PPF: Andres, thank you so much for spending this time with Perfiles del Paso Fino. We have known each other for many years, since we used to often share the show ring in the United States. I know that Criadero El Juncal left a deep mark on the Paso Fino industry there. I greatly appreciate you inviting us to your farm in Chia, Cundinamarca and I appreciate your time.
AM: Maritza, thank you very much for your interview. You are very welcome here. I have been here for some 15-16 years now, and I miss everyone back there because everyone I met in the US was very kind. We had some great moments, and I met many great people.

PPF: For those who do not know you, could you please share a bit about your family’s trajectory, the horseman in your blood, and Criadero El Juncal?
AM: Maritza, El Juncal was founded in the 1940s by my grandfather, Teodoro Mejia Henao. Later, my father continued and established the breeding farm here in Chia, more or less in the 1950s. In the 1980s, we traveled to the United States, and we lived 24 years there, dedicated to the breeding and showing of Paso horses. When my father was here in Colombia, we showed many horses, participated in many events, and had some national champions. Then in the United States, we competed as well. When we traveled to the US, we took 10 mares for breeding. Little by little, we established our breeding program, and we began opening the American market for the Colombian horse. At that time, in the 1980s, was when the interest for the Paso Fino horse grew greatly. Later, in 2004, I returned from the United States and brought 20 horses to Colombia, mainly the broodmares we had in the US and here I am!
PPF: When you took your horses there, was it only Paso Finos or did you take diagonals as well?
AM: Only Paso Finos. We have only focused on the Paso Fino horse. Just now, I have 3 diagonally gaited mares because here in Colombia, diagonal competitions are greatly valued, so I decided to purchase a few mares of very good bloodlines in order to add diagonals to our program. But when I arrived to the US, there were mostly Paso Finos of Puerto Rican bloodlines that had been imported. So, we, as well as Alvaro Iriarte, who I remember greatly, and Camilo de Francisco started importing more Colombian horses and that is how the Colombian Paso Fino bloodlines began spreading further.

PPF: At the time when El Juncal began in the US, had you planned to reach the level you did or had it been a smaller dream that grew?
AM: Well, yes. Actually, we planned to ingress in the American market, but we never imagined that we would grow so much. It was frankly quite surprising how our horse was so well-received in that time. During the 80s and 90s, the industry grew tremendously. We traveled all around the United States doing exhibitions and taking horses to different places. There were some exhibitions in New York, at Belmont Park, at the racetrack. I recall attending those types of exhibitions for some 3 consecutive years. That opened many doors for us. At first, there was a lot of breeding with Puerto Rican bloodlines, and it was part of our Colombian horse starting to spread.

PPF: In your opinion, which of El Juncal’s horses have been the most influential in the Paso Fino breed that has developed in the US?
AM: In the United States, we had the stallions Petrolero and Postin. We attempted taking horses that were very sought after in Colombia, such as from Bochica and Contrapunto bloodlines. We focused greatly on having those types of bloodlines and I still conserve some Contrapunto bloodlines in my horses today. Still today, I have some granddaughters of his, and have gotten great results from them.
PPF: How about as far as mares you had there:
AM: We had a very important mare there named Contraseña. She suffered an accident when she was young and we were unable to compete her much, but she gave us excellent offspring. Contraseña was a daughter of Contrapunto. That was when we started creating a genetic foundation for what we have today. There was another important mare for us. Her name was Acuarela. She was a daughter of Amadeus and Zarzamora.

PPF: What do you think was your greatest contribution to the growth of Paso Fino during your time in Brooksville?
AM: I think the greatest contribution we made at that time was actually with the people. We got to meet so many people that were interested in the Paso Fino horse and being able to advise them on what to do and teach them about how to handle our Paso Fino horse. Most of all, contributing to training in the Colombian style, which has grown tremendously in popularity. It was wonderful at that time, to be able to help everyone in that respect. I also believe I contributed to the industry when I functioned as a judge. I did so for about 12 or 13 years in the United States and I think my influence in that area was important as well.
PPF: So, you mean, in the sharing of your knowledge and helping people who were new to the breed.
AM: Yes, well we held training clinics and taught how to ride these horses, explained why they would move this way or that way, etc. I believe that was a great help and, more so, because we did it all over the US where there were greater concentrations of the Paso horse.

