by John Di Risio

 

The Muiscas Indians inhabited the high plains and temperate regions in the center of Colombia, in what are now theCundinamarca, Boyaca and Santander districts. They were a very religious people, their deities embodied in nature. They worshiped the sun, which they called "Xue". The moon, "Chia". The supreme force or principle of creation "Chiminigagua". The mother of humanity, "Bachue". And the name given to the king of all civilization . "Bochica".

"Our" Bochica was born in January, 1970. Bred by Don Carlos Quintero in Buga, on a small farm in the Valle del Cauca in western Colombia. He was first trained and started under saddle by Luis Campuzano, "La Mica", a disciple of the great Benardo Jaramillo of Armenia, Colombia. Bochica was a son of Huazipungo and Diana. Huazipungo was the son of Plumaje by Piel Roja, a Resorte I son. Although Huazipungo and Diana were not very important or even well known, their parents and grandparents, Plumaje, La Venus, Piel Roja, Resorte I, La Tuerta, Gaucho and Jazmin were not only notable but are all remembered as part of the foundation of Paso Fino horses in Colombia.

As a young horse Bochica did not look impressive. Although he was solid, with no markings, he was not attractive in color, at least not by the standard in Colombia at the time. He was "moro melado" a faded gray, somewhat plane and very dark from just above the knee and hock down. By the time he turned three, he was starting to lighten, becoming silver in color and forming a beautiful blanket of dapples. As a stallion, he continued to lighten, eventually losing his dapples, and turned a bright, lustrous white with his legs lightened considerably. His fore lock, main and tail were full and dark with streaks of silver, especially at the end of his tail.

Bochica’s conformation was quite impressive. Although his head was not very refined, his features were well proportioned with small ears and beautiful eyes, large, round and very expressive. He was alert, attentive and worked his ears very well. His neck was exemplary, long, erect and left his shoulder and withers well. He was very clean at the throat and set his head and neck beautifully on the bit. His shoulder, top line and croup were full and round. He was neither compact or long, his barrel was perfectly proportioned from the shoulder to the hip. His legs and hoofs were quite refined and he tended to stand erect and well under himself with great presence.

Bochica’s conformation and movements along with his disposition, brio, an air of nobility and great presence in the ring, made him a very well rounded and very complete horse. His movements and execution were extraordinary. He was a very natural fino, both in the execution of gait and extension. He was "bajo", low to the ground both front and back. And also "armonico", with equal and very balanced elevation of his legs with each step. Most importantly Bochica was "pulido", short in the extension of every step. This was one of Bochica’s most striking characteristics; he was very fino and all natural, probably more so than any other horse of his time. He carried himself well in frame, collected, engaged at the rear and well under himself with beautiful balance and symmetry. His only noticeable fault was that he was not still at the croup. Although there was no up and down movement, he did move noticeably from side to side. And last but not least, he carried his tail very quietly.

Bochica made his debut and gained his first Grand Championship as a two and a half year old colt at the Buga Exposition in 1972, where he was ridden by Esnoraldo Rendon after the death of "La Mica". At the time Anfitrion was the horse to beat, but was not in attendance.

Again in Buga, in 1973, Bochica would get his opportunity against Anfitrion. Ridden by Luis Alfredo Ochoa also the Rider of Resorte III, Anfitrion was virtually unrivaled. The duel ended with Bochica as the Reserve Grand Champion. It would be the only time Bochica and Anfitrion would meet. Fifteen months later, Anfitrion was sold to Tito Valladares in Puerto Rico.

At the Armenia Exposition in 1974, Bochica, still being shown by Esnoraldo Rendon, stood alone in his class, immediately winning the crowd and another Grand Championship. Now, news of Bochica spread quickly, news of his naturalness, symmetry and fine disposition. Living up to his name, Bochica’s nobility and presence was noted by everyone able to see him or touch him. He would go on from Armenia to impact the world of the Paso Fino like few other horses did to this day.

