Today in History: Oct. 16, 1989 - Raising Paso Finos: She's a smooth operator

Today in History revisits the Monday, Oct. 16, 1989, edition of the Grand Forks Herald and highlights a story of a Lankin, North Dakota, woman who is raising Paso Fino horses. They are considered an exotic breed and known for their special gait. Raising Paso Finos She s a smooth operator Fancy horses gaining favor By Stephen J. Lee Herald Staff Writer Evelyn Bylin s Paso Fino horses are smooth operators, but are too well bred to be hot to trot. In fact, they generally don t feel like trotting at all, and if they do, they are not allowed to. A natural gait of nearly all horses, trotting falls between a walk and a gallop in speed, but often is so rough that riders avoid it or use special techniques, such as posting, to stay in the saddle. Paso Finos, however, as part of their genetic heritage stretching back centuries, have a special gait called — not surprisingly — the paso fino, which translates into fine walk or pace. That gait, plus their perso