, no
question about it. The efforts of the ANCPCPP are paying off in Peru as the
whole country has turned the PPH into a symbol of national identity. We owe this
to the thirteen breeders and aficionados that founded it in 1947 and to the rest
of the people who have led it since.
The Outcry
It is unquestionable that the PPH has earned prestige and presence in the
diverse equine world outside the frontiers of Peru. It is also a fact that in
foreign countries it must compete with other breeds. This is the basis for
people’s concern, worried about certain weaknesses that shorten the useful life
of a considerable number of our horses. Breeders and aficionados from different
parts of the world who attended and spoke at the past Congress held in Lima
expressed this unanimously. This outcry cannot be ignored and it is necessary
for the Peruvian Breeders and the ANCPCPP to address this issue.
The Challenge
It is not a matter of copying other breeds that are stronger and have a longer
lifespan. Alfredo Elias once put it into words, claiming that “our horse is not
the strongest nor the prettiest but, because of it’s pesos, it is unique in the
equine world”. In general, trotting breeds are stronger than the gaited ones and
within the latter; the PPH has the additional physically demanding attributes of
rear end extension and termino. Furthermore, the Peruvian is required to carry
his head steady and motionless. Since the creation of the ANCPCPP there has been
great progress in the criteria that guides our breeders but we have overlooked
several aspects. Many people take Show Results as their only guide on who they
breed their horses to. There, I believe we have wrongly been giving excessive
priority to the extension of the rear end over the supreme virtue of the paso
llano timing. The referred demand was accentuated with the appearance of the
descendants of Sol de Oro V and Caramelo in particular, only 43 years ago. There
is a photograph at the headquarters of the ANCPCPP in which Caramelo ridden by
Alfredo, distinguishes himself by his royal head carriage over other horses and
riders amongst whom is Fernando Grana.
The Influence of Caramelo
Caramelo introduces the overbearing requirement in the breed that is to produce
horses that will continue to have extension in the paso llano but with a more
refined, elevated neck and head carriage. There is a change in the center of
gravity and the horse, similar to an outboard motor boat, carries more weight on
the hindquarters. That is the irreversible situation we confront. I find that
the PPH of today requires a very particular rear end that will perform towards
that function with a much stronger loin area than before necessary, a long
inclined croup that provides angulations at the stifle and a slightly sickled
hock along with strong, flexible but not “squishy” pasterns of medium length.
With the strength of such a loin and good angulation the horse glides and drives
supplied with well-defined joints and ligaments. This is easy to define but hard
to get all in one package.
In general, the rear end of our horse today is not sufficiently solid to be able
to travel with the carriage that the introduction of Caramelo brought us. If we
consider that since it’s conception it takes from 4 to 5 years for a mare to
procreate we will understand that 43 years is nothing in the evolution of any
breed of horses. Here and there I have been confronted with some individuals
that “brake down” at an early age, more so in their rear ends, an area that as
Jose Miguel Morales puts it, we should deal with.
Genetics
In raising animals many problems are solved by a having a broad genetic base. In
Peru, where our breed began, we have been limiting the available bloodlines and
instead have concentrated on only a few. Bloodlines that would provide such
diversity have been lost, forgotten or sold to foreign countries. Thus we assess
from several articles written by Roque Benavides, published in the “Made in
Peru” magazine. From statistics elaborated from horse show results, Roque proves
us that Sol de Oro V and more recently Sol de Paijan his descendant, are in a
great portion in the line of ancestors of a great many in the breed today. And
from the maternal side, Eduardo Risso in an article published by the 2005
Anuario of the ANCPCPP, titled “The importance of Broodmares” sustains that 10
mares alone are predecessors to more than 96% of the descendants of Sol de Oro
V, of 91 % of the Regional and of 93% of the of the Sol de Paijan. This is not a
flattering situation.
The Breeders Response
The majority of the horses quoted by Roque and Eduardo have come to us through
Alfredo Elias (AEV) Anibal and Lucho Vasquez and Jose “Pepe” Risso. (JRM) Years
ago Fito Matellini, a Caramelo fan traveled extensively through the valleys and
“quebradas” of the Ica and Nazca valleys from which Sol de Oro V would have
come. He and others that followed got a hold of some good animals. Fito
unfortunately did not persevere in his breeding program as he was knowledgeable
and had a saying about breeders that “are born, grow up, develop, become vain
and then, they disappear”. Not so Anibal Vasquez, the father and my brother Pepe
as they nurtured their breeding programs from outside blood.
Pepe bought La China a descendant of Zanero. She and her offspring were bred to
Dictado a present from Carlos Parodi. Later Pepe bought Sol de Oro (?) Joven
from whom he got the stamp that his horses still portray. From Regional he got
Redoble and Sol de Paijan, gave him Predilecto and Mariscal. From the Vasquez
family he got Granadilla the mother of Resplandor. Pepe Musante gave him
Pirinola whom he bred to Palomo and got Palomilla the dam of Soraya, granddam of
Retorno. From Nazca he got Quebranta the dam of Quinela. Bred to Mariscal,
Quinela produced Profesora Laureada in Central America and with Redoble she gave
Prolija, the dam of his Laureada Legendaria.