In 1974, Juan David Ochoa bought Bochica, over the telephone, in partnership with Don Pascual Casanova form Caracas Venezuela. He was purchased as a direct result of the Armenia Exposition. Bochica was then moved to Medellin where he was ridden in 1975 at the Feria Exposiçion Equina de Medellin by Dairo Chica, winning yet another Grand Championship. Later that same year he left for a breeding farm in Bogota, named "Las Margaritas", where he would stand at stud and continue his training with Dairo Chica for the next two years.

In 1976 a very important show called "Vuelven Los Caballos" ? The Return of the Horses, was held in Bogota at the Coliseo El Campin. Resorte IV, owned at the time by Guillermo Santaella, was brought in from Venezuela by invitation. He traveled 1650 kilometers in 45 hours by land to compete against Bochica, Galileo, Tiziano and Zafiro. In Bogota, Bochica not only won the crowd but took the trophy and the Grand Championship. Resorte IV finished as the Reserve Grand Champion. Three months later, Resorte IV returned to Venezuela. The two would not meet again until 1978 in Bogota.

In 1976 Bochica was sold for 3.700.000 pesos (about US$120.000) to a company called "Inversiones Bochica", specially founded by Julio Silva, Ignacio Aguirre, Noe Ramirez and Gilberto Molina for the management and promotion of Bochica. The company delegated the responsibility of managing the stallion to Julio Roberto Silva, who moved him to Chia near Bogota, where he would remain for the next seven years.

In 1977 in Armenia, Bochica ridden by Alberto Lozano, would win the Grand Championship and also be declared "Fuera de Concurso". With the Fuera de Concurso designation, horses are considered "Out of Competition". The only competition these horses enter is the Champion of Champions class against other "Fuera de Concurso" winners.

Bochica and Contrapunto were the closest rivals. The two horses competed against each other three times in Colombia and once at the World Cup in Puerto Rico in 1984. Contrapunto won three of the four times and Bochica once, in Bogota 1979 ridden by Patricia Silva, the daughter of Don Julio Silva, one of the owners. The duels between these great stallions, Bochica and his closest and foremost rival, Contrapunto, are unforgettable memories in the history of the Colombian Paso Fino.

In 1977 in Giradot, Bochica, now "Fuera de Concurso" would meet for the first time with Contrapunto who had been "Fuera de Concurso" since Armenia in 1973. The show centered on the two stallions, Contrapunto ridden by Martiliano Lozano and Bochica by Martilano’s brother, Alberto Lozano. Both were excellent horsemen and recognized riders of Paso Fino horses. Contrapunto was declared the winner.

Two International Judges, Ricardo Gaitan Ospina and Alberto Uribe Sierra were appointed for the ASDEPASO Exposition of 1978 in Bogota. There was great expectation, as a third "Fuera de Concurso" Champion joined the class, Resort IV. The class was hard fought in a lengthy work off. The judges deliberated at length and still the competition was so close that they eventually exercised the final prerogative, to ride for themselves. Again, Contrapunto was victorious, followed by Bochica and then Resorte IV.

All three were to meet one last time in 1979, again in Bogota. As if the previous competitions were not spectacular, ground breaking events, this time the horses were ridden by their owners. The crowd was immense. The judges were the same who had worked the previous competition. Contrapunto was ridden by Victor Quintero, Bochica by Patricia Silva and Resorte IV by Don Fabio Ochoa. After a rigorous competition and lengthily explanations, Bochica and Patricia Silva reigned supreme, followed respectfully by Contrapunto and then Resorte IV.

In 1983 in Manizalez, Bochica lost the Champion of Champions class to Resorte IV in a spectacular work off of these two stallions. Bochica lost in the final seconds of the work-off when the horses were asked to perform side by side. This would be the last time Bochica and Resorte would meet.

Bochica represented Colombia on several occasions at international events. In San Cristobal, Venezuela in 1980 and again in Barquisimeto, Venezuela in 1983 he won the coveted title of "International Champion of Champions". In 1984 in Puerto Rico he was the Reserve World Champion behind Contrapunto. The event was another milestone as this was the last time for any two of these three horses to compete against each other.