PPF: Let’s talk a bit about ATTA. What goals were set for this entity? That was a project we worked on together and I see you smile. We worked with Mr. Eduardo Tobon and Carlos… How did this association come to pass and what were the objectives set?
AM: ATTA set in motion at the end of the 1990s or beginning of the 2000s. We intended to promote Trote and Trocha horses. Our objective was to find the way to include the Trote horse in the American market. At that time, our focus was not so much on the Trocha horse because Americans were not so receptive of the Trocha; they preferred the Trot/Galllop modality more. So, we tried to incorporate it to PFHA, but we were unable to do so. Instead, we held our own events, in which you helped us, and there was a good outcome for it, especially in Miami. Latins greatly enjoyed the Trote. Another aspect everyone liked very much, was the judging system. There were always explanations for the judges and with that, there was an educational factor for everyone to understand the horses’ movements and the results. Truly, that was the objective and to attempt for PFHA to see how we, Colombians, liked another type of more specialized judging system with explanations.
PPF: That we like so that we can know what we need to improve for the next competition.
AM: Yes, I truly believe that the explanations are very helpful in guiding people, especially the breeders. As a breeder, we need to wait about 5 years to see the results of what horses we are breeding to, so we depend on the professional judgments to guide us down the right path and find what we are looking for. Breeders also participate in associations by expressing their clear points of view, but actually, a judge will guide exhibitors and breeders, of course. Each horse will have the opportunity to demonstrate its level of training and quality. When viewed one by one, we can observe their virtues or defects to then provide an accurate explanation of what is being seen. Yet, we still must promote the enthusiasm for the sport. So, we cannot be extremely strict at a small festival here in Colombia, but we can explain everything.

PPF: As a trainer and breeder of the Paso horse, what has been one of the most important lessons you have learned?
AM: Well, that there are many. In this line, you learn something every day. As a breeder, there are many things we do and many things we dream. Generally, what we have is a factory of illusions because we dream of our horses, we dream of which mare we want to breed to which stallion to see the outcome, then we raise them, and then we train them. So, it is a gathering of so many aspects that we must look at objectively. I think genetics is 50% and training is another 50% because both these aspects go hand in hand.

PPF: What motivates you daily to continue dedicating yourself to horses after so many years. Earlier, we were talking about how you were in the industry, then left for some time, and then came back in, so what is it?
AM: Oh no, we say that horse life and enthusiasm is an incurable disease. Perhaps it’s because those of us who are born into this lifestyle, continue living in it and each time it gets more intense. And if we get good results, well then, very few of us can easily get out of this world. Now for example, this is another breath I am taking after having taken a distance for some time and now I am starting to breed new horses and we’ll see how it goes this year when I start to show again with some fillies.

