PPF: When was your arrival to the United States?
JE: I was riding in Colombia when Don Fabio Ochoa wrote an article about me which hurt me very much. He wrote that, as a rider, when I showed horses in the show ring, I would show horses that were the worst of the worst. He wrote that and said he always saw me riding poor-quality horses. So, I read that article and thought ‘I am going to get back at Don Fabio.’ Later, he said himself ‘I saw Jaime riding little worst of the worst horses, although all dressed up and all that. Suddenly, he moved to Pereira and started doing some very good work.’ That was because, in Pereira, I had a horse farm where people started to get to know me and brought horses from all over for me to train. So, then I decided I was not going to be angry with Don Fabio because he had already corrected his comments by saying that I was riding very well and that he was seeing me side by side with the greatest riders in the show ring, such as Alberto Lozano, Javier Cataño, and all the riders of that time who were extraordinary. So then, I went to prepare myself and study equitation because I used to observe Colombian riders and they rode very poorly. Some would be leaning forward, others leaning back, others with their legs wide open and that looked very bad. The rider did not look good and did not portray a pleasant image together with the horse. Later, Don Fabio saw me competing among the greatest riders of the time and defeating them. He stated that I had become the greatest rider of Colombia.

I started to study equitation because I used to see the riders of Andalusian and Arabian horses. The horses were very pretty and the riders sat up so straight, I knew I had to learn how to do that. I started studying equitation and reading books about equitation about Americans, Germans, all people who knew how to ride any breed of horse extremely well. So, I started, and I worked hard. Every day I would tell my friend ‘take a picture of me to see how I look’ because pictures can show you the defects. The picture will show you if you are leaning back, are not sitting straight up, or have your legs or feet are in the wrong position. I started to correct all of that thanks to the science of equitation which teaches you to ride horses correctly. And from one moment to the next, I took on a lovely position. I know that because my posture is proper, my horses look better. Therefore, I learned to ride horses by watching good riders and by reading. I learned many things about horseback riding and many others that I will share in the future.

PPF: When you arrived to the United States, what year was it more or less and who with?
JE: I came in 1984 to work at Tijore Farms in Homestead, Florida. It was the best farm in the United States. I will tell you the story- I used to ride Plebeyo in Colombia and made him a champion many times. In 1981, he was Paso Fino World Grand Champion in Bogotá, Colombia. My now friend from Puerto Rico, Raffi Rivera, had travelled to Colombia and said, ‘that man rides very nicely, who is he?’ and they told him ‘Jaime Escudero’. He went to speak to me, and we became friends. When he visited Popayán, Colombia and spoke to Milo Sarria to see if he would sell the horse, but he would not sell him at that time. Raffi continued to insist so much that he later travelled to Cali. He loved riding bicycle, so he went from Cali to Popayán on a bicycle so that Milo would not recognize him. He got there and said, “hello, I am Raffi Rivera.” And he started chatting with Don Milo asking him to sell the horse, but Don Milo would say no. A friend from Cali also told Don Milo to sell the horse because the price was good. Finally, Don Milo sold the horse to Raffi Rivera to bring to the United States. Then, they wondered who would ride the horse here. Raffi said there was a man who rode him, worked well with him, and won many titles with him; Jaime Escudero. So, he came to find me and ask me if I wanted to move to the US. I said, “Raffi, depending on the conditions.” So, I signed a contract with them, and he brought me to the farm to ride Plebeyo and other very good quality horses they had like La Clásica. La Clásica was a daughter of Contrapunto. That is where Clásico was born, from La Clásica and Plebeyo. Clásico was a very renowned horse here. In 1984, I went to Charlotte. Is there a city named Charlotte in the Carolinas? There is, isn’t there? There was a national championship there, so I went to see the competition. We didn’t compete there because we took Plebeyo only to be exhibited. And I stayed there! In 1997, I returned to Colombia. My wife and Luisa were there. Luisa was very young and grew up there at the farm. So then, I was working very well at that farm. Angel Usategui, who is now deceased, was hired there to promote the farm and do the marketing and all those things, and I didn’t like that.

PPF: Which have been the most valuable resources that have led you to become the horseman you are today?
JE: First of all, let me tell you that both my parents were horse people; they both liked horses very much, as did my grandparents. They all enjoyed very good horses. This is something that I have inherited from my parents. My mother also rode very well and loved horses too. And so did my grandparents. I have a picture that is almost 100 years old of my grandfather riding a mare that was very famous in Colombia. Her name was La Gasolina. It’s a beautiful picture.

