PPF: Rubio, thank you very much for accepting this interview with Perfiles del Paso Fino. We have seen you in the show ring, that orange color is being spotted all over. Tell us a little about your history, your beginnings, whether your family has an equine lifestyle…
RO: First of all, thanks to you for this interview. I was born into an equine family. My family is from Medellin and we have dealt with horses throughout generations. Thanks to God and to life, I continue to harvest this lifestyle and have brought the traditions of my past generations to this day. Since early childhood, I developed an interest in horses and I focused on that interest and in growing it. Initially, I took it on as a hobby. That hobby started transforming into passion and that passion currently has me where I am. We mentioned the color orange. Yes, this is the color that represents my riding school. It was founded in the United States with the projection to continue sowing that love, respect, and dedication that is attributed to the Colombian Creole horse; and that I have carried in my blood throughout all this time. Horse Academy is an equitation school where we are dedicated to forming riders to have integrity and to offer the value and respect a horse deserves. Obviously, we work under certain parameters that are required at a competitive level. That is the main focus of our school. Daily, we work towards the continuation of this sport and, more so, in a country that I have known for a short time of my life.

PPF: I understand that your moving to the US was something unplanned and spontaneous. Can you explain what motivated you to stay and open up your own school?
RO: I came to this country as a competitor for the equitation world competition when the federation solicited me as a representative for the Colombian team. I participated at this event and, as is no secret to anyone, this was the portal at which I met an enormous amount of people, thus opening an opportunity for me in this country. Even so, after my participation at the equitation world competition and the recognition I gained as a newcomer to the show rings in this country, I decided to remain in the country permissibly, if that is how you say it, during that period of time. So, I started learning how the horse was handled in the United States, but never imagined moving here. I was simply enjoying my stay and ready to return to continue my process and building my legacy with all I had in Colombia. But, as time passed, many things happened that led me to stay here and that meant starting from scratch. As I realized that, I never lost my focus on horses. So, I started to design a structure for what would one day be my school. I began slowly, to make that dream a reality. First, I offered private classes at the student’s preferred location. I realized there was a positive future because it is clear that international equitation is a relatively new concept in the United States. With my experience in many show ring scenarios and international equitation, I considered it a strong point to get started and cultivate those seeds of equitation in the United States. Once that idea began to grow, I started focusing on looking for my own facility, which is where we are today.

PPF: It is important to highlight that at the Extravaganza competition in Ocala, there was a much greater participation in international equitation than had been seen before. It is something that is notably gaining strength in this country at this time.
RO: Yes, currently, international equitation is gaining strength is gaining attention from show to show because I believe that regardless of the classes that children can participate in, the international equitation class is one of the most strict and demanding categories of competition. Slowly, people in the US have been realizing this aspect so they are providing those of us who work in this area to teach children to work hard and compete in international equitation.

PPF: Please, now tell me a little about your history as an international equitation competitor. Look how your face lights up and everything!
RO: Okay… my trajectory in equitation began in a school named El Juncal, located in La Estrella, Antioquia. I had told my parents several times that I had been riding horses for a while in an empirical way, but that I wanted to perfect my riding skills. When I had my evaluation class, the person in charge at the time immediately observed my riding capabilities. We began to attempt perfecting several issues that needed attention in order to ride at a competitive level. We dedicated our time to work on that and I soon began competing within Colombia. After that, I took some time off due to my studies because, obviously, they demanded most of my time. Yet, once I finished my studies, I returned and began a new facet of equitation as an instructor. I also continued training as a student, so I managed both facets at the same time. In the competition circuits in Colombia, I went to several events along with many other schools and at two of those circuits, I was the rider with the highest points. Consequently, I began representing Colombia as a rider in two equitation world championships. And, thanks to God, to my focus, and to having always been doing horse-related work, I ended up working with one of the best academies in Antioquia named Club de Equitacion Los Potrillos. I learned an incredible amount there. All my capabilities and skills as a rider rose to the top at that academy. The director had accessibility to elite horses and, of course, these horses would alleviate our workload at the time of competing. I earned several recognition awards throughout several competitions. I was undefeated throughout several competitions during the last two circuits. And well, that pretty much sums up my competition story so far in international equitation.

PPF: At any time, have you considered leaving your career, or losing contact with your horses and your students?
RO: I have never thought of that. I believe that all companies or all careers have their highs and their lows. There are times of glory and times of uncertainty, times of pain, but I believe that a person who is moved by their passions will not leave it all behind. So, no, I don’t think I would leave any of this.

