Eugenio Geñito Betancourt – “Appreciate, Learn, Teach”

PPF: Geñito, good evening and thank you so much for seeing us here at Ponce International.
GB: Welcome to Puerto Rico, first and foremost.
PPF: Thank you!
GB: Thank you for the interview; I am at your service.

PPF: To start off, for those who don’t know you, can you please tell me a bit about your beginnings as a horseman?
GB: Well, we basically were born among the horses’ hooves because my grandfather was a horseman where almost all the people who today are very important in the sport started their careers. That was Rancho El Gran Chaparral, my grandfather’s farm. There were several houses on that farm and that is where I was raised. To add a little history, the beginning of many took place at that farm, such as the Suarez brothers- they are our relatives, Dr. Pastrana, Micky Pastrana- a frequent judge in the United States, the Corrején family, Hacienda Carabalí, Mrs. Melva Rivera and her father, Don Carmelo, Dr. Oliver, and so many others. There were so many horsemen from the Paso Fino sport who came from there, for example, the late Tito Valladares, Hacienda Santa Cruz, where the Conde family began riding professionally. Junior Conde then went with Tito Valladares from there. Juan Ramon Figueroa and the Figueroa family also stemmed from there and started going off to different farms. Also, the man who created the entity PFHA and PFOBA, had just returned from the military and showed the farm and the Paso Fino horse to Mr. Lahood, and that’s when they went to the United States and that is how the PFHA, or PFOBA, entity began. From my grandfather’s farm is where pretty much everyone stemmed from.
PPF: That is excellent! So, basically, it was the nest where the Paso Fino industry of Puerto Rico was born.
GB: That is right. There were many people from several farms that gave origin to the competitions. It all started with the young men who managed the farms and would go to church on horseback. They would groom their horses with coconut oil and would dress themselves all in white with their Panama hats. They didn’t have cars to go in, they had horses, so they would walk their horses around the central plaza and the young ladies would watch them after church and say ‘what a pretty step, what a fine step’. That is where the term ‘Paso Fino’ came from. Then, the owners of the businesses noticed there was so much fun to be had on Sundays and they started looking forward to Sundays to add ribbons, heavier horseshoes, to braid their horses’ manes. They young ladies would fall in love with the riders of these horses, and that was the beginning of the sport. The business owners gathered all those young men and started having events at a farm after church. They would have one horse compete against the other, and the Paso Fino sport took off. Later, they moved it to the town’s widest road and got better organized because every time the town had their festivals, they included a Paso Fino competition.
PPF: What a great story! I had never heard about the origin. That is so nice.
GB: Yes, and there are pictures dating back to the 1800s.
PPF: Wow, that’s excellent.
GB: So, like I tell everyone, there were no horses in the Americas. On Christopher Columbus’ second trip, he took horses to Santo Domingo [Dominican Republic]. Juan Ponce de Leon brought horses from Santo Domingo to Puerto Rico, and then they spread throughout the Americas. I have told many people this story because some people don’t know any history because they don’t read or just like to do things in the dark. Those horses spread throughout the Americas and in the 1940s a group of horsemen from Venezuela and Colombia in search of broodmares from the Puerto Rican Paso horse breed. They came to get what their horses needed, and they took many mares back home. Nowadays, the world knows the horses bred in Venezuela and Colombia which is more refined, with a better phenotype, with greater brio. Our horses were smoother because they were meant for women who rode a lot. If a horse had too much brio, they would say it was crazy. So, now the sport, because of the professionals from Colombia who taught us to be businessmen. They taught us that this one cost 20 thousand, this one 10 thousand, this one 15 thousand. Puerto Ricans did not sell their horses, you’d have to kill them first, because their horses were seen as a representation of themselves. So, they wouldn’t sell their horses. They’d sell an offspring, or another horse they didn’t like. But in Colombia they’d see the horse they liked was worth more and they would sell it. That taught us to be businessmen, because we didn’t know how to do that before.
PPF: Oh, so then maybe I have Puerto Rican bloodlines because I don’t like letting go of my horses!
GB: That’s right. That is the origin of our sport. That is how Colombia showed us an industry and we started seeing it as an industry. When they went to the United States, they started to sell breedings. Before that, we wouldn’t sell breedings. If you had a good mare, I wouldn’t breed my stallion to your mare because your offspring might be better than mine. That was the mentality that the large farm owners in Puerto Rico had. I am going to breed my horses, and this is my breed. They had their own bloodlines and that was their source of pride. That is how Puerto Ricans thought back then. Not anymore. Now anyone will breed their horses.
PPF: Of course, there has been so much growth.
GB: That’s right.