PPF: Is there something you would have like to have in your beginning here in the United States? Something as a rider, perhaps, that you would have like to have like a resource or an assistance to get started.
JE: No, I simply focused on teaching and I created the school, Escudero Paso Fino. It was the first school founded for Paso Fino horses here in this country. There was none of that here 27 years ago, so I was the first one to found that kind of school. I remember chatting with Carmen Cepero. When I told her about my idea, she said, ‘no, Jaime, you’re crazy. That school would be no good here.’ I told her, ‘Carmen, I’m going to keep trying. She was later so surprised when she saw me competing with my youth riders. I used to take, Maritza, maybe you remember that I used to take 20-25 people to the shows. We were one big, united horse family. Now I have had the school for 27 years and am very enthusiastic, even more enthusiastic than before because now I am going to launch something deeper. I want people to learn like in the university. They will start with kindergarten to learn the basics. Currently, horses now are being ridden by youth who ride nicely, but they are not learning so many important things about equitation. That is why I want to offer a superior type of school. And I am going to keep myself busy with that so long as I live.

PPF: Which do you consider have been your greatest accomplishments or successes?
JE: My greatest accomplishments and successes have been many. I have a very nice story to share. I was titled the Best Trainer in Colombia 26 times. I founded ASOCABA and served as its president. I was a member of ASDESILLA. I was part of CONFEPASO when it first began, contributing to the technical committee. I was the one who proposed the World Championships. I proposed equitation schools. But now I want to do something different. Equitation schools have changed so much that now the winner is the one with the most money because he had a better horse available. I don’t believe in that being right. It is unfair for a person to pay $10-15,000 for a horse to compete in an equitation class. Obviously, those people are riding a better quality horse. They have the audience on their side and judges like that horse. So, they choose the best horse and not the rider. Other riders may have good horses, but not as good, and the judges don’t even notice them. That is a big mistake.

PPF: What has been the most significant sign of affection that you have received from a horse?
JE: There have been so many, from so many horses. For example, there was Plebeyo. There was also that horse, what was his name? Piloto! Once, that horse made me cry when we took him to Puerto Rico because he had been sold. That horse was in my stall and when I noticed they were going to take him to load the truck, I became very sad and I cried because I really loved that horse. Piloto was a very good quality son of Resorte IV. Another time was when I was being honored at Tropical Park by that new association that had begun. What was the name of that association? ATTA! They presented me with a very nice tribute, and I started to cry in the show ring because there was a huge audience, and they were speaking so nicely about me. That made me very emotional. Another time was with the horse Adalid, when I competed him for the first time, there was a lovely homage for me. Carlos Lopez spoke very nicely of me. All those things make me very emotional.

PPF: Don Jaime, please tell me about the new project you are working on.
JE: Thank you for that question. I have a new project and am very enthusiastic about it because I want to pass on my knowledge to the youth who are just starting to ride, to trainers, and to aficionados so that I leave some history of me. I am writing a book, but before I launch that book, I want to launch an equitation guide to teach about how to handle a horse. It consists of a course much like a university. At any school, students begin being grouped by age and level. For example, I am going to have a Level 1 which will be for children from 7-10 years of age. They are Beginners. I see that there is a need for more knowledge among trainers. There are many horse people who know, but many who do not know much and allow themselves to be led by the trainers and it should not be that way. All horse people should be taught how to ride and handle their horses themselves, especially to ride. They have a trainer at their farm and that person is the one to enjoy their horses. They don’t get to enjoy their own horses. This is advice that I share because I have experienced it and I know about horses.

PPF: On another note, you have been writing articles for some time now, you tell me.
JE: Yes, those articles are very good. For example, I have written some very important articles that have served the horse world in general regarding the handling of the horse. This article has been published in the countries where they have horses. ‘One of the many questions we horsemen of all settings ask ourselves, and which I continue to attempt to discover, is what causes are affecting our horses.’ In US Paso Fino there is a big misconception. Horses are being judged based on their speed, but many times go into Trocha, and those horses are not seen as being Fino. Those are horses for actual show; they are a spectacle. When one of those horses is in the ring, the audience cheers and the judges take that impression from the audience, so they award it first place. That is a big mistake… in my opinion. The Paso Fino horse that goes into Trocha and is very energetic when its rider passes it over the sounding board, is being enabled by the rider to pass from the Trocha into Fino. But when it goes back off the board, it continues in a Trocha. We see that often in the show ring and it is because horses are being enabled.

