The beginning of Gabriel Jaime’s development as an equine veterinarian took place in the early 1980s at one of Colombia’s largest and most renowned Paso Fino breeding facilities, Criadero La Loma. The owner, Don Fabio Ochoa, was one of the country’s most knowledgeable regarding the Paso horse. It is no wonder Gabriel Jaime notes him has being his greatest teacher of Paso Fino. At that time, the most prominent Paso Fino horses of the world were living on that farm and, consequently, they gave way to the majority of the bloodlines that exist today all over the world. Gabriel Jaime explained how Resorte bloodlines were vastly inseminated in Dominican Republic, United States, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Ecuador, and now there are even descendants of Resorte in the Paso Fino countries of Europe. Due to the ample volume of horses at Criadero La Loma, Gabriel Jaime was able to establish a school there to pass on his knowledge and experience about equine reproduction with a focus on Paso Fino. After 6 years of working at La Loma, he began working with Don Fabio’s daughter, Angelita Ochoa, and together they established Criadero Agualinda. Though a small breeding facility, it was developed with much love and dedication and resulted in high quality horses that paved the way for great success for the breed in the 1990s. There were many horses of Amadeus descent which have become known among the most representative of the Paso Fino breed. Among those emerging from Criadero Agualinda were: Resplandor, repeat-champion in the United States; and the mare Mil Sueños, who gave way to many of today’s renowned champions such as Sublime Historia and Firmamento de Agualinda. Gabriel Jaime highlights that Criadero Agualinda gave way to many of the champion bloodlines that are bred to today.

In 2000, Gabriel Jaime Toro travelled to the United States in hopes of working through a new avenue and he founded his company, Embryo Transfer. With the availability of new technology and a world of opportunity in Paso Fino breeding, he worked between Miami and Ocala throughout 6 years contributing to the knowledge and development of the US market.

Since 1986, the Paso Fino community associated Gabriel Jaime with the famous black Paso Fino stallion, Amadeus de Resorte IV. This stallion was one of the most representative of the Resorte IV bloodlines. Gabriel Jaime managed him since he was a 3-year-old colt at Criadero La Loma in 1986 and that has made him one of the most memorable horses in Gabriel Jaime’s career. The first time they traveled to the US for a breeding season was in 1994, when Gabriel Jaime helped to breed Amadeus and was able to experience the great welcome this stallion received among the North American Paso Fino community. His beauty was quite fitting to the US standards set by high quality horses such as 4-year-old colt, Profeta de Besilu and Clásico de Plebeyo, who was amidst his greatest popularity. Theirs was a constant duel at the competitions of the moment and was what everyone always yearned to watch. Furthermore, Capuchino was seen as an idol on a totally different level. It is important to note, said Gabriel Jaime, alike many experts, that Capuchino changed the direction of Paso Fino breeding as he added a more polished gait which led to the ‘modern’ Paso Fino. At the time, other horses had movements and velocities that cannot compare with those seen today, but when Capuchino entered the scene, he brought his very polished gait and was so collected over the board that the US aficionados went crazy over him. Capuchino became the prototype for the modern Paso Fino horse. So when Amadeus arrived to the US as another beautiful descendent of Resorte IV, he impacted breeders with his exceptional phenotype and solid black color. His noble temperament also played an important role in the 1990s breeding arena in the United States as well as in Colombia. Gabriel Jaime shared 23 years alongside Amadeus, where he earned many titles including Best Stallion of the Year during five consecutive years, Champion of Champions, and Out of Competition (Fuera de Concurso). Amadeus lived with Gabriel Jaime throughout his entire stay in the United States, alongside Resplandor, who always traveled with Amadeus. Unfortunately, Resplandor died at a young age in Colombia, but was also memorable to him. Gabriel Jaime explained that when a horse is managed on a reproductive level, there is a sense of identification with one another. The person who is always close to the horse during the natural ritual that is the act of reproduction for an animal holds a close relationship because of the role played in teaching the proper habits and behaviors. Thus, Gabriel Jaime learned to interpret every gesture of the horse and Amadeus also identified Gabriel Jaime’s presence and voice. He described that it is an impressionable closeness that is formed and that without a doubt, Amadeus was the one to give Gabriel Jaime one of the most significant relationships he has ever had with a horse.

Gabriel Jaime Toro pronounces his greatest resource as ‘the human resource’. For starters, he notes that his parents provided him with the opportunity to interact with horses and teaching him the love for the horse. Gabriel Jaime describes his father as a traditional man with business outside the horse world, but he always modeled his great love for horses. Additionally, Gabriel Jaime noted his affection for many of his professors and role models who helped form him as the veterinarian he is today. Among them are Dr. Alejandro Espinosa, father of fellow student José Alejandro, who was a brilliant veterinarian in Bogotá and taught him so much on a personal and professional level. More directly related to the horse world, Gabriel Jaime said that he has no words to express the vast knowledge and wisdom shared to him by Fabio Ochoa, who taught him how to analyze every aspect of the horse. He describes Don Fabio as a man with enormous intuition and an innate ability to identify so many aspects of a horse in a very short amount of time. His knowledge and ease in the commercial realm was also of great asset to Gabriel Jaime as this is an expensive hobby to have or business to run. Don Fabio was, undoubtedly, his greatest influence from A to Z in the horse world. Gabriel Jaime highlights that he has learned a lot from trainers and riders who are capable of teaching horses so many things, including learning how some people are actually able to harm them. Horses are a noble animal who absorb everything they are exposed to, much like a sponge. Having a good trainer opens the world to a horse, but an unqualified trainer can ruin a good horse and having the knowledge to identify the difference is paramount.