PPF: That’s so nice to know. I’m happy you told me that because I don’t know how much you know about my website, Perfiles del Paso Fino, but it all started amidst a conversation with a friend where I would ask why everyone fights over whether the horse is from Puerto Rico or from Colombia. I mean, it doesn’t matter, now it’s all one industry.
GB: The horse came from Spain. Everyone bred them and improved them to their own convenience.
PPF: Right.
GB: And Colombia and Venezuela made it to be an industry and taught us in Puerto Rico about how to make it a business and sell breedings to get the most out of a horse.
PPF: Of course. Each part added their grain of sand and their knowledge.
GB: Exactly. And nowadays, like I tell the young riders, we have learned so much about how to flex a horse and to use the tools that you [Colombians] make. Currently, the most outstanding riders; all the while respecting my masters- David Castro, Henry Montoya, Edgar Ortiz, who taught us that horses must be well-trained and loosened up; are Puerto Rican. That is because we carry the Paso Fino on the inside, right here. You see a random young kid riding a horse on a path and finding that ‘Taca Taca Taca’. But we have the ability, even though we are on such a small island. Of course, we must thank you, the Colombians, for giving us the tools for us to learn how to use them.
PPF: That’s really nice.
GB: Thank you.
PPF: That is pleasant to hear.

PPF: When and why did you end up in the United States?
GB: I ended up in the United States because of my friend, Josué Bernal, who sells Sanchez bits. I had visited several times with my cousin, Harry Manzanet, to see a competition by USAPASO, was it that had those shows in the US? It was at Tropical Park.
PPF: Yes, it was USAPASO.
GB: I saw the show, with Jaime Escudero, I saw a son of Anfitrion they had brought to where Capuchino was stalled. I went to La Castañuela when it didn’t have a roof yet and the sand was very deep. But, to actually compete per se, was when Josué called to tell me there was a mare named Fantasía de Capuchino, trained by Humberto Reyes. I motivated Mr. Manolo Almeida to buy the mare. Josué helped me and I went there. Humberto gave me the opportunity and I rode Profeta de Plebeyo, a performance stallion that belonged to Humberto’s wife. So, I competed him in Performance.
PPF: Ah, yes.
GB: Fantasía won one day with me, and the next day, she got second in the class after Dulce Elegancia. Then she was reserve champion at that Spectrum. Mr. Manolo gave me the opportunity to go there some 22 or 23 years ago. Then, I came back and went back again for another Spectrum with David and the same mare. I got third in the class and again third in the championship. Then, I went with Caracol and we competed a lot with a chestnut horse that you had, who was ridden by a young man, right? Was that chestnut horse yours or…
PPF: Baluarte de la Vitrina?
GB: Uh-huh.
PPF: He was owned at first by Pedro Segovia, then we bought him and William Cuervo trained him. I used to compete him.
GB: Right, and we always saw each other at the competitions. I rode many horses in the US; Tamboro de la Hacienda, Enrique Toñita, La Plegaria, Comentario de United, Flamenco, he belonged to United also, Atributo de United… Caracol also had a great career. They called him the traveling horse because I would come and go because we’d travel to Spectrum and got reserve grand champion behind Director de Daguao. Then, we went to Nationals, which was the biggest national show I have attended there. There were 60 mares and 60 stallions, there was only one adult class back then. Now they divided the adult ages a bit more. I placed third in that class. 222 won, that was the year of 9/11. Jaranero won first, second was 222, I got third, Capitan got fourth, Hussein got fifth, and sixth place was Resplandor.
PPF: What a memory!
GB: You can just imagine how strong that class was that Sonajero was left out, having been the world champion at the time, Marcapasos was left out, there were thousands of extraordinary horses who did not place because that competition was so rough.
PPF: Of course… and it must have been such a long class.
GB: Right, they made like 3 or 4 cut offs for one group to go out, then they brought the other back in. Nationals back then, we would compete in some 10-12 classes and they were huge. The performance classes were with 60, maybe 40, horses. Pleasure was the same! They were hard classes. Then the amateur owner classes were huge too; I mean pleasure, performance, fino classes, huge! There was a lot of competition back then, but we’re moving forward. The pandemic has passed, 9/11 has passed, we’re moving forward and the sport is growing again.
PPF: Yes, and that is the idea. The point is having fraternity. As you have mentioned like 20 trainers and with such pleasure in your voice, that is what it is all about. Because back then, at those competitions, there were so many participants. It was at the zenith of the industry, and it was so enjoyable for us to experience as owners, aficionados, like my family and I were, and for all you as professionals who all make a living out of this. So, the idea is to get back to that point, with support and education.
GB: I feel that the industry is taking a new direction towards the youth riders. Because equitation has lifted this sport back up.
PPF: So much!
GB: Look at the [Equitation] Mundial in Cali [Colombia], the Paso Fino Mundial. There were 300-400 children. At this show we have children who came from the United States. Jorgito [Suarez], who just passed by here, comes from a trajectory in equitation with his family, they all ride. And he is a professional rider too. Similarly, we have the Arias siblings. The four of them ride, the four of them are doctors, four of them are horse breeders. You see, so we are planting good seeds and it is equitation that has lifted the sport back up. And we have to pay attention to it because, just this weekend we had to start the show on Friday because there are so many children, there are even children from the United States and from Aruba who came to compete here at the Ponce International Show. So, it had to start of Friday because 2 days were no longer enough time.
PPF: Yes, I was noticing that. And they are riding so incredibly. The quality of the horses also lends itself to a better handling. I mean, everything is evolving together.
GB: And the training, the training. Horses were trained into submission before. Now, horses are like a computer. Before we had to do all this and now with the click of a button and horses are trained simply using our senses. Thanks to Mr. Jochi Rodriguez who took the steps towards teaching us about natural horsemanship and showed us the many tools that were not used on the Paso Fino horse. That has allowed the process to advance further.

