Sr. Jorge "Coco" Fernandez (Peru)
Certified Master Farrier

Sr. Eduardo Risso M. (Peru)
President of the Peruvian National Horse Association ANCPCPP

- Since 1974, has been showing horses at the National Peruvian Paso Horse Show in Lima, Peru.

- In 1975, won first place on the Enfrenadura Class at the National Show.

- Member of the Peruvian National Horse Association for 26 years, since 1981.

- Started his breed in 1979, and starts showing his horses in 1982-.

- Exhibitor on USA Shows since 1980.

- Official Peruvian Judge since 1986, having already judged more than 70 shows around the world.

- President of the Breeders’ Committee of Peru during the period 2005 – 2006.

- Breeder “A” with 4 generations and more than 180 horses registered with his prefix ERM.

- President of the Peruvian Paso Horse Association of Ica from 2001 to 2006.

- Best Breeder and Exhibitor in several regional shows and second Best Breeder and Exhibitor in the National Show 2005 and 2006.

- Currently, has a Breeding Ranch on the South of Peru with more than 70 horses and also breeds horses in Texas, USA.

- Current Active President of the ANCPCPP

- During his presidency the Peruvian Association has signed the Recognition Agreement of the Registries with all National Associations that breed the Peruvian Paso horses worldwide. On 2007, he directed the First Summit of Presidents of Peruvian National Horse Associations during the Peruvian National Show.

Sr. Ben Sawatzky (Canada)
President Peruvian Paso Horse Association of Canada

I was born In Paraguay, a small country in the Heart of South America. I was born and raised on a mixed farm, with dairy cattle, beef cattle and cash crops. All of the farm work was performed with Horse Power. My early childhood and teen year’s mode of transport was by horseback. I so clearly remember a wealthy rancher riding past our farm, on a proud and elegant stallion , with loose reins, in a wonderfully smooth Paso Llano, drinking his Yerba Mate Tea from his guampa. (tea cup made from the horn of a large bull). How I envied him! My horses were so rough in comparison. I had never seen such luxury in a horse before.

At the age of 15, in the early 70's, I moved to Canada, together with my family. Interestingly, it was here, in Northern Canada, so far away from Peru, that I discovered the Caballo Peruano de Paso, the Horse I had seen so many years ago on the plains of the Gran Chaco, Paraguay.

In the early 90’s, I purchased my first Peruvian Paso, and have been an afficionado like few others ever since. I have established my ranch, Paradise Ranch, in Vernon British Columbia, where we run a breeding, training and promotion facility dedicated to the preservation and improvement of the Peruvian Paso in Canada. I have been a breeder for over a decade, and currently own about 50 peruvian pasos. My foundation stock is based on good quality imported horses from both the US and from Peru.

I am married, with 4 children. One of them loves the pasos and is a passionate rider. I too ride my horses regularly, both for show and for pleasure.

A 30 year member of our Peruvian Paso horse breed, Dianna Whisenant, will be conducting a seminar for our Junior riders, pointing out techniques and other great tid-bits of information for our Junior riders at this year’s Congress.

Dianna started riding the Peruvian Paso at horse shows in 1978 as a Junior exhibitor. She slowly gained the confidence and knowledge needed to ride the Peruvian Horse well and began winning several High Point Junior titles. She gained national recognition during her junior exhibiting years and obtained many High Point Junior Awards at the shows. After competing in the Junior divisions, Dianna transferred her natural skills towards her family’s horses, taking some of them to their top honors. Since that time, she has continued to help many Peruvian owners take their horses to their championship titles as well. She even had the pleasure of taking her adored, SH OBSESION++++, to many of his Laureado Championship titles and helping him to become one of the most titled geldings in our breed....Her dream come true!

Dianna has competed in horse shows in countries such as Canada, the United States and in Peru, winning in each country! She also was given the rare opportunity to judge a junior class while visiting their Peruvian National Show, in Lima. She was the first American woman to have done so!

She has been a positive influence for the Peruvian breed and has always offered herself and her knowledge to others when asked. Her expertise on the Peruvian horse is well known and she has dedicated her life to preserving the elegance and importance of a breed that she has adored throughout her life. She continues that tradition as she offers her knowledge to our Juniors who now compete in our National show.

Sr. Oscar "Pico" Del Castillo (Guatemala)
Breeder/Judge/Trainer/Show Rider

Tengo 48 años de edad, estoy casado con Ana Lorena Pullin Villaverde, tengo cuatro hijos, dos hombres y dos mujeres, soy director en Cabcorp (The Central America Beverage Corporation) empresa que se dedica a la venta, distribución y producción de bebidas en Centroamérica y el Caribe, representando productos como Pepsi, Mirinda, 7-UP, Brama, Lipton etc., y mi principal actividad en el grupo es, CEO en el area de Real Estates de la compañía GIA (Grupo Inmobiliario Americano).

En lo que respecta a mi afición por el Caballo Peruano de Paso, empieza desde muy joven pues mi padre Oscar E. Castillo Monge fundador del criadero, siempre fue un aficionado al caballo y en especial al Caballo Peruano de Paso y en el año 1,982 empezamos con la crianza, después de 25 años de estar dentro de la raza hemos hecho muchos cambios, estos cambios básicamente han sido llevando yeguas al criadero, en lo que respecta a los sementales también hemos estado en constante cambio y los sementales más relevantes los hemos adquirido en conjunto con otros criadores, las lineas de sangre que usamos básicamente provienen de AV Sol de Paijan, AEV Cascabel, recientemente hemos ingresado yeguas de crianza de la linea de MSCRL Magistrado, JRM Predilecto, ERM Espontaneo.

Durante estos 25 años hemos logrado grandes triunfos a nivel nacional y centroamericano como llegar a ser el mejor criador y mejor expositor en los concursos nacionales y regionales, obtener ejemplares ganadores tanto en hembras como en machos en las categorías de Bozal, Campeones del Año, Campeones de Campeones y una Campeona Laureada, en lo que respecta a juzgamientos el único que he juzgado fuera de Guatemala es en Panamá, la XIV Copa de Criadores Nacionales con Antonio Hudtwalcker Pinilla en agosto del 2005.

Nola Giddings has a lifetime of experience working with horses.  Growing up in Arizona, she began riding at age 2 and spent every second possible learning from her grandfather, who bred Quarter Horses and maintained 150 head of all breeds.  She now carries on her grandfather’s legacy and works with Peruvians, as well as horses of all breeds.

She has years of experience working with the Peruvian Horse.  In the late 1980s Nola was asked to work and manage a small herd of Peruvian Pasos.  She jumped at the opportunity and eventually bought her own Peruvian, which has developed into a herd of 10 or so.  For the last 15+ years, Nola has been breeding and training Peruvian horses for show and trail.  Her clients have often joked that they bring their horses to Nola to be “Nola-fied”, as her training tactics have helped solve numerous problems. 

While she is renowned in the Peruvian Paso Show circuit for her work with junior riders, she teaches students of all ages from 2 to 75 years old.  She has trained many juniors and ridden many horses to Championship and High Point titles.  She has taken her “entourage of juniors” to many shows spanning from Oregon, to California, to New Mexico & Arizona.  In addition to showing juniors what it’s like to be an exhibitor in the show ring, in 2002 she began an all gaited fundraising show to introduce juniors to the business side of showing; a show put together and ran by juniors to benefit the NAPHA Junior Scholarship Fund.