In respect to technology and science, Gabriel Jaime was exposed to many people of vast capability and knowledge from around the world. He worked alongside teachers in the United States as well as Colombians living in the US, such as Dr. Juan Camilo Samper. He explained that literature and science are available to all and he took it upon himself to become an expert in equine embryo transfers by specializing in reproductive medicine. In 1997, he traveled to Canada to gain field experience in the area of embryo transfers where he also worked for some time with Dr. Juan Camilo Samper in learning the daily advances in general reproduction such as diagnostic techniques, treatments, and technology. Throughout his career, Gabriel Jaime has visited many countries to expose himself to conferences, specializations, and veterinary experts so as to grow in every way he could in his profession. He highlighted the importance of sharing cases with others and requesting their opinions. He stated that just because we are well-trained, we do not know everything and that learning from others allows us to be the best version of ourselves.

In 1998, Gabriel Jaime started implementing reproduction through embryo transfer alongside Dr. Fabio Suarez. They worked together to gain more experience and through time, Gabriel Jaime gained the level of knowledge to then teach others. He stated that he always had an intern or students to whom he could pass on all his knowledge and experience. His motto was always “what we do not know, we will attempt to find out.” Gabriel Jaime reiterated that he never felt he needed to keep his knowledge to himself, but rather has always passed on everything he has learned. He said “I feel that transmitting our knowledge and experience is more valuable than keeping it to ourselves.” Gabriel Jaime explained that everyone is part of the development of any industry, and he has always transmitted what he knows in Colombia as well as he did in the United States. He believes that this open sharing of knowledge is what allows growth in all aspects of life.

Since the area of embryo transfers is such a commercial practice, many times doctors do not clearly explain the ins and outs of this process before proceeding to do business in reproduction. Gabriel Jaime explains reproduction via embryo transfers as a technique through which the genetics of a dam can be multiplied. This means that instead of a mare having one foal per year, she could have six or seven foals in one year. However, if the characteristics and qualities of a mare are not favorable, then the genetics being multiplied are not desirable or important for the breed. So, truly, instead of having had one average foal, a breeder will have six or seven average foals. Thus, embryo transfer reproduction should be limited to a select group of mares which are proven in the quality of foals they produce. In the years Gabriel Jaime worked in the US, mainly in 2002 while he was in Ocala, he was often approached by someone wanting to have embryo transfers of their one mare with Amadeus, Clásico, and Ambar, for example. He would always dare to respectfully explain to that person how those stallions were completely different genetically and should not all be bred to that one specific mare. Then, he would proceed to advise the breeder of the qualities of his mare and of each stallion which he wanted to breed to find the best genetic match. Although he could simply perform the embryo transfer, Gabriel Jaime always felt the duty and responsibility to provide some input to aid in the breeder’s success rather than simply doing the job and getting paid. If someone is trusting him with their mare, and possibly does not have the background and knowledge of bloodlines, he feels inclined to help them study the mare’s genetics a bit before proceeding. Gabriel Jaime has always stood against simply making money off someone who may need a little guidance. Our breed has lost too many people who have had great potential and would have been a great asset to the Paso Fino industry because of having done around 50 embryo transfers from mares that were not of desirable breeding quality. People have left the breed in great disappointment after losing thousands of dollars trying to acquire a quality product through embryo transfers and failing. It is very sad to look back and see how many people could have been a wonderful resource for the growth of a breed that depends on its members but have been lost due to a lack of knowledge and guidance. This results in the message that the breed is not for everyone and that is not accurate. Gabriel Jaime sadly recalls the effects of irresponsible breeding. He noted that when he was in the US in 2006, it seemed almost a fad to breed through embryo transfers. And later in 2008-2009, during financial crisis in the US, he was told that people would load trailers full of undesired colts and fillies and would drive them up to Central Florida and release them on random land. These were low-quality foals resulting from irresponsible and unknowledgeable breeding.

Among the many feelings of success he has experienced during his trajectory as a reproductive veterinarian in the Paso Fino breed, Gabriel Jaime emphasizes the fulfillment of having worked with beginning breeders, who have become friends, having been able to advise them, and seeing them today being established and successful breeders in the industry. Knowing that they have made or still make significant contributions with those offspring is very pleasing to Gabriel Jaime because he played an important role in their development. He feels pride in having put his knowledge of genetic studies and breeding parameters to good use in having helped breeders accomplish a positive outcome for the Paso Fino breed. Gabriel Jaime has also succeeded as a breeder himself, having bred La Dulzura del Camino (Dulce Sueño x La Cantaleta)- 2013 Reserve Grand World Champion in the US, La Imágen de Potrero Chico (grand-dam of Millonario de JH)- who died at 3 years of age and never made it to the show ring, Flor Sabanera de Potrero Chico- now belonging to the Besilu Collection. There are also several mares he bred to his liking, such as La Flor del Vino- very important to the breed as well. Likewise, there are many horses that show great quality bred by himself or by other breeders who bring him a great feeling of professional satisfaction.

Today, Embryo Transfer still functions as an important asset to equine reproduction in Colombia and continuing to learn each day is a priority for Gabriel Jaime Toro. His knowledge and experience will be valued as one of the greatest contributions in the development of the Paso Fino breed around the world.

Gabriel Jaime’s Five MOST…

• Who were the MOST influential people in your career? –Undoubtedly, the greatest influence on my profession in the horse world was Fabio Ochoa.

• What is the MOST important aspect of your work? –Honesty.

• What do you like MOST about a horse? –It’s noble spirit.

• What would you like people to know or remember the MOST about you? –That I am a person who always wanted to contribute his knowledge to the industry.

What quotes from the horse world do you say or like the MOST? –There are many, but there is one that applies often which is “You don’t look a gift horse in the mouth” (‘A caballo regalado no se le mira el diente.’). That one makes me laugh a lot.