Guala, Mother of Paso Champions 

By Dave Jones

Nov/Dec 1971 Horse Lovers Magazine Reprint.
Courtesy of Lynn Gallup

When one thinks of Pasos, the fiery stallion comes to mind. Mahoma, Hilachas, Resorte III, Oro Negro, Desvelo, Revuelo, the Cometas, the Gauchos, and the Pielojas personify famous Colombian stallions.

Yet, there are famous mares. Resorte III had to be crossed with Danesa to produce Rosalinda, Dante, and Danzarina. Resorte Junior had to be crossed with Guala to produce Resorte III, Antioquiia’s most famous stallion.

Perhaps the story of a great Paso mare should be told. Guala is the subject, and we first saw her at Bogota. We learned enough about her to make us want to buy her.

My wife, Mac, and I visited Colombia a few years ago for the express purpose of closely inspecting Resorte III and his offspring to formulate an opinion about buying him. Our first night at Medellin found us at La Margarita, a breeding farm, restaurant, and school of equitation owned by Sr. Fabio Ochoa.

During our meal, the horses were brought into the restaurant and were led and ridden for our inspection. The other patrons seemed to enjoy the show as much as we did. Resorte III was quite a horse. His appearance under saddle was truly spectacular.

Next day we returned to look at the Pasos closely. Resorte III semed not so grand without saddle. His head could be a bit finer; his hind legs could be straighter. Still, though, he was a fine horse. Conformationwise, some of his offspring were better than he. Dante, a sorrel yearling stallion out of Danesa, was my choice. The cross between Resorte III and Danesa seemed the best possible choice.

Later, the horses were ridden for us. The offspring of Danesa were shown behind her. Then the offspring of Resorte III were shown behind him. The crosses of Resorte III and Danesa were shown both times. Oh, those Colombians know how to present an attractive package!

I’d be lying if I said that I was unimpressed with Resorte III, but I was far more impressed with the price Don Fabio asked. He told me that it was vital for Meridian Meadows to have Resorte III and those fine mares I saw. The price for Resorte III and nine mares was $100,000. Resorte III, alone, was $30,000.

Using Don Fabio’s son as an interpreter, I started giving Don Fabio a long detailed account of the difficulty of selling horses that few people knew anything about in the United States; of the high cost of running a horse ranch; of the unfavorable tax structure, and all the other reasons why such high prices were completely out of line. Crossing his arms and looking at the ceiling, Don Fabio remained aloof and firm. The Gringo had purchased many Pasos before and were in Colombia again. If business was so bad, why were they here?

We soon left Medellin and jetted to Bogota, the capitol. We were supposed to see some of Resorte III’s offspring in that city. We soon visited the "finca" (farm) of Dr. Pedro Nel Arango who had several Resorte colts. Better yet, he owned Guala, the mother of Resorte III.

Guala was an old mare. Dr. Arango said that she was sixteen, but I guessed her age at far more years than that, possibly the middle or late twenties. She had a nice colt at her side and was bred to a fine stallion, Relicario, owned by Dr. Arango. The mare was certaninly not beautiful, but had great "class". I inspected her with a critical eye and found her to be (in my opinion) far better than her son, Resorte III. Her head showed much refinement, her barrel was correct in every way. She was deep enough and her legs were exactly right. She needed more neck to look "pretty" and was a bit "sway-backed", but these conditions come with age and are inherent with all horses.

The colt she had by her side seemed of better conformation than Resorte III so I became infatuated with the idea of purchasing Guala rather than Resorte III. The colts Dr. Arango had that were by Resorte III were unimpressive.

We found no more Resorte III offspring in Bogota so we travelled to Cali, the birthplace of Resorte III. Guala was owned, at the time, by Sr. Ruben Brion. We met Sr. Brion and he told us the story of Resorte, Resorte Junior, Resorte III, and Guala. Of course, Sr. Brion could be a bit biased for he was telling us the tale of another man’s horse while he had horses of his own for sale.

Don Ruben’s account went something like this.

"Many years ago, there was a famous stallion named Resorte. This was such a horse that all the famous Pasos of today are strong with his blood. The name of "Resorte" was on the lips of all men who loved fine Pasos. Such magnificent horses as Desveio and Revuelo trace back many times to the great Resorte.

Years later a very shrewd man owned a stallion that he wished was more popular. The name of this horse was ‘Guerisi’. The man changed the name of "Guerisi" to Resorte II, or Resorte Junior, a common practice in Colombia, though a brave one in this case, giving a common horse such a famous name.

Resorte Junior was bred to Guala and the result was Resorte III. Resorte III actually traces to the original Resorte twice, both times through Guala.

Resorte III was bred a great number of times in the Cali area and never produced an outstanding offspring. Fabio Ochoa acquired him and mated him to Danesa, a cross that produced winners. Thus, Resorte III is a fine stallion when crossed with Danesa."

Mac and I did find some fine Pasos on this trip. We dickered for, and later acquired, thirty Pasos from the Bogota area. Guala was one that we acquired on this trip.

