PasoVoice.Com :: NAPPRPFO

caliber · Site Admin

http://www.purepuertoricanpasofino.org/napprpfo.htm

The North Atlantic Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino Org. was formed in October of 1999. Many of us felt the need for an organized effort to preserve and promote the PPR horses in our area. We were not interested in any kind of registry endeavor – just a non-profit support group effort to be applied to this part of the country.

To protect, preserve and promote the Puerto Rican Paso Fino.

Some of our members do not even own a Pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino, but they care and they support our efforts.

We meet a minimum of 4 times a year, sponsor clinics, open houses, participate in shows and the Equine Affaire in Columbus, Ohio, and parades when we can. In the future, we have hopes for an annual organized trail ride for charity, possibly another fun show, and anything else that is appropriate and will promote the versatility of our PPR Paso Finos.

Letter from the President:

In the late 1960's, mostly all of the horses that were imported came out of Puerto Rico. The supply of Pure Puerto Rican (PPR) horses ran short, because of high demand; the Colombians were more willing to deal with Americans than the Puerto Ricans. The American Paso Fino Club began mixing the two breeds in hope to make even a better horse. That theory has proved wrong. Even though the first generation may gait, the unique quality to produce gait every time was lost in later generations. They did suceed in creating yet another breed. It is the American Paso Fino. The Col. and the PPR are two different breeds. The PPR was and is breed for the 4 beat lateral. The Colombian may trot troche or gait, yet it is still very different from the Puerto Rican gait. The silky smooth gait of the PPR was not a priority for the Columbian breeders, as they were breeding for a different purpose. With the mixing of the two breeds both the Colombian and the Pure Puerto Ricans are in danger. Their numbers are small. It would be a loss to humanity to loose either of these breeds. There are only 300 PPR in the US today. Even Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico are breeding their stock to outside breeds. Money is sometimes an evil thing. The last count by Puerto Rican Govt. was 2,500 Pure Puerto Ricans worldwide. That number is diminishing as our PPR mares and stallions die off. We ,who have PPR horses ,must breed PPR to PPR. I am the President of the North Atlantic Pure Puerto Rican Organization. We are doing much for the breed but more needs done.

The Professional

I'm under the belief that there are about 4,000 PPR inscribed in the island since the last census. By now I am to believe that the number of PPR has also increased in the US and worldwide. The number has to be higher than 300. Can someone confirm this information?

caliber · Site Admin

Professional! what a great question. I have been trying to find accuracy for some time with no success. I also think is important for "ALL" Federations to perform surveys/census more frequently.

The information posted was directly from the NAPRPFO web site. How accurate that information is, I cant say.

Saludos!

The Professional

Well Caliber, this is a situation that has been going for long now and unfortunately isn’t has develop so little improvement through the years.
It's seems to me like not everyone is caring or not everybody is aware of the situation. Is a little bunch of people like us that are conscience of the possible cost that have to be paid if the breed continues at risk.

I remember several months ago I posted something in other forums regarding my concern in this matter and just a few members actually respond with their concern. But the ones that talk about it they all fell the same way... the breed is in danger and only a matter of time for things go from bad to worse.

Here is a copy of one of my post at that time:

I have learned a lot from this issue and the more I've learned the more I worry about the future of our breed. As I said before, I also share this issue in other forums and I have learned that the same situation has happened to others breed as well.

My intention is not to be alarmist but once a species is lost...it's lost forever. Taking that into consideration, I believe that everyone that feels commitment to preserve the PPR breed has to create consciousness to others, especially to breeders. We can't afford to wait until is a remaining few of the breed to start preserving it. Once again, I believe it's through education that we help spread the genes. Same as for the AI subject, that also could be a key to help enlarge the population of the PPR herd.

Together with the expectations of helping the breed, also came the negative impact that could be happening in this very moment. Let me explain myself... The line breeding, inbreeding’s, and all kind of mambo-jambo; with just a few stallions, as is the issue here; could also lead to hereditary diseases such as retained placenta. That, I'm not saying that could happen to the breed but as I recently learned, it has happened to the Friesian breed and who knows? It could also happen to the ppr but there's no research on the subject.

A lot of things can and had happen without anybody knowing it. If you come to think about it, a lot of genetic heritage has been lost already; like size, performance, health fertility being decreasing, etc.

caliber · Site Admin

WOW Professional, I have to agree with you 100%

That is the same concern I have, and you are right, The PPR breed is only one step away for being extinct!.... We had lines in the 70's that sad to say, I cant find today. If I learned one thing from our now deceased friend Don Wilfredo,have to say was breeding and Inbreeding, the good's and the bad's, and I have to agree, the consequences can be atrocious.

The PPR breed is a jewel! and we must treaty as such. I was very pleased to see the government of PR step in few years back with all intentions of preserving the breed. I really don't know the outcome, perhaps you can elaborate more on the subject matter.

PS: By no means am I saying that presently we do not have plenty of sementales (Studs) in PR... we do! and very good ones too!

The Professional

This “risk” of extinction scenario of the PPR breed I somehow compare it with the global warming. I refer to the concept of comparing one “risky” thing with the other. On one hand, people are more aware of the situation of global warming. Recycling is more like a fashion these days. This is due in part by the media publicity, but it’s good.

The thing is that not everybody’s doing their part and a lot of people around the globe simply don’t care. On the other hand, the PPR paso fino breed is in danger of extinction and not all associations in PR or US are doing everything they can do to preserve the breed. Don’t take me wrong Caliber, some are doing things. But in the long run is more of the same.
What do you think happened with all those fine family branches of the past like the one you just mentioned above?

They became extinct and like I said before it’s a matter of time for the others to fallow. I strongly believe that if people and I mean breeders, take it more seriously it would impact the course of the story here for the best. But I’m just one voice in the desert. I remember standing up in a conference asking how the P.R. government can provide incentives to breeders to expand the gene pool of the breed and one of the assistants-supposedly an old time breeder said that it’s best not to breed too many horses to have control of the horse population.

Then I replied that this is precisely the point of this conference; that ppr breeders are to promote and multiply the quorum to export and preserve it. He then shut down with an angry face and didn’t comment anymore. This attitude is the same as much of the sellers back in 1964-65 that didn’t want the breed to fall in other hands and they sold performance and working horses and kept the best for them. Along came the Colombian pasos who had more quantity and took advantage of the marketing. Today, a lot of breeders here in P.R. are still keeping the good stuff in the belief that they are the breed keepers or whatever.

Nobody talks much about this but its reality, actuality, and the truth. If we are up to preserve the breed then we have to export more stallions. If we keep holding it, then soon will be nothing to hold. You don’t preserve it by keep it to yourself, one most have to sale, export, bred more and so on. Anybody is entirely to disagree on this one, but then have to prove me wrong. I have a few good ideas on how to promote and expand the breed and a designed pilot plan that in the worst of scenarios would end up with at least half of the expectations, which is pretty good considering the present status. But this isn’t a one-man-job or one association alone. This is a team work, like “save the whales style” Laughing

and also is the dark side of it. People who have their own interest and want to run business their way and stomp on people with sincere intentions. God have mercy!

caliber · Site Admin