PPF: That’s right. Geñito, tell me about some of the moments that have defined your profession until now.
GB: Listen, I always tell everyone that the best feeling in the world is to watch your child competing. You go through so many emotions. I tell all the mothers that I don’t know whether to cry, shout, run; when your child wins you get tachycardic. You feel so nervous, you make 7 laps around the show ring trying to coach your child. It’s hard to not have the control because they are the ones who are riding. It’s a beautiful thing. My daughter won a world championship, Alexandra Betancourt. My son just won a silver medal in Cali. He is 16 years old, Luis Miguel Betancourt. Out of 3 children I have, 2 of them like horses. And the other defining moment was a competition I had here in Puerto Rico, of Pure Puerto Rican horses, where I rode Retorno de Plebeyo belonging to Felix Baret. The big deal about that experience was that I entered the competition with Mr. Minin Kuilan, ‘the Master of the Reins’ and other of the best grand champion riders. My chances were slim to none, I was almost the last candidate entering the ring. Any of the others had a better chance of winning than me. But I put all my efforts and work into that horse, and I told Mr. Felix that I was going to win on that horse. It was the largest competition of Pure Puerto Rican horses in the town of Guayama. People would fill that place up to the roof. It was in the center of the town and that event was a tradition. People would camp outside for 2 days because the show was 2 days long, since horses came from far away and all. Well, I competed with the stallion Retorno de Plebeyo and it was amazing. I defeated a horse called Cari Domingo, which was a horse that competed against Contrapunto and Bochica, ridden by Mr. Minin Kuilan, ‘the Master of the Reins’. And this countryman was the winner of that competition. For me, that was the most exciting event of my life. I have also won on Paparazzi del Poker, who was given to me because of Edgar, and I won the United States nationals with him; this was also one of the most important moments in my life. He belonged to Mr. Raul Rosado. But the excitement I felt with that horse was incredible because it was like beating Mike Tyson.
PPF: I can imagine.
GB: Mr. Minin could compete 10 horses and all 10 horses would win. It was like right now someone defeating Alex Cano, a rider who wins every event and you know he is always riding the favorite horse what would win every class and every championship. Defeating Mr. Minin at that competition was like scoring a goal.
PPF: Incredible, that’s great. I am a little confused. Have you ever lived in the United States?
GB: No, the thing is that I often rode there. It’s the same as in Santo Domingo [Dominican Republic]. I rode there a lot and won many times at the Cattle Fair. The thing is that I go during the week while I have a group of people working. It’s like Moña, who has Jochi in the United States and then he comes here for a couple of weeks and polishes up. That’s what I did in the US, I have horses at Edgar’s house, at Jorge Suarez’s house, at Alonso Betancourt’s house, I am working more now at Alonso’s house. So, I go to compete and then return here. My farm is in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, in my home town. That is where Jimmy, Moña, myself, and Jonathan Rodriguez, I mean Jonathan Bultron.
PPF: Okay…
GB: We’re from Trujillo. And also those jockeys who are winning, the Ortiz brothers, they’re from Trujillo also.