PPF: What can you say is the key when starting off a new horse? I mean in the initial process of training. Today, we are seeing horses that are very fast, very collected, but not very clear on the Fino gait.
AM: I think we are facing a big problem we see in competitions in the United States as well as in Colombia. Really, in relation to the fineness [Fino gait], we are sacrificing fineness for speed. What do we mean by fineness? The naturality, the genuineness, of the gait; not the most collected. Some judges, breeders, and characters in our industry, greatly value speed. I also value speed, but with naturality and fineness. In some competitions, as just recently at the National Show in Barranquilla [Colombia], many horses are being excused because they are not in gait. This is something that we must pay a lot of attention to in the United States as well as in Colombia. What is happening is quite alarming and I believe that we must pay much attention to the naturality of our horse, which was the origin of the sport.
PPF: Yes, and I like that word ‘alarming’ because I truly was astonished in Barranquilla because I thought it was happening to us in the US, but I think that everywhere we can see we took it too far. A limit has been surpassed and we can no longer hear the marked 4-beat gait. The saddest part is, that people have gotten used to not hearing it, so now they are proud of horses that are not, in fact, Fino. And they breed horses that are not Fino. So then, what is going to happen to us in a few years?
AM: Yes, I believe that this is the time to start rethinking as breeders. What do we need to do to seek the naturality that has been our emblem for the Paso Fino horse – our 4 beats. We cannot continue to have so much Trocha within the Fino horse. Actually, I think that several breeders in Colombia are already thinking about this and are discussing the possibility of being mistaken in having too much speed in our horses and, thus, we are losing our fineness.
PPF: Oh, good.
AM: I honestly believe it is the judges who must make that clear distinction – if a horse is not clearly Fino, it’s out. The breeders as well should be attentive to what is resulting nowadays. Besides, fineness in the gait can be seen and can be felt.

PPF: What advice can you offer to the trainers who today are facing such a high quality of horses?
AM: Well, I think that trainers work; some have talent, and some have talent that isn’t so strong, let’s say. We do see some trainers that are, my God, amazing! But I think that it all stems from patience and good treatment of the horses. They must be started well and not be given too much demand. They must be demanded of at the proper time. There is something that worries me because I see it often. We see some horses that start their career off at the top and it’s too fast, like at t3 or 4 years of age. So, horses are ending their career too soon. We don’t see them in older age categories because they were pushed too much at too young of an age and they can’t withstand the demand. These horses are sent out to pasture because they can no longer perform. Many years ago, it was said here in Colombia that great horses started getting great at 5 years of age and more. Now we are seeing great horses at 3 and 4 years of age and then they disappear. I believe this is something that requires attention also. So that horses can have a longer useful lifetime. Now we have started having competitions for horses of 100 months and older. Let’s see what happens there. I think that is going to be something good for Colombia.

PPF: Andres, which has been the most significant sign of affection you have received from a horse?
AM: Oh, my goodness, all of them!
PPF: Is there anything in particular that you remember?
AM: Honestly, no. I think that if you treat horses well, they will always be very affectionate with you. And I believe there is no room to not treat them well, in any way. So, they will always give you a look or come to you when you need to take them out and that shows you how they feel they have been treated. That feels very comforting.

PPF: Who is the most influential person in your career?
AM: I think that was my father. We shared everything with horses. Honestly, the good and the bad experiences, we lived them to the fullest in Colombia as well as in the United States. He really left a mark in me and in my life. Still today, I carry him in my heart and always in my decisions, I recall the things I did with him and talked about with him and everything I experienced with him, left an immense mark on me.

PPF: What is the most important aspect of your work?
AM: The most important part of my work is truly having patience and discipline with these horses. Breeding is what I like the most and seeing the results, which is something that we sometimes cut corners on in an effort to move quickly, but I believe if we move slowly we actually arrive at the ends we want.

PPF: What do you like most about the horse?
AM: Wow, horses are like dogs – they are a faithful friend you have for everything. I speak of the Fino horse because I am a Fino horseman; I truly like its gait, its attitude. I like a horse with brio and true fineness, not a fake Fino. Horses are very noble with us. Horses will always be in my life.

PPF: What do you want people to know or remember about you the most?
AM: Well, that I was someone who helped people, that I was an honest man in my work concepts as well as in my personal life. I believe that we should be able to morally hold our chin up because we did good things and we always helped those who needed our help. I really have had the honesty and transparency in life in order to do the right thing.

PPF: Which is the word that represents your work the most?
AM: I think what represents my work the most could be the persistence to always seek a champion because that has been and still is something that obsesses us.

PPF: Thank you very much, Andres, what a nice interview.
AM: No, ma’am, thanks to you. Greetings to everyone back in the US. I miss everybody I met in the United States and everyone is welcome to visit here.