PPF: What has been your biggest challenge?
RO: My greatest challenge as a rider was during one of the last competitions in the last circuit where I was competing. I fell in love with a classic fino horse that, from a competitive standpoint, had many deficiencies for an international equitation competition. Even so, I trained and I trained, and I trained and I trained on that horse and I was able to compete with him. That was for one of the last competitions in the qualifying stage and it was a personal challenge for me. In fact, I declared it as a personal challenge on my Instagram and I earned a Bronze medal with him. So, that has been one of my biggest challenges at the competitive level since the horse had been competed in the professional classes but had never received any award. I used him as my battle partner for the final competitions and we accomplished our goal. That was the most important thing. And as an instructor, the greatest challenge, out of so many that we can have as instructors, is to transmit, aside from our knowledge, a passion and a connection with horses. It isn’t just about saddling up, riding, and practicing work offs. It’s about connecting with the horse. So, that has been one of the most difficult aspects for me as an instructor because not everyone can establish that connection. Many will ride, but not everyone can connect.

PPF: As an instructor, what do you currently think is the most important part of your work.
RO: My horses. I think that as an instructor, my fundamental tools are my horses. It is the functional base of my company.

PPF: If you had to summarize your work in one word, what would that word be?
RO: Strength.

PPF: I believe that you have all the bases that are necessary to teach riding because you have first-handedly experienced through all the facets of what you teach. I know the motto of your company is “where the horse is the best teacher”. So, I imagine you have had to keep such focus in order to have in such a short time, come here to represent your country at a large competition and to now have your own facility, your own horses, your own equipment, your own students. What motivates you to show up each day despite the difficulties and, like I said to Don Luis, the strong sun, heavy rain, lack of time, etc… what motivates you each day?
RO: My students. My students are the greatest motivation I have had because only those of us who work in this know how it feels to see a student accomplish what they have trained so hard for. So, that makes it a huge motivation every day. I don’t only have one student, I have several, and each one of them has their own objective and a way of thinking. Each student wants to accomplish something different. As their instructor, I stand next to each one of them. So, they will always be my motivation. 

PPF: To you, what is the key to making a champion?
RO: In order to make a champion, instructors don’t have the answer. The rider has it. That key is passion, passion for what we do. If we are passionate about the horse and about riding, you can become a champion. What does the instructor do? Mold. Guide. Correct. So that the champion we all have inside ourselves to rise.

PPF: Are there any memorable people you have encountered on this path who have been a resource for you to have come to where you are as a competitive rider, as an instructor, as a horseman in general?
RO: Yes, there are people who I feel a great deal of appreciation for today in Colombia as well as in the United States. Obviously, I start with my family because although they didn’t provide the greatest support at first, they did see my potential. They recognized it and they supported me to reach a professional level in this sport. Then come all those who have contributed to the formation of the instructor, rider, and person I am today. The school where I began working as an instructor was El Juncal. The director there is Dora Luz Hernandez. She is a wonderful woman and is very well known in international equitation. I owe a lot to her as a rider as well as an instructor. I also worked at Asdesilla so, as an institution, I recognize their contributions to me as a person and as an instructor. And in the last school I was a part of, where I learned so much and received great formation, and where I received so much recognition. Due to tremendous teamwork, we earned the award for Best School in Antioquia. That school was Club de Equitacion Los Potrillos and its director, Nury Montaño. I thank them because I am who I am today because of them, and it is because of them that I am here. Here in the US, I started meeting a lot of people upon my arrival. They gave me the opportunity to ride their horses because they saw that ability in me. I began initially with Criadero El Legado, with who I continue to work. I started working hand in hand with their trainer at the time and still today, Mr. Luis Tinoco. Slowly, the doors started to open. I met the owners of Criadero Altamira, who I still work with today as well. I have also worked with many other competition horse owners who I have also competed here in the United States.

PPF: Who is the most influential person in your career?
RO: There have been many who have instilled in me or have given me something of themselves for me to be the person I am today or to be where I am today, but is there someone I have seen as a pillar to follow? No. I believe that from all the people who have been around me, I have taken what I have felt is of good use to me and that is how I have formed myself.

PPF: What is the most important aspect of your work?
RO: Two. My horses and my students.

PPF: What do you like most about horses?
RO: Everything.

PPF: What do you want people to know or remember the most about you?
RO: More than wanting anyone to know or remember about me, simply what I want at this point is to leave the legacy of the Colombian Creole Horse in people.

PPF: What are the sayings that you use most in the horse world?
RO: There are many! There are many sayings that are used mostly in times of fun on horseback, like during trail rides, among other things.

PPF: Alright, Rubio, thank you so much for spending this time with Perfiles del Paso Fino.
RO: Ok, and to you as well. Thank you very much for the invitation.