Jaime’s Five MOST…

• Who were the MOST influential people in your career? –Mr. Agudelo, who is now deceased, he was the one who taught me how to ride horses just like everyone else did, but with a very good position.

• What is the MOST important aspect of your work? – The most important aspect of my work is to see the results in each horse that is in training. And I have a style; recently, I started to begin training of a colt or filly as of 32 months of age. Once they are 32 months old, we saddle them up and work them from the ground. Then, when they are 36 months old, we begin to work them ridden, but on the lead. Around 38 or 39 months, we begin to demand more of them and place a bit on them. Horses need to be given time. Most of them begin with a diagonal gait and need to be given time to go into a lateral gait. But, it isn’t right to demand a lateral gait from them since the beginning of training. 

• What do you like MOST about a horse? –Everything.

• What would you like people to know or remember the MOST about you? –That I was kind and that I was a good person. That I have been a good rider and have been decent. I like all those things. I don’t know anyone that speaks ill of me, thanks be to God. If I run into a friend, they greet me and congratulate me saying that I have been a good example for the horse world. 

• What quotes from the horse world do you say or like the MOST? –Oh, goodness, there are so many that I don’t know which one. For example, there is one that says, ‘I want a horse for the present and not for the future.’ That is very interesting. If you train a horse properly, you will be able to enjoy it in the future. If you train a horse wrongly, you should be prepared to not enjoy him for long.

Jaime Escudero Shares Some of His Knowledge:

-Sometimes a horse is ridden, and it works properly because it is tired. But when they take it to a new farm, the horse wakes up and starts to show his true habits. Then the buyer complains and is told ‘but you and your family rode him, and you saw that the horse was fine.’ That’s a trick, they had made the horse tired so that it would behave well. That is a very big deception. That hurts the market very much. We have an important market here; that is the Performance and Pleasure horse among the Paso Fino. If those horses were properly trained, the sales would be amazing. Performance and Pleasure horses are beautiful and there are a lot of breeders who have many horses, but they are not trained well, so they are just sitting there. People tend to attend the high-quality shows where the best horses are competed. If I have a good horse and I compete it at those shows, it doesn’t get anywhere among those other horses. So, I am going to get tired of going there only to spend my money paying for the show. It shouldn’t be that way. Those horses should be competed in a separate category.

-I believe that we have not shown much progress because, although the breeding and quality has improved, the Paso Fino horse is being wrongly handled. Riders go to certain shows and see that specific horses are going to be competed, they see no reason to participate because they aren’t even going to place. So, there should be more small competitions so that everyone is able to compete and enjoy the show.

-This is important. Horses should be trained with an instructor who knows more than the trainer, someone who has experience, who knows the theory and practice. Consequently, that trainer is going to learn a lot. If I take one of those young trainers who understands and knows about horses, and I tell him what to do while he is training a horse, they should do what I tell him to do, the results will be seen by the trainer himself. When the trainer sees the results, you know that the instructor has taught the trainer something. Some people don’t agree with this tactic, but it would be a very important way to prepare all horse people very well.

-I believe that Paso Fino is like a musical instrument. If you don’t know how to work it, the Paso Fino will be out of tune and sound poorly. A horse ridden by a good, knowledgeable rider will be very good. But if the rider is not good…

-I have a test with 100 questions. For example, it asks, ‘what is temperament?’ and people don’t know what it is. They don’t know how many types of temperaments a horse has. There is good temperament, lazy temperament, lively temperament, or nervous. What is a lazy temperament? A horse that, I’m sure you’ve dealt with, you have to constantly push and have to stimulate permanently. If you take away the assistance, the horse will stop. A horse with a good temperament is the horse that you can ride in any way. A horse with a lively temperament is the kind that you mount it is eager to go anywhere. Those are happy horses that always want to go somewhere. The nervous temperament is the one we call ‘pajarero’ that spooks easily. All those things should be known by the riders.

