Happy Hollow Horse Farm

Happy Hollow Horse Farm Join the conversation! New articles and content daily! Just a small farm in Southern Ohio trying to make a big difference!

When Should You Buy a Colombian Paso, a Puerto Rican Paso, or a Peruvian Paso?The answer is simple:Buy the one you love....
06/24/2026

When Should You Buy a Colombian Paso, a Puerto Rican Paso, or a Peruvian Paso?

The answer is simple:

Buy the one you love.

If you’re new to the Paso world, one of the first things you’ll discover is that there are several major Paso registries and traditions represented in the United States. The three most recognizable are the Colombian Paso, the Puerto Rican Paso, and the Peruvian Paso.

Each has a unique history. Each has passionate advocates. Each has characteristics that make it special.

And if you’re considering purchasing one, our advice is simple: do your homework.

Learn the history. Learn the traditions. Learn what each community values and celebrates. Understanding where these horses came from is part of appreciating what they are today.

But don’t let anyone convince you that there is only one right answer.

Because at the end of the day, whichever path you choose, you’re climbing aboard one of the most comfortable, unique, and enjoyable horses in the world.

The average person looking for a smooth horse doesn’t wake up wondering which registry they belong to. They want a horse that is safe, comfortable, beautiful, willing, and fun to ride. Fortunately, all three traditions have spent generations developing exactly those qualities.

For some people, the Peruvian Paso’s style and heritage will speak to them.

For others, the Puerto Rican Paso’s history and tradition will capture their imagination.

And for others, the Colombian Paso’s versatility, energy, and movement will be exactly what they’re looking for.

For us, it was the Colombian Paso and membership in the PFHA. That’s the path we chose and the community we call home.

But that doesn’t mean it’s the only path.

The truth is that every time someone discovers a Paso—whether Colombian, Puerto Rican, or Peruvian—the entire Paso world wins.

More owners. More riders. More advocates.

That’s something worth celebrating.

So study the history. Respect the traditions. Ask questions. Ride as many horses as you can.

Then buy the horse that makes you smile.

Because when you find the right Paso, the registry becomes part of the story.

The horse becomes the reason.

The Triple Crown Prize list!!
06/23/2026

The Triple Crown Prize list!!

38 days until the most exciting show of the year! Pre register now!Let’s make this the biggest show of the year! Let’s...
06/23/2026

38 days until the most exciting show of the year! Pre register now!

Let’s make this the biggest show of the year! Let’s GROW this breed!

06/23/2026

Your moment of zen.

Animals Are Not DisposableI was standing in Tractor Supply this week and witnessed something that, quite honestly, left ...
06/23/2026

Animals Are Not Disposable

I was standing in Tractor Supply this week and witnessed something that, quite honestly, left me speechless.

A woman was giving away her dog.

Not to a rescue. Not to a family member. Not after a careful vetting process. She simply handed the dog to a random person she met in the parking lot because work had gotten in the way of caring for it.

I’m writing this still a little slack-jawed.

Maybe I take these things more personally than most. I’ve seen animal neglect. I’ve seen people treat animals as temporary conveniences. I’ve seen what happens when someone’s commitment runs out before the animal’s life does.

And that’s why I believe something that shouldn’t be controversial:

If you cannot commit to caring for an animal, don’t buy one.

Simple.

Before every horse we’ve purchased or bred, we’ve asked ourselves two questions:

What is this horse’s purpose?

And more importantly:

Can we care for this horse for the rest of its life?

Not until it’s inconvenient.

Not until our interests change.

Not until finances get tight.

For the rest of its life.

Because ownership isn’t about possession. It’s about responsibility.

I will go without before my horses do. Full stop.

Our horses aren’t equipment. They aren’t investments. They aren’t trophies. They are living, breathing animals with needs, personalities, and a complete dependence on the humans who chose to bring them into their lives.

They need movement. Care. Attention. Veterinary support. Good nutrition. A safe environment.

They deserve that.

And if we ever decide to sell one of our horses, understand this: we’re going to ask questions. We’re going to see where that horse is going. We’re going to look at the facilities. We’re going to look at the condition of the other horses. We’re going to follow up.

Not because we’re difficult.

Because we owe that horse our due diligence.

We’ve intentionally built our program so that every horse on this farm can stay here for the remainder of its life if necessary. We don’t need to move horses to survive. That gives us the luxury of putting the horse’s welfare ahead of convenience.

And if that philosophy bothers you, then we probably aren’t operating from the same set of values.

Which brings me to an uncomfortable conversation the Paso world needs to have.

Too many people are breeding for numbers.

Too many are breeding for sport.

Too many are breeding because they can.

And when a horse doesn’t fit the program, doesn’t win enough ribbons, doesn’t develop exactly as expected, or simply becomes inconvenient?

“Sell it.”

That mentality is a problem.

A horse’s value should not be determined solely by what it can do for us.

People love to call themselves breeders.

Personally, I think that’s the wrong title.

We’re caretakers.

We’re stewards.

We’re responsible for the lives we create and the lives we choose to own.

The welfare of those animals should be beyond debate.

Full stop.

