Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Neither the several months’ delay due to the risk of an epidemic, nor the August earthquake affected the quality of the 62nd Official National Show of the Peruvian Paso Horse, an event which now more than ever is consecrated to the unity of all Peruvians.

By: Martín Higa
Photos: Fernando Soto

In March of this year, a few weeks before the beginning of the National competition, the Association was forced to give news that hit like a big bucket of cold water to the majority of people in Peru and abroad: due to the fact that the Agrarian Sanity Service detected in Cieneguilla—just one hour from Lima—an outbreak of equine estomatitis (gums inflammation), the 62nd National Show of the PPH had to be postponed to avoid new outbreaks of the virus.

In addition to being a symbol of national heritage, the Peruvian Paso Horse is an animal linked to the agrarian activity; therefore, it has sanitary and veterinary priorities that cannot be overlooked. This is how the thousands of aficionados and breeders who had made reservations and booked tickets and accommodations to be present in Mamacona during those dates, understood it. Some had more time to prepare themselves while others, unfortunately, had to give up and postpone their participation until following year.

A fact that deepened the concerns was the devastating earthquake that hit the south of the country in August, which notoriously affected the population in this area, as well as breeders in Cañete, Chincha, Ica and Nazca. The attention given by the entire world, and the solidarity of all Peruvians, were concentrated on the effects of the earthquake, which reached a magnitude of 7.2 degrees on the Richter Scale and whose epicenter was offshore the coast of Pisco. It destroyed Pisco’s coasts, 80 thousand houses and killed over 500 people. Of course, it was not the most favorable context to carry out the National Show and many feared a week of a gray and apathetic show.

However, and against all discouraging forecasts, from September 17 to 23, the venue of Mamacona was the epicenter of overflowing optimism: the quality of the breed was maintained in a very high standard and it was proven that the passion for the PPH strengthens the unity of Peruvians in difficult moments.

Positive participation

“It has been a great show and we realize that with each edition, breed and breeders are improving. It was carried out at a time of the year which is not usual or traditional, but the attendance of people and the participation of breeders, in spite of everything that has happened, was very positive”, said Eduardo Risso, president of the Asociación Nacional de Criadores y Propietarios del Caballo Peruano de Paso (ANCPCPP).

“It was a very good show.  Though, it is true that there was a lack of some particular horses, it is understandable because it is the last stage of the pregnancy, the foaling”, notes Manuel Llanos from the Virgen del Pilar breeding ranch, who participated with five mares and also in the class of mules.

Arturo Tineo, from Ayacucho, pointed out that the National fulfills the expectations of the most demanding, and it’s an opportunity for breeders from all over Peru to express their feelings. “Lima is a powerful city with respect to the breeding of the Peruvian Paso Horse; there is no doubt about that. Therefore, we should be allowed to use the breedings of high quality sires. This support is essential for the provinces to be able to have their space too”, he states.

Tineo who, in spite of the hard years of terrorism that hit Ayacucho the afición for the PPH remains intact, makes use of the opportunity to make a historic remark from his regional point of view: “The history of our country has been written on the back of the Peruvian Horse, but some forget that it was in “the cabezadas”, the high lands between Ica and Ayacucho, on the foothills of the Andes, where the breed of Peru was conceived, not so much in the sands of the coast”.

Quality and similarity

In times where quality and professionalism in breeding are quite similar, it is precisely the details that mark the difference, as Javier La Rosa Musante, who acts as judge of the National for the third time, explains: “It has been an extraordinary show, not only for the quality but for the circumstances in which it has been carried out. I have to emphasize that horses have been presented on the open ground with a great quality, with a rhythm worthy of standing out. The gaits were well cared for, and breeders who paid the most attention to details were the winners.”

There were 63 classes, several of them with even three groups of participants due to the growing number of exhibitors. The results finally ratified that little by little the development of the different breeding ranches is being balanced thanks to the use of reproduction techniques and to a responsible handling of the breeding.

The Afición Award was won by Enrique Rizo Patrón Bazo, from Hacienda Mamacona , with ERPB Jerarca, ERPB Duque and ERPB Retama. The Champion of Champions Mare went to JOR La Diva, belonging to José Antonio Onrubia Romero, who also won the Champion of Champions in gait; while the Champion of Champions Gelding was for JRM Legendario, from the Undivided Succession José Risso Matellini. LV Retrato of Ganadera Montecristo won the Champion of Champions Stallion.

All these awards, as well as the closing ceremony, could be appreciated by the whole country through the television coverage offered by TV Peru, the state channel, thanks to the engaged participation of young congresswoman Luciana León, also aficionada to the Peruvian Paso Horse.

Light and Sound

Perhaps the peak during the week of the National was lived during the two nights prior to the Closing. In total, 180 people on stage, 20 musicians, 30 horses, 5 thousand spectators and two hours of intense Peruvian art, gave life to what has been a classic for the past five years: the Gala Night of the Peruvian Paso Horse.

With the name of Light and Sound and this time in charge of the young Folklore Company Perú Expresión, the Gala Night revived passages of the history of our horse as the indisputable main character of the nation’s evolution. Since the arrival of the berebere with the Spanish conquerors, to the Sundays’ open-air band concerts in Lima at the beginning of the 20th century, as well as the fusion of the Andean and European customs, the farm work, the creation of pisco and, of course, the huaynos, tonderos, landós and marineras (all typical Peruvian dances). Individual mention should be given to the special on African people and their liberation from slavery’s yoke, which was displayed halfway through the show.

Three months of rehearsals were not enough to put in practice the summary of 500 years of traditions, but it was worthwhile. “We wanted to put up a show that wouldn’t resemble a Creole party too much, but a show of great scale, of great extent, at the style of the San Remo Festival, with lots of fanfare, more or less like Eva Ayllón usually does in her concerts”, explains Fabricio Varela, general director of Perú Expresión and artistic director of the Gala. Of course, all of this without going to the extreme of abusing of the presence of the PPH, which is the main risk that is posed.

The Gala had two luxury guests. First was, Cecilia Bracamonte who riding a mare and with the rhythm of a woman in love, sang euphorically “José Antonio”, the popular waltz of Chabuca Granda. At the end, like a going away present, she shouted very loudly: “Thanks to everybody. This is the best day of my life”. And the main show was the couple made up by the first voice of Peru, Arturo “El Zambo” Cavero, accompanied by Mr. Oscar Avilés, at the time, the first national guitar. They sang together “Y Se Llama Perú”, that parallel hymn that every proud Peruvian knows by heart.

At the end of the song, riding on a white carriage at the rhythm of the guitar of Aviles, the Zambo Cavero made a gesture to the coachman (“Wait, wait, a moment. Here, here”), to finish the last verse with continental depth, in the center of the central grandstands: “My name is also Peruuuuuuuuu”.

What was the result? Tremendous, touching, lots of tears, the public standing  singing the national anthem in loud voices, fluttering thousands of red and white flags. This was what people needed to at the end of the National; to give ourselves an extra stimulus after the earthquake, particularly because all the money collected during the Gala Night, after expenses, was given away to the victims of the earthquake. What comes for 2008? A lot more excitement. As Mónica Cama, a woman from Lima who had the opportunity to appreciate the PPH for the first time in Mamacona, synthesizes: “Really I can’t believe how wonderful it is and to learn all what we Peruvians can do together”.


For more information on this year's show check out our Events Calendar and for more pictures of last year's Gala, visit our Galleries section.