Horse Riding in Colombia

In Colombia, horse riding might be one of the best activities you could try. There is an established culture of horse riding in the country, making it the ideal place for a first try. Whether it’s show riding or horseback riding, Colombia will offer you the most complete experience.

Paso Fino, the Colombian horse riding culture

Heavily influenced by the Spanish cultural heritage, Colombia has developed its own equestrianism over the centuries, giving rise to numerous traditions and ways of using and celebrating horses, notably a very particular art, the Paso Fino.

It is one of the most iconic and unique traits of Colombian horse riding culture. Originally, this term refers to a Colombian horse breed characterized by their small size, agility, robustness, and especially, their elegance. This breed descends from horse breeds introduced by the Spanish conquistadors, particularly the Andalusian horse, the Jennet, and the Barb horse.

Due to their physical characteristics, the Paso Finos have favored the emergence of an original horse gait, which bears their name. The Paso Fino gait is a very rhythmic walk often used in presentations, characterized by extremely rapid, short, jerky steps. It is executed in four beats, with minimal forward movement and minimal action of the forelegs.

How to try Paso Fino

The Paso Fino horse riding culture is very strong and developed in the Andean region, for instance in the Department of Antioquia. There, in every town and village, you will find local horsemen demonstrating Paso Fino in the streets. Don’t be afraid to try it. Paso Finos are specially trained to perform the gait, so you don’t need to be an experienced rider.

In places called ‘fondas,’ which are the Colombian equivalent to the European tavern, you can combine entertainment and horse riding. These fondas are specially designed to cater for those who wish to ride horses. In an atmosphere combining Colombian popular music, food and drinks, you can try horse riding on a specially designed track.

Horseback riding in the Colombian countryside

Of course, the Paso Fino is not the only horse Colombia offers. Being a vast and extremely mountainous country, Colombians have developed very powerful mule breeds capable of carrying over 200kg, sometimes on extremely steep paths.

This tradition is inherited from the ‘montañeros’, the inhabitants of the Andean mountains who relied on mules to trade and transport goods across the region.

In tourist towns like Jardin, local horse owners offer 3 to 4 hour horseback rides in the countryside for less than US$20. While mounted on an authentic Colombian mule, you can enjoy the sight of beautiful landscapes and get a taste of what the daily life of a ‘montañero’ used to be like!