PPF: Them too!
GB: The Ortiz Brothers.

PPF: Now that you mention Hacienda Zahamarys…
GB: The name came from some friends of mine. One of them is called ‘El guare de Corozal’, Joel Feliciano, who is a racehorse trainer for quarter mile horse races. After my return from being in Santo Domingo for one year, with Mr. Jesus Florencio, where I rode a few horses like La Zarzuela and Doña Hilma, some daughters and granddaughters of Tito Livio, daughters of Dependiente, it was like in 1992-93. Upon my return my mother asked me not to leave again. My mother was feeling lonely at that time because she had just divorced. Back then the flights were only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, now they are every day, but back then my mother felt as if I was too distant from her and she was older. Well, one day, Dr. Rodriguez called me to ask for me to ride his horses again. By then, I had already left from Mr. Felix Baret’s farm and had taken some space to ride some here and some in the United States. So, then when I came back, everyone said we should have our own farm. My aunt, Gladys, gave me some rented stalls and in a matter of 2 weeks I had 12 of them rented out. Luis Quintana ‘El Chino’ had a mare I trained for him called Recuerdo del Universo. When Los Abiertos came together, they held their first competition at the Naval Base and Joselin Suarez was their president. Well, I won with that mare at that show. So, El Chino wanted me to continue training her and I didn’t want to keep working like that at a temporary farm. When he bought Hacienda Sabanera he offered me to take his mare there for me to train her and set up my own farm there. So, I said ‘let’s do it!’ Then, we were searching for a name. My friends sing mariachi and native Puerto Rican music and well, my wife’s name is Zahamarys. They were singing one night and improvising with Rancho Retorno, Rancho whatever, Rancho this and that, Hacienda Zahamarys… and that set the name. It came from a joke. From making a joke, we got the name Hacienda Zahamarys, which is my wife’s name.
PPF: What a lovely tribute to her.
GB: Yes, and it helped encompass her more with the horses because she was not of horsemanship background. She is now a horseman, but back then she wasn’t. She fell in love with me, but she was not a fan of horses. Her father had started a farm named El Portillo and she liked horses, but it wasn’t as strong as it is for her now. What she does now is record the children and promotes them on the internet on the equitation website.
PPF: That’s nice. Some of us get completely absorbed and that’s it. I wasn’t either; I grew up in downtown Chicago and I didn’t have contact with any of this. From one moment to the next, I met these horses and that was it. This is what makes me the happiest in my life is to be here and my daughter is very much a horseman as well.
GB: That’s great.
PPF: Yes, it’s a huge blessing because we are always together in this.
GB: Their mind grows healthily. My son is a 4-point high honor student, a scholarship recipient, athlete, everything. We go to church every Sunday and everyone loves him there. A child who grows up with animals develops better sentiments.
PPF: Yes, I believe so, too.
GB: We really need that because nowadays the computer has given children a lot of advertisement and a lot of information that children are not ready to see and we now see children with different characteristics that we did not see before.
PPF: That is true. I agree completely.

