FPFHA OFFICERS

President

ALEX AMADOR, has been involved with horses since she started riding at the age of three in Cuba.  After transplantation to the US in the early 1960s, she was re-united with her horse passion and has never left horses again.  Originally trained in show jumping and dressage, Alex found the Paso Fino in the late 70s and was hooked on this wonderful breed.  She met her husband, Jose Luis, at a Paso Fino show and they were married during the break at a Paso show in West Palm Beach, riding 2 black Paso Finos.  Her family lives on 10 acres they share with 30 Paso Finos.  All the family is involved in the horses.  Jose Luis is the trainer and manager, David (21) is assistant trainer and assistant manager, Alexandra Patricia is junior rider and horse lover, and Jose Jr. does their design and advertising.  Alex has belonged to both Florida and Sunshine PFHA since 1977 and has served as Secretary and Treasurer for Sunshine PFHA in the early 1980s.  During that time, Alex wrote the original rules for Amateur owner division when it was initially added to the Paso Fino rule book and helped organize and run many of the Sunshine Paso shows.  Once Florida became a regional group of PFHA, Alex switched her voting membership and has been a voting member of Florida PFHA ever since.  The original history of the group posted on the Florida PFHA website was written by her.  She has served on the Florida PFHA Board of Directors in the capacity of Director from 2000-2002 and Secretary from 2002-2006.  In her capacity as secretary, Alex was acting Show Manager for Florida PFHA shows for 4 years.  Her duties ranged from contracting the judges and making all arrangements for them to preparing the correct paperwork to ensure the show would meet all PFHA and USEF requirements.  At a National level, Alex has served on the PFHA Finance committed for 2 years and currently serves on both the USEF Liaison and Registration Advisory committees.  Professionally, Alex is the Laboratory Supervisor of the Diagnostic Immunology and Molecular Pathology Lab at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine.  As a rider, Alex has always competed as an Amateur in all the Paso divisions.  Currently, she watches as her children, David and Alexandra Patricia, and her husband Jose show and share her love of Paso Fino horses.

1st Vice-President

ERNIE SANZ, owner of Hacienda Guadalupe Paso Finos in Miami, FL, the Paso Fino breed has been a lifelong passion. And for more than three decades, he has learned and shared his expertise regarding the breed with anyone who finds an interest in them—from first-time horse buyers to those returning to make more purchases. Born in Miami, Ernie spent his childhood in Puerto Rico, where he lived from ages two to 13. It was at his father’s ranch where he learned about Paso Finos and developed a love for the breed. “When I was a boy, I couldn’t wait to get home from school so I could go riding,” he said. “I would rather be riding than doing anything in the world. Some days, I would be on a horse for 12 hours.” Learning from his father, who moved his ranch’s 25 horses from Puerto Rico to Miami in 1973, Ernie developed a deep understanding of and feel for the Paso Fino breed. “The Paso Fino is a unique breed,” he explained. “They have such a smooth gait; their ride is rhythmic and balanced in both front and rear. They give a comfortable ride that is truly unequalled by any other breed.” At the University of Miami he intended to study medicine. Deeply religious, Ernie also gave serious consideration to joining the ministry He was also a member of the school’s highly competitive swim team. While there, he found that his passion for horses stayed with him. It didn’t seem to matter which road he started down, his love for Paso Finos would not let him leave them behind. “Riding Paso Finos is like hearing a new piece of music every time you ride. Listening to the music their feet make; feeling the power, speed and rhythm is a totally unique experience. As a rider, you get to orchestrate that music with your seat, your reins, your balance and your ear,” said Ernie. Sanz, is also a Paso Fino Horse Association (PFHA) national certified judge, and has developed a Paso Fino breeding and sales business that has blossomed. His customers include horse lovers from all walks of life, including major league baseball stars Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, Ruben Sierra, Armando Benitez, Luis Alicea and Ricky Ledee, who all visit his ranch with its more than 120 horses, including nearly 20 broodmares four stallions. One of his stallions, is named 222 (pronounced dos veintidos in Spanish), was bred and trained at the ranch and has won numerous awards, both in the U.S. and internationally. “I love how the Paso Fino breed is really starting to take its place in the horse world,” he said. “Every rider wants the perfect horse for his or her individual needs, and more and more of them are turning to Paso Finos because; of all the wonderful characteristics breed has to offer. Seeing this gives me a great feeling, because, for me, breeding and training Paso Finos is not my job, it’s my passion!”

2nd Vice-President

ANN-LOUISE OUDIN, was born and raised in Kungsbacka, Sweden were she, as an 8 year old started taking horseback riding lessons. She went on to buy and train her first horse, an Arabian cross whom she got as a three year old. Ann-Louise showed competitively in Dressage for many years with the help of a German trainer, and later passed on her horse to her little sister. After this Ann-Louise went on to travel and work abroad, until she got married in the States and had her two children Nathalie and Simon.  She did not get back into riding again until her daughter Nathalie started to take horseback riding lessons and this is when Ann-Louise learned about the Paso Fino breed.  Ann-Louise lost her heart to the Paso Fino breed for the Paso’s wonderful willingness to please, intelligence, and smooth gait. As Nathalie started to compete in Paso Fino youth classes, Ann-Louise supported her from the sidelines. Soon after, Ann-Louise bought her daughter her first Paso Fino Gelding, Genesis, who she retrained. Nathalie successfully showed Genesis for three years in the Junior Youth division in Equitation, Horsemanship, Performance and Pleasure, placing on top at Florida and Southern regional shows, as well as showing competitively at Nationals every year. Ann-Louise now enjoys showing Genesis in Versatility, Western Pleasure, and Country Pleasure. She is a big believer and supporter of the youth (the next generation), she has helped her daughter and several other youth riders successfully compete in equitation and all Paso disciplines. In the year 2000 Ann-Louise and her husband opened their very successful restaurant Pascal’s on Ponce, in Coral Gables.  She successfully managed the business while her husband was the Chef and culinary director.  After three years working with her husband, Ann-Louise decided to take her love of horses to the next level, so she and a friend bought a beautiful property in Homestead and opened an equestrian boarding facility.  Recently, Ann-Louise bought another Paso Fino, a mare that they bred and recently gave birth to her first foal.