There was diversity in the blood of Carlos Parodi’s La Limena, the mother of
Mantequilla, and other Champions all coming from Piloto. Years later these two
stallions left their mark in the USA. From Hugo Nieto In Ica, Jose Antonio
Onrubia bought Cynthia and Raul del Solar took Domingo to the US where he became
a legend. Also from Ica, bred by Hugo Gotuzzo La Murga came to the US and became
a cornerstone at Gene Pepe’s ranch leaving her daughter Cabala for Tony
Hudtwalker to grab a hold of in Peru a refined, solid mare, and the mother of
Senera. Jose Miguel Morales also got from Ica a Gotuzzo mare he named Sombra and
Surena the mother of the proven sire Magistrado. Samuel Gleisser in Pacasmayo,
inherited Flor de Canela who was the grand dam of Guadalupana and bred to Piloto
gave Pilota, the dam of Marfil a good sire in Ecuador. In Arequipa, Roberto
Gallegos owned Japonesa the dam of Vicuna and grand dam of Sabandia a National
Ch of Ch. Carlos Fukuda bought Cholita de Cacho in Cajamarca and got very good
offspring amongst whom was Ananda. Peter Koechlin bought from Fito the grey mare
Marinera coming from Anibal Vasquez the father, to become the grand dam of his
National Champion China Chola. In Lima, Juan Manuel Rizo Patron took the time to
explore into the valley of Pativilca and got a jewel, a petite mare from an
ancient bloodline Reina de Galpon, the mother of La Chunga and Triana, both sold
overseas. In 1980 with good advice from the Vasquez brothers I had the fortune
to acquire Feria Cayalti who, bred to Sol de Paijan gave me Galileo a National
Champion and Fantasia, Laureada in the USA at the age of sixteen.
In recent years Enrique Rizo Patron and Manuel Acuna have had success with
descendants that Julio Peschiera had out crossed from the original bloodlines
coming from Fernando Peschiera. Another Fernando, Bustamante combines stallions
coming from AEV with the mare Esmeralda bred by Morocho Rossell in Cajamarca and
obtains Abadia and Suprema, solid, refined mares with added size. Similarly,
Eduardo Risso started his breeding operation with two mares from Victor Castro
in Ica carrying bloodlines from AEV. Crossing them with stallions from his
father Pepe, Sol de Brujas is grand dam of Solariega, a good strong mare and,
Dona Leli is the dam of Genovesa a Laureada in the USA. Jose Miguel Morales and
Tito de Azambuja brought us back greys with two excellent offspring from Soy del
Peru a stallion bred by Jose Risso Jr, and the mares Cereza and Sensacion
Cayalti.
There are a lot more breeders that set us an example, but I have no room in this
article to quote on their contributions. Just let me say that there is no reason
to become alarmed, abundant genetic material is available. It is a matter of
finding bloodlines that have been lost, forgotten or sold to foreign countries.
Breeders with vision will find them. It will be a long process of continuous
selection and culling but absolutely necessary. Perseverance, money and above
all dismissing our vanity are essential in order to stay on top in this endeavor
of breeding the PPH.
The ANCPCPP’s Response
A positive amendment has been established at this last Nationals in Peru whereas
the first and second place horses of each class have to necessarily participate
in the subsequent Pisos and Conformation Classes in order to qualify for their
Championships. It’s more demanding on the winners without taking away the right
for others that have placed lower in competing for these two awards.
By the same token, in the face of a longevity problem, I believe that the
Peruvian Association has the obligation to “raise the bar” and set new goals by
requiring that our future National Champions prove it. The following proposal
would be valid from here on, respecting the rights earned by the present
champions. The horses that would be competing for the Champion of the Year
titles would de adults, more than six years old. With the present attendance and
subdivision of classes that exist today there will be a place for several
Championships to be applied equally for mares, stallions and geldings:
Best at Halter, Best in Bozal, Junior Champion Under Saddle and finally,
ratifying his or her qualities, Champion of the Year. Only the latter would pass
on to compete for the Champion of Champion titles. Therefore our candidates for
the Laureado award would not reach that goal until a minimum age of nine years
old. There would be Six New Championships between mares, stallions and geldings,
Best Bozal and Junior Championships Under Saddle; all of which would bring more
splendor to the Show. Our expectations would rise and exhibitors will keep their
best horses in order to achieve the even pricier Championship of the Year.
Consequently the PPH would have more value.
My proposal is not a revolutionary one. It is a reform that I respectfully
enter. It is not a change but a higher requirement. It would be a serious and
formal response from the Peruvian Association when confronted to the outcry from
the breeders and aficionados around the world that was revealed at the First
World Congress recently celebrated. The task, hard as it is, belongs to the
ANCPCPP.
Visitors Welcome!
We are located just 90 minutes north of New Orleans Airport in Southeastern Louisiana.
Please call or email us for your questions, additional information or to book breedings
to our stallions, or make an appointment to view our stock.
Raul Risso M &
Lauren Carter-Risso
64486 Bracy Ln
Amite, LA 70422
Telephone: 985-748-4811
E-mail: ryrusa@i-55.com
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