These were spectacular encounters, filled with great emotion for the quality displayed by these great horses. It was a proud spectacle to see the two grays compete, a smooth, spirited image of controlled fire, natural elegance and nobility. The true winners were the spectators who were presented with this spectacle, filled with color and emotion, some excited by Contrapunto, others by Bochica.

Of the three horses Contrapunto was considered the powerful one and the most beautiful, Bochica "mas pulido" more fino, the best to ride, and extraordinarily responsive to the reins; and Resorte of course, the best reproducer with many of his offspring following in his footsteps.

Bochica, is today considered a "Great" of the of the Paso Fino breed. He lived and was shown during the golden era of "Paso Fino" in Colombia, from the late sixties through the mid eighties. In fact, the loss of Bochica and Contrapunto in 1985 and then Resorte IV, early in 1987, is considered by almost everyone in the world of Paso Fino horses to be the end of that "Golden Era". And the end of what where probably the most exciting competitions of all time. These were highly charged events with the public attending in record numbers of 40,000 or more. With the crowds often standing in the bleachers, the applause could be deafening and continue throughout the contest where there never seemed to be a clear winner. Some favored Bochica, others Contrapunto and still others Resorte IV. Even the judges were often hesitant, usually announcing their decision with the words "this time ." or "on this day ." as though the order would surly be reversed in their next encounter.

We still refer to these times and competitions, discussing them with great admiration. After almost twenty years, the emotions, the excitement and the rivalries of those events linger on in our conversations. If there is a standard by which we judge the "Monster Horses" and the extraordinary competitions of today, it would have to be by these times and by these animals.

Among Bochica’s offspring that deserve to be remembered are Postin, sire of World Champion Petrolero del Juncal, and National Champion Postal. Aristocracia, an International Champion with national titles in the United States, Colombia and Venezuela. Aristocracia is also the mother of La Ardita, a National Champion in Colombia.

Two outstanding sons of Bochica have been producing grandchildren in the United States. Bochica Tres, owned by Charles D. and Bonnie Minter, Sr., has been the senior sire at Rancho Paso Bravo for many years. Selected from the many stallions that Charles inspected during his trip to Colombia, Bochica Tres was imported in 1985. Since then, Bochica Tres, through the success of his offspring, has been a PFHA "Top Ten Sire" a number of times. Capuchino de Bochica, standing at Ernie Sanz’s Hacienda Guadalupe in Florida, has been the owner’s favorite stallion and personal riding horse for many years. He is a son of Bochica out of Capuchina I, a mare that Fabio Ochoa, in his book, calls ". one of the best Paso Finos one can find." The grandchildren of Bochica have given excellent performances in the ring and today are very desirable, for they carry in their blood the superb characteristics of their grandfather.

Sometime during the last couple years of his life, Bochica acquired piroplasmosis, a blood disease that can be common to horses in tropical regions. In 1985 he was invited to Puerto Rico by a special petition made by the Paso Fino breeders and enthusiasts of the island, who wanted the horse to be more accessible to them for breeding purposes. But, he would first have to be treated and test negative for the piroplasmosis infection before he would be allowed to enter Puerto Rico. During the course of his treatment he unfortunately contracted hepatitis.

Bochica died in November 1985 of hepatitis, at 15 years of age and when he was at his very best, still noble, proud and living up to the name "Bochica", the king of all civilization and "God of the Waters."

"To put in writing everything that could be said of this extraordinary horse, one would need an entire book and still would not have room enough. One of the best representatives of the Paso Fino Horse, Bochica’s movements, brio and disposition contributed greatly to setting a standard for the breed".

 

John Di Risio

 

This article has originally been published in Conquistador Magazine Vol. 8/ No. 2 and is re-published here with the express permission of Conquistador Magazine. This article and images may not be copied and/or reprinted without the express written permission of Conquistador Magazine.

 

Bochica

Date of Birth: January 1970

Date of Death: November 07, 1985

Color: Gray

Height: Approximately 14.1

Gait: Classic Fino

Breeder: Don Carlos Quintero

 

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