PPF: You have mentioned several people to me, but I want you to tell me about a few who were, more specifically, some of your greatest teachers.
GB: Juan Ramon Figueroa, top master. Juan Ramon Figueroa was one of the first trainers who went to the United States. They would travel here from the United States on a private plane to take him to ride in the US because he was Cese Figueroa’s brother. He stayed for a while in the US and then returned to Puerto Rico to ride for Elpidio Nuñez for the farm Hacienda Selecta, which belongs to the owner of La Lunita and Joyero, with Ventura Nuñez. He was a great master for us, also Agustin Perez, I used to see him riding, Minin Kuilan, another master, etc. And in respect to how to loosen a horse and work a horse conscientiously, David Castro. He was always there, he’d never say no. He always taught us whatever we asked him. Alberto Sierra, we saw him training, but had to follow him and watch. We’d ask ourselves about what he was doing, but we had to make our own conclusions because Alberto wasn’t much of a talker. Laughs a lot, talks a little. David, we were able to have a conversation with him and he would provide an explanation with what could be done.

PPF: What do you like about working with owners who ride the horses you train?
GB: To be capable of training a horse that can be ridden by a person who is sitting in an office all day long and they can handle it. I feel proud of doing a well enough job so that they can enjoy the horse. That is exciting. The day I lose that ability, I am no longer a trainer. It isn’t for me to ride, the trick is for me to be able to train the horse so that person can enjoy it.
PPF: What do you think is your gift? What makes it possible for you to do that for so many people? Because everybody is different.
GB: We are like psychologists. We have to learn about each person. Some people have a strong character, some people are nervous, and you have to work with them. Horses help to bring down that temperament. There are people who visit my house and simply by seeing a horse, they feel happy.
PPF: That is true.
GB: And that is part of the horse.
PPF: So, you take into account the personality of the person who will ride, aside from the personality of the horse itself.
GB: Yes, you look for a horse that will welcome the person, a horse that is more accessible. There are people here now, I know many like them, but don’t want to mention their names, who came to my house with precautions simply because their friend invited them to see a horse. They are now owners of like 7 or 8 horses themselves and they both so happy. They have been unable to have children and so, for them, these are their children.

PPF: What do you think has been the most important lesson you have learned in your career?
GB: Patience.
PPF: Patience…
GB: And tolerance. Sometimes people are unfair with the trainer when we work on a horse, and it doesn’t work. I talk to the horse. I am a very direct person. With 7 or 8 months, I can tell the owner if the horse has talent or if it doesn’t. I cannot work a horse for 1 or 2 years knowing it doesn’t have a talent. I rather say that I will no longer train the horse and sometimes, they get upset with us because they don’t like it. It isn’t bad for us to tell the truth. I rather tell the truth. They will be mad at me for a year and then come back to tell me that I was right and that the horse didn’t work. You have to be honest. Sometimes there are people able to make the horse improve. There are horses that adapt better to some people than to others.
PPF: So, you’re saying that you aren’t a person who believes that just because you are a talented trainer and have the knowledge you have, that you can succeed with any horse.
GB: No, we can all give basic training. But there are horses that will adjust to a certain person’s hands or style and I have seen that many times.
PPF: That is so true.