When Guala’s shipment arrived in Miami, they were blood-tested and Guala reacted to the Glanders test. This meant that she and the Pasos travelling with her had to be quarantined for fifteen days and re-tested. All passed the second Glanders test but Guala, and she flunked again. We didn’t know what to do. Dr. Arango said that he’d take her back. That was one possibility. Another choice was to destroy her. The last choice was to hold her in quarantine to be re-tested fifteen days later. This last procedure is a bit expensive for it costs $10 a day per horse while in quarantine and she’d already held up 10 other horses for fifteen days. Still, we made the decision to re-test.

Guala still had a postivie reaction to the third test, and meanwhile, birthed a colt. Mare and colt were fine. Finally, she passed her fourth test but had to pass two in a row before being released. Her fifth test was passed with flying colors and she was allowed to come to Tallahassee, her new home.

We think that people, horses, and all other living things are lucky to live in the United States. As far as horses are concerned, I’m not so sure. Mountainous Colombia has an ideal climate. The grass is good; the weather is cool and the horses thrive there. Northern Florida has hot wet summers. I’m sure the heat must seem unbearable to the Pasos. Guala lost weight during the summer but winter brought her relief.

Meanwhile, her colt, born in the quarantine station developed rapidly. True black, as is his mother, he soon showed the style and grace of a champion. If he had flaws, they were hard to find. We named him Cortes.

When Cortes was weaned, he was put into a stall with a small exercise lot adjoining it. He had another top young stallion, Criol, for a room mate. They grew to be the best of friends living in this environment for a number of months.

Later, I decided that they should have more exercise. They were turned out to pasture with the other yearling stallions. Being stalled together for so long had made them anti-social and they kept to themselves.

One day we noticed Cortes standing by the fence, head down, often looking back toward the barn. This peculiar behavior caused me to investigate. I found Criol caught in the fence, smooth wire wrapped around his hock. He was stretchd out on the ground in severe pain. Rushing back to the barn, I grabbed a saddled horse and a pair of wire-cutters. Criol was soon cut loose but he was almost in shock. He had to be dragged to the barn via a saddle horse. A worried Cortes followed closely behind.

The vet soon had Criol tranquillized. While he was stitching Criol’s leg, Cortes became a pest, bothering the doctor at his work. The vet, annoyed, slapped Cortes in the face. This light punishment terrorized the colt, for no human had ever struck him before that.

Cortes became a wild animal, lunging away at the approach of a human. When driven into a stall, he’d rear up and run around the stall trying to escape. He could navigate the 12′ by 12′ stall on hind legs, pawing at the wire mesh in an attempt to break out. Criol watched this performance with amazement.

I spent a lot of time with Cortes. Grass seemed to be the answer. I’d cut quite a bit with my pocket knife, go into the stall with Cortes and wait until he quit his explosive escape attempts. Then I’d bend way over to make myself smaller than he was. I’d extend the grass toward his quivering nostrils and he’d soon be eating it.

After a few weeks of such treatment, Cortes would let me scratch his back. Finally, carefully, he’d allow me to halter and lead him. Ken Serco, my rider, would duplicate my actions and eventually had him about halfway trusting people. He was a truly sensitive colt.

Guala had been bred to Hilachas and foaled another black stallion. We watched this black bundle of classy horsehide do the natural Paso Fino gait and marvelled at the old mare’s ability to produce top colts with each mating. We called the new colt Eximio (means famous-very eminent).

We waited until Cortes was almost three to start riding him. He was gentle enough to handle but very strong-willed. He decided not to give his head. He’d go only where he wanted to so he had to have his head tied around to the back of the saddle to loosen up that tight neck. He threw himself over and over but finally decided that he should behave and never made another bad move.

…..Except, he wouldn’t cross water out on the trail. One day I was riding Criol and Kenny was on Cortes. When we got to a water crossing Cortes refused. Ken couldn’t make him cross so he tied up the hackamore reins and I took the lead rope. I rode Criol into the water and kept Cortes headed at it. Kenny took off his chaps and popped Cortes on the fanny. Cortes knew he had to cross so he prepared, squatting like a sprinter on his blocks. Another pop with the chaps! Cortes leaped into the air – and landed directly in the center of the stream.

Cortes was making a top horse – but, we have to sell horses. Dr. Allen Moore, Jr. of Branson, Missouri, came, saw,and purchased. Cortes is now in the land of Jesse James, showing one and all in the country what a top Paso looks like.

We still have Eximio and people are starting to notice him. He’s a long yearling, coal-black, natural-gaited and very large for a Paso.

Good ole’ Guala had produced another black stallion, this time by Baron. His name is Faldero (means "fond of being among women"). He is a VERY good one. And, she’s bred back and safely in foal.

Guala doesn’t live in the pasture with the other mares any more. She’s in a stall with an adjoining exercise lot that’s down by my house. I can walk out there and feed her a few of her favorite snacks (range cubes for horses) every so often. She has a painful ringbone that I’m doctoring so she spends most of her time in her stall. She enjoys the easy life, with water available right there and her food carried to her. After all, she’s the best. She’d done her work and is still doing it. She’s a top Paso, producing top colts every year.

by Dave Jones

Note: If anyone has photos of any of the horses in this article I would love to post them here for everyone to see, especially any photos of Guala. Thanks

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