Secretary

 MARIA EUGENIA ALGUERA (pending picture and bio)

Treasurer

MARTHA SARMIENTO (pending picture and bio)

Directors

MARY BLANCO, is the wife of Carlos Blanco and the daughter of Manolo Sanchez; owner of the stallion “Andante de Besilu”.  Mary Blanco has been a member of the PFHA for 32 years.  Mary and her family have been passionate about the Paso Fino breed for all those years.  She and her family have served in the board in different capacities.  They also show Paso Fino horses.  Their history with the PFHA dates back to the first National Show.  Her Father and Father-in-law were both President and Vice-President of the PFHA; Mary has also served in the board in different capacities.  Her commitment to the Paso Fino industry is as solid as her record and attending the shows is top on her list.  It took a hurricane (Andrew) to stop her family from being able to attend to the only National show they have ever missed. 

FRANCHESKA CASTRO, (also known as Frenchie) has been an active member of FPFHA for 4 years, but has been around horses since she as three years old. She at this time owns a Paso Fino mare, by the name of La Campana de Guadalupe, which she keeps at Hacienda Guadalupe home of 222. Francheska is currently a riding instructor at Hacienda Guadalupe as well and enjoys teaching all her students as she does riding herself. She is a student at Florida International University, and studying Accounting and Business Administration.

CIRO MARTIN (pending picture and bio)

NATHALIE OUDIN has been an active member for 7 years, showing in many youth class, while a junior rider, and now in Amateur owner classes. In 2006 she was High Point Overall Junior Youth Rider, competing in the Fino, Performance, Pleasure, Equitation, and Horsemanship divisions. Nathalie owns three Paso Finos including her new colt which she bred herself. She is the webmaster for Florida PFHA as well as her family owned farm Top Notch Stables. Currently she is attending Florida International University. Working towards her bachelors in Biology, to peruse her dream of becoming a veterinarian. Nathalie competes as well in the Hunter/ Jumper Show Circuit, making her a versatile rider. She also enjoys trail riding, camping with her horse, and learning more about the Paso Fino breed when she is not showing.

IVETTE ROMERO, was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and raised throughout the different military bases in the United States. Family relocated to the State of Florida in 1980 where she graduated high school and ventured out to the University of Central Florida through an athletic scholarship. After receiving her Bachelor degree in Criminal Justice and Legal Studies she relocated to S. Florida to attend Law School. While working as a Criminal law paralegal in a down-town Miami law office under Dexter Lehtinen, Esq. and awaiting enrollment into law school, Ivette realized that her heart was not in the legal profession. Instead she went back to school and obtained a finance degree. After several years working as a Loan Officer for HomeBanc Mortgage Corp., she established herself as their Top Producing Rookie and received a National award of “Top 100 Best Mortgage Originators in the Nation.”  In 2004, Ivette ventured out on her own and founded Metropolitan Residential & Commercial Mortgage Corp. and Sky-Land International Realty, Inc.  She shares these responsibilities and commitments with her husband, Ramon Lindo and their 2.5-yr. son, Sebastian.  Ivette, Ramon and Sebastian relocated last in 2006 from Coral Gables, Fl to S.W. Ranches, Fl as their mutual passion for Paso Fino horse led them to purchase a farm and build their stalls and round pan.  For Ivette, the passion for the Paso Fino horse started when she was just a little girl in Puerto Rico. Her father and uncles were very much involved in the breeding and sport of competition of this breed of horse.  Ivette, better known as the owner of “Profeta Rojo,” decided that she would train her own horse. As we all know, she was very successful in this venture, not because of her training abilities, but rather the connection that she and Profeta Rojo developed.  This animal meant the world to her and to this day, he is very much missed.  Her husband Ramon, of Dominican decent, was born into the Paso Fino horses.  His grandfather, Ramon A. Pichardo, better known as “Blanco” was a trainer for Rancho La Joya, home to the famous Ladrillo.  His cousin, Guaro Pichardo, is currently a trainer in Santo Domingo and rode the famous Pedregal del Conde to his Grand National Championship in fino.  All Ramon & Ivette’s family shares that same passion for the Paso Fino Horse.   The love that these two individuals share for the Paso Fino horse is so great that their 2.5-yr. old son Sebastian, at such young age, has developed this same passion and is very much involved with the horses.  Ivette has been a member of Florida PFHA for over 10 years and actively competed during that time in both the professional and amateur Performance, Pleasure, and Fino divisions.  Her desire and aspiration is to promote the Paso Fino horse on a national and international level.