PPF: I always remember the way you speak, as you were doing just now. The way you speak and express yourself is always with so much appreciation…
GB: With God always leading the way.
PPF: Where does that part of you come from?
GB: My principles come from my mother. My holy mother taught me respect for God and to everyone else. I was raised in an environment that was great on the farm, but where I was humiliated so much when I went to school because I was from the country. And I had to defend myself. So, there were times where I was too strong with people and was defensive because I felt that everyone was going to hurt me. But, thanks to God, everything started improving and I was able to make myself be respected, and here I am.

PPF: When my family and I first got started, there was a world competition here in San Juan. When we were coming out in the airport, having arrived from the US. We were exiting the gate and you were standing there. I think we must have seen each other maybe 2 or 3 times by then, and you greeted us as if we had arrived in your home, as if we were family. That is something so nice and something that this industry needs.
GB: That is right. I think what happened is that at a point in time, competition was so tight that people started feeling jealousy, some were thinking they would be harmed by others, there were instances of horses being harmed in the US, but we have to be open. We have to open up because that helps so that people aren’t just in function of the competitions, but that they also feel love and kindness. And like I tell all my guys, the nicest feeling is to visit another country and be welcomed with open arms. When I arrive to Santo Domingo, I have so many places to stay. When I go to the US, all of Edgar’s people are like ‘come on, let’s go’, or El Chino says, ‘we want to spend time with you’. If I were to accept all the lunches I’m invited to, I’d be fatter than I already am. For example, in Colombia, I went to do some seminars with the guys and Alex Cano gave a seminar and asked for Geñito to come greet everyone. When I went, it was like a wave of people on top of me taking pictures and just so many fans. I was amazed. Yeah, I have the Youtube page where a lot of messages come in and I answer them, but I didn’t know the boom that I had over there and how much people loved me over there. I felt so happy with the kindness from the people of Colombia and from all the countries that back me up.
PPF: Right, but those are things that we earn.
GB: That is correct.

PPF: Until now, which do you think has been your greatest challenge to overcome?
GB: I have had national titles, I have won in Ponce 4 or 5 times, I’ve won nationals, I have won world champion classes, but I haven’t gotten a grand world champion title yet. That is my greatest challenge, and I am working hard towards obtaining it. I plan to ride for 4 more years. When I turn 60, I am already 55. When I turn 60, I don’t want to be that old rider in the ring trying to make my way. I want to enjoy my life, do business, find a good horse and breed to it. I have a colt in Colombia as a partnership with Rafa Clavijo. We call him ‘El Titi’ – from the soap opera ‘Sin Tetas No Hay Paraíso’. I liked that character, so I gave him that nickname out of fondness, but his name is Poder del Cielo, a son of Espectaculo de Chapala and Teofilina. I have him there and Rafita is in love with him. I am in love with that colt too. If someone buys him, fine, but if it’s not sold, I think that will be the one I can earn a grand world champion title with. How cool is it to be the breeder, exhibitor, and, most of all, the owner. That is really nice.

PPF: That’s so nice. Now, what do you think has been your greatest accomplishment?
GB: Having so many horses. For example, having had Comentario. I had many opportunities and I sold him, then he became world champion. The same with Caracol. Paparazzi, that horse was really good, he didn’t have the most impressionable posteriors, but, as I used to say, he did some damage. Also, La Plegaria de Querencia, Teofilina, Doña Barbara, that was a filly I purchased in Bogota with Andres Castro. She was a nice, delightful little mare. The doctor gave me the opportunity and she was titled world champion and then grand champion at Pre-Spectrum. That mare has made a great career. There are so many, and it is embarrassing to not mention them all, but it has been 43 years of my career. I have ridden so many horses. Sometimes I am at my house and my wife will take out a bunch of pictures from boxes and tell me to look at the pictures with her. There are horses I don’t even remember! I am on top of a horse riding it and I don’t even remember its name. There are so few horses that I can remember.
PPF: No, but after all that you have mentioned to me, how can you even say that? I think that it’s more a matter of having too much information to remember.
GB: There is so, so much. Sometimes I even feel bad because people say hi to me, and just yesterday a man, fan of mine, came to say hi and hugged me. I gifted him a cap from my farm, and he was so happy. That was on Tuesday, when I arrived here. And yesterday {Thursday), he came with a sweet bread that is famous specifically here in Ponce, made by the elderly. He brought me a soda and said ‘Geñito, I bought this especially for you.’ And I felt so happy, but at the same time I was thinking that I had done it out of kindness and without an interest in anything in return, but it’s the love we carry in the sport that makes people love us back.
PPF: That’s it exactly. Doing everything with love.

