How do I know what class my Paso Fino belongs in?

This question is a common one. Exhibitors should get several opinions from qualified professionals, such as experienced breeders, trainers, and judges within the breed. What is one person's opinion of a performance or fino horse is someone else's pleasure horse. Videotape your horse's performance and get it reviewed if you can't get the horse critiqued in person. Ask the reasons why the professional feels such to help understand the reasoning of the opinion.

Why did a certain horse place lower that never made a mistake over one that did?

A horse that is a average or marginal horse that shows no ambition or spark in its performance generally doesn't do enough even to make a mistake. This horse is performing at a 65-70% level of what the ideal would be. Meanwhile, another horse is performing at a 95% level of the ideal. It makes a minor mistake, and is moved down to a 90% level; it makes another mistake, and moves to a 80% level, but still it is superior in its overall performance than the horse performing at a marginal level. Obviously, if the original 95% horse keeps making more mistakes, he is not performing to the ideal and will drop below the 65% horse.

Why did one horse do/place well in one class, but not in another at the same show?

Every class can be seen as a "different" horse show". A horse who did not place well in one class due to his mistakes, may come back in another class and perform flawlessly and win. A horse may improve with more time and experience in the show ring with each class entered OR get more tired and not perform as well.

Why is more than one judge often used at Paso Fino shows?

Besides earning multiple points for class placements at one show, the exhibitor is getting more than one judge's opinion or judgement. If an exhibitor does not agree with a certain judge's opinions, the use of more than one judge at the same time lessens possible political decisions. Most people, exhibitors, and/or breeders do not want all the breed's future resting in just one judge's opinions.

Basicly, how are Paso Fino gait traits judged in a class?

Qualitative traits of the gait's cadence are judged subjectively as they can not be measured. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder", such as quality, beauty, and harmony of movement. Quality expression is considered more difficult to judge, so the more judges used would give a better average.

Quantative traits of the gait's cadence can be judged objectively as they can be measured, such as tempo, quickness or frequency of footfall, timed distance to travel, and energy and recoup level.

Why do some classes and judges take longer to judge than others?

Besides the fact of a large class entry size, it comes down to the degree of similarity among entries. In this case, there are only small differences between the contestants in their performances and often will include workoffs. For each class, the time needed will also be determined by meeting all the class requirements in a manner to view all the exhibitors perform at each gait. Otherwise, judges that take longer to judge than needed can give the impression of a lack of confidence in their
decision making process.

How do judges apply the their decisions in their placements?

When the class is run, a judge will compare entries to the "ideal" class standard or criteria first, next compare the entries to each other, and then place the class accordingly. Close performances may be called for a workoff.

What is involved when a judge calls for work-off tests at a Paso Fino show?

Paso Fino judges may call for work-off tests only after the regular class routine is run to further evaluate closely contested horses/exhibitors. Judges will call those contestants for a work-off that are performing to a similar level of quality to help decide which is the more efficient performer during the workoff test routines. Work-off tests may involve railwork and can include predescribed tests as per the Paso Fino rules. Multiple reverses on the rail and use of the sounding board are frequently used.

What is the purpose of the sounding board and how much emphasis is placed on the horse's performance in a Paso Fino class?

The sounding board may be used after the class routine by some judges before line-up, though the sounding board is not described in the rules as part of the regular class procedure. In this circmstance, the judge should still place the emphasis on the railwork performance in choosing the class placements and not solely on the sounding board performance. Its use as per the rulebook is for an extra work-off test (for closely contested horses).

What is the judge looking for in the use of the sounding board as a workoff test?

When judging the contestants on the sounding board or also called the "fino board" in the Classic Fino class, the judge may even look slightly away or down to concentrate on the sound of the hoof beats' rhythm going over the sounding board. The judge is not ignoring the contestant or being disrespectful, but in fact concentrating on the sound of the cadence while tuning out the cheering of the spectators or distractions. The judge may also evaluate the way of going as in "tracking" (ideally the same hind foot follows the path of the front foot fall in a straight path) of the horse at while using the board.

Note: as per show management or request from association committees, it has been suggested to judges to use the sounding board besides just for workoffs. Since judges work for show management, they generally will comply.

These reasons can be:

• Excitement and entertainment for the show and spectators
• The spotlight in which for each exhibitor to shine
• Experience for horses that may return for the championship class
• Everyone loves the Paso Fino sound over the board
• Education for spectators to hear correct or incorrect rhythm

Does it matter where a judge stands in a ring to best officiate?

A judge who stands at one end of the arena or the other has a better view of seeing up to 85% of the entries at any time by pivoting. While a judge who stands in the middle of the ring has a more limited view, as their back is to 50% of the arena immediately behind them. Exhibitors may show better in different areas of the arena, and also may correct their horses when they think the judge is not looking. When more than one judge is used, one judge may see this while another does not, so the judge's position in able to see the most entries is important.

Why is conferring among judges not a judging system used often?

Judges may be viewed as having different "criteria" when judging. Also, when conferring, the spectators and exhibitors do not know the individual judge's "criteria" used to judge by and what was the level of independence of each judge. One judge will generally have more importance in breaking decisions when there is not a unified decision made.