The GatekeepersIn psychology and organizational behavior, gatekeeping refers to a small group of insiders who establish ...
06/22/2026

The Gatekeepers

In psychology and organizational behavior, gatekeeping refers to a small group of insiders who establish themselves as the standard by which everyone else is measured. They appoint themselves the authority. The experts. The keepers of tradition.

Their favorite logical fallacy is the appeal to authority.

“We’ve been doing this for 50 years.”

“We’ve always done it this way.”

“You haven’t been here long enough to understand.”

The assumption is simple: longevity equals correctness.

It doesn’t.

The only people truly safe with gatekeepers are those willing to bow to their every word. And there are plenty of those. They hold committee chairs. They sit on boards. They socialize at the shows. They reinforce each other’s narratives and convince themselves they speak for everyone.

For many people, this tactic works.

Most people are conflict-averse. Most people want acceptance. Most people eventually cave to social pressure.

That isn’t us.

And bad news for the gatekeepers—it never will be.

The gatekeeper playbook is predictable.

Step One: Dismissal

At first they ignore you.

“They’ll lose interest.”

“They don’t understand how things work.”

“Give it time.”

The assumption is that independent thinkers will eventually become compliant or disappear.

Step Two: Credential Challenges

When that doesn’t work, they shift tactics.

Now they challenge your credentials.

“How many horses have you bred?”

“How many championships have you won?”

“Who are you to question this?”

And when credentials fail, they attack motives.

“They’re doing it for attention.”

“They’re bitter.”

“They have an agenda.”

Notice what never gets discussed: the actual argument.

Step Three: Social Pressure

This is where the real gatekeeping begins.

Information becomes selective.

Invitations get forgotten.

Conversations move behind closed doors.

The goal isn’t to defeat the idea. The goal is to isolate the person presenting it.

This is the stage where organizations often reveal who they really are.

Step Four: Acceptance

Eventually reality wins.

The ideas that were mocked become tolerated.

The ideas that were tolerated become accepted.

The ideas that were accepted become obvious.

And suddenly the people who fought them the hardest begin acting as though they supported them all along.

History repeats this cycle over and over.

The truth is that most people aren’t inherently bad.

They’re afraid.

Afraid of change.

Afraid of losing status.

Afraid of losing influence.

Afraid of losing control of a narrative they’ve spent years protecting.

We don’t take that personally.

It’s why we often respond with sarcasm rather than outrage.

It’s why we continue extending an olive branch, even to those who openly disagree with us.

Because beneath the attacks, the whispers, and the resistance, most people aren’t actually defending a principle.

They’re defending a status quo.

And that brings us to the Paso Fino breed.

The resistance will only increase from here.

That’s expected.

What makes this fight easy is that the cause is simple and obviously necessary.

Grow the breed.

Elevate the breed standard.

Promote horses people can ride, enjoy, and use.

Put owners and riders at the center of the conversation.

Focus on creating more Paso Fino enthusiasts instead of protecting the preferences of a shrinking inner circle.

The future of this breed will not be decided by gatekeepers.

It will be decided by the people willing to build something larger than themselves.

The new ear covers came today and Noble is the perfect model 💃🏻
06/21/2026

The new ear covers came today and Noble is the perfect model 💃🏻

The Luxury Trail HorseThe Paso Fino may be one of the most misunderstood horses in the world.For decades, we’ve done a p...
06/21/2026

The Luxury Trail Horse

The Paso Fino may be one of the most misunderstood horses in the world.

For decades, we’ve done a poor job explaining what makes this breed so special to the average horse owner. Too often, people see a Paso moving with collection and assume the horse is short-strided or limited.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Paso Fino is the luxury trail horse of the equine world.

They are nimble. Precise. Athletic. Sure-footed. Built to travel terrain that makes other horses think twice. They move with purpose, placing their feet exactly where they need to be while carrying their riders in exceptional comfort.

Think of a Paso Fino as a luxury all-terrain vehicle.

Powerful enough to go anywhere. Refined enough that you enjoy every mile getting there.

What makes the Paso unique isn’t how far its legs reach outward—it’s how efficiently the horse moves underneath itself. While many horses create movement by reaching forward and outward, the Paso creates movement through balance, collection, and engagement.

The result?

A smoother ride. Less fatigue. More confidence over difficult terrain. More hours in the saddle.

A well-trained trail Paso Fino is worth its weight in gold because it combines something few horses can: comfort, willingness, intelligence, and endurance.

That’s why owners who discover these horses become so passionate about them.

You can spend an entire day exploring trails, crossing creeks, climbing hills, and covering miles while arriving back at the barn feeling fresh enough to do it all again tomorrow.

We have spent too many years trying to fit the Paso Fino into a narrow box.

The future of this breed is bigger than that.

The pendulum is swinging.

More owners are talking about versatility. More riders are discovering the joy of a comfortable horse. More people are recognizing that the Paso Fino isn’t just a show horse—it’s a lifestyle horse.

And once you’ve experienced that kind of comfort, it’s hard to go back.

Ride a Paso.

You’ll thank yourself.

Address

123 Largo Lane
South Point, OH
45659

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Happy Hollow Horse Farm posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share