PPF: Geñito, let’s talk about Hacienda Zahamarys. Tell me what the principle focus is for that farm.
FB: We breed, train. My slogan is ‘class and training make a difference’. We also help children who are significant equitation riders to move forward, like Amanda Diaz Liston and Claudia Negron. I helped Desideny Rodriguez to become world champion. There is Paco Rodriguez, he is also world champion. Though they are few, they are constant. And, finally, for horsemen to continue growing. I want people to become fond of horses. That is my goal. Right now, at my farm I organized a small Christmas party and invited Jonathan Rodriguez, who is like a son to me because his father is like my brother. The guys from the United States were here. I invited Jorge, but he was over by Isabella away from my farm. I wanted to spend time together as friends and enjoy the farm. Joselin was there with us. I was so nice; we spoke, we rode horseback, but it was more about spending time together and sharing our opinions about horses.
PPF: Yes, and just now that you mentioned retiring in a few years, do you think that you would be interested or would you feel motivated to be an instructor or a master for others as, for example, David Castro or Juan Ramon Figueroa have been for you?
GB: We’re on it already. In Colombia, I already have several seminars pre-sold with Dr. Alex Acosta, the owner of Criadero Magnum. We went to Pacho [town in Cundinamarca] and so many people welcomed me, I didn’t expect that. Some drove for 2 hours on small motorcycles to meet me because they knew me from the internet. That was very emotional for me to be able to spend time with them. We had one in Medellin and are putting another one together with someone named ‘Castro’ from a farm with that mare I used to ride. I actually forgot to mention that mare and she was so important, she belonged to Mr. Jorge Redondo. I won with her here in Ponce. Arizona, the farm was Arizona. Her name was Marbella, a daughter of Dulce Sueño. She was in the US ridden by Alvin Perez, but I was the one who initially trained her with this man, Castro. So, they want to offer a seminar. I think about two things, Santo Domingo, near the capital, you get taken care of so well. Anything you want, a small bag of ice or 2 forks, they deliver it to your door. In Colombia people are also so kind, especially in that area over by El Rosal, or that area near Tenjo. I loved it; the countryside, the food, the people, the weather is so nice. It’s like air conditioning all the time. I feel like I’d love a place there for when I travel and maybe have a couple of stalls behind the house for business purposes. Maybe have a couple of horses and enjoy them there. We can live off of what we have built here if they send it there and we can live like kings. The idea is to live happily, eat well, and enjoy our life because a coffin doesn’t have any pockets.
PPF: That is very true.

PPF: Geñito, who is the most influential person of your career?
GB: My grandfather, Mr. Luis Betancourt.

PPF: What is the most important aspect of your work?
GB: The most important aspect is doing everything the right way. Doing things properly and training a horse properly to be able to feel good about yourself.

PPF: What do you like the most about a horse?
GB: Everything.

PPF: Which word best represents your life as a horseman?
GB: Passion.

PPF: What do you want people to know or remember the most about you?
GB: That I was a good friend.

PPF: That you are. Geñito, thank you very much for sharing your story with Perfiles del Paso Fino.
GB: We are at your service here at Hacienda Zahamarys in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico and you know that as many times you want, we welcome you here with open arms.
PPF: Thank you very much, I know you do.
GB: Many blessings.
PPF: The same to you.