-The characters of the horse; horses have a character. You can’t confuse character with temperament. A rider must define the character of the horse. A horse with an easy character should be very well taken care of because it is a horse that will learn everything. If you abuse that easy character, the horse will become angry and take on bad habits because he feels you are abusing it. It’s just like with people; if I have a worker who is doing everything right, why would I bother him more? Sometimes people bother and bother those horses and the horse starts to feel that it is being bothered for no reason because it is doing a good job already. If trainers knew how to identify and work with this, so many horses would not be lost. There are some horse trainers who are true horse trainers, such as Jimmy Espino, Henry Montoya is also very good; they are people who genuinely understand the horse.

PPF: Who do you consider should pass on their knowledge in this way?
JE: There are many people here who can, but some lack pedagogy, the knowledge of how to teach. Many people know how to do their job, but don’t know how to pass it on to someone else. They lack the language to explain it to others who want to learn. So, they know how to do it but for themselves. We have lost many great trainers who have died and we haven’t harvested their knowledge. Those wonderful trainers could have been so useful. For example, amidst a conversation, asking a lot of questions would be very important. That way, we would know the advice of the greatest riders. We must define the difference between those who know how to ride and handle a horse, but then they lack a way to explain theory. Otherwise, they are very theoretic, but have never ridden. This has to be done by a person who has ridden, has experience, and can practice and explain what they know. 

-I have seen that great interest is being taken in Colombia to learn all these aspects about horses. That is to be learned in books about equitation and applied to Paso Fino. Some people think that equitation is jumping. It isn’t. Equitation is the science that teaches everything about handling horses.

-Poor position influences the horse. It influences the contact, it influences the movements, and all those things. For example, if a mule is loaded the wrong way, that mule is going to get tired or is going to drop the load.

-If you ride with soft eyes, you will notice everything around you without moving your head. That is very important. These are small details that matter. If you ride calmly and with soft eyes, you will do a better job with the horse because it will feel relaxed.

-Your legs, or better, your shoulders. If they are too stiff, they will also affect the rein and the horse. These are things that we think don’t matter, but they do.

-Your wrist influences the horse very much because a tense wrist will make tension on the bit and if the horse is bothered by the bit, he can react in any way. The wrist must be firm, but relaxed.

-Your fingers. If your fingers are too tight, there will also be tension. For example, if you hold a bird too tightly, what happens? If you don’t hold it tight enough, what happens? It leaves. So then, you have to maintain a midpoint. All these things influence a horse and people don’t know about it.

-Your legs. The best thing for a horse is for you to be very relaxed so that you can move all the parts of your body. You need your legs and entire body to be relaxed while holding a pretty posture. That is of great influence. And in the Trote y Galope horse as well.

-Your stirrups. If your stirrups are long when riding a Trote horse, that is very bad because if the horse does something suddenly, you will toss upwards. Others will ride weighing on the stirrups and that looks very ugly. You don’t need to weigh on the stirrups because that looks ugly when the horse is galloping, and you can see the rider hopping up. As a horseman, or as a North-American, I don’t want one of those horses. If I got out of the jumper horse, I don’t want to move on to this one. All those things are very important.

-There are other concepts… like I have very good formulas for good horseback riding. For example, here is one. You need equestrian touch. In order to enter a horse in the show ring, you need equestrian touch. What was the next one? Handling contact. You need to have contact. What comes next? Listening! Point… point! Proper application of assistance. Proper knowledge of the horse. First of all, you need to have proper knowledge of the horse so that you can demand his best in the ring. If you want to tap him with your foot and you know the horse doesn’t like it, don’t do it. You need to find the assistance that the horse likes. Never apply assistance that he doesn’t like because he will react badly. The point! You also need to know the point where the horse is comfortable. People don’t know how to identify that; they collect the horse and don’t realize it is dragging its posteriors. That tells you the horse is not at its proper point. Brio! It is very important to know what kind of brio the horse has. It is very important to know all these things. People don’t know those things.

PPF: Don Jaime, I greatly appreciate the time you have shared with us. This is a project that comes from my heart and I really enjoyed being able to listen to your knowledge.
JE: Very good. Thank you, and we will keep talking. In what I am writing, I want to keep noting important factors for people to think about and implement.

Being in the presence of Mr. Jaime Escudero was first-handedly witnessing the love and dedication he has for every aspect of the horse. A lifetime of constant learning stands behind such a hard-working contributor to the Paso Fino horse in the United States and all over the world. His riding academy in Miami, Florida; the articles he publishes periodically, and his new book and equestrian guide projects will be forever treasured in the Paso Fino horse world.