Hacienda
Guadalupe
Horse Consulting Service
Hacienda Guadalupe specializes in Paso Fino horses
By Marilyn Rodriguez
(Originally Printed in The
Horse Country News
January 30, 2002)
Located in the heart of Miami's horse country, the Hacienda Guadalupe
horse ranch is the proud owner of last year's Paso Fino world champion,
222. Bred and trained at the ranch owned by the Sanz family, the horse
has won numerous competitions. At just nine years old, 222 has already
been named one of the top 10 sires in the country, has received first
place and won the grand championship in the Classic Paso Fino Category,
and has obtained the Get of Sire Award in the U.S. in both 1998 and
2000.
The Paso Fino, a mixture of three European breeds, is known for its
smooth gait. It was introduced into the new world by the Spanish Conquistadors
and brought to the United States in the 1940s.

The The Sanz family (l-r) Ernie, Maritere, Ernesto, Rosa,
Shelly and Gema
have, according to many horse enthusiants, some of the best horses in
the country
The Paso Fino is characterized by its elegance, loyalty, power, spirit
and grace. Its exceptionally smooth four-beat gait makes it an ideal
horse for pleasure riding, particularly for beginners. Paso Fino horses
have been in the Sanz family for four generations.
Ernesto Sanz Jr., national senior certified judge for the Paso Fino
Horse Association and co-owner of the Hacienda Guadalupe ranch with
his father, has been in the horse business most of his life. The Sanz
family tradition began in Cuba, where his grandfather owned a ranch
with about 25 horses. Later, in Puerto Rico, the tradition continued
with another horse ranch owned by his father. Sanz' passion for riding
began when he was two years old, when he would go riding with his dad
in Puerto Rico. He began his professional career at 16, shortly after
gaining his riding license."This is a passion I have," said
Sanz. "All aspects - the riding, the breeding - it is a blessing
to be able to do it as a business."Continuing the family tradition,
the Sanz began the Santa Barbara ranch in 1980 after moving to Miami.

(Left to right) Michael, Mathew and
Jonathan take off a few minutes
and strike a pose.
They started the Hacienda Guadalupe ranch, at 6401 SW 125 Ave., nearly
17 years ago with 25 horses."Our goal is to produce champion horses,"
said Sanz. "That is what we breed and strive for."Currently,
there are about 120 Paso Fino horses on the property, 70 of them owned
by the Sanz family. The ranch sprawls across seven-and-half acres and
on the southeast corner of 125th Avenue and 64th Street. There are 45
stalls and five acres dedicated to horses in pasture. A training round
is also on the property. Stable hands, a trainer assistant and a blacksmith
are all members of a knowledgeable staff hired by Sanz for their talent
and qualifications.
Several veterinarians visit the ranch regularly to ensure that all
the horses are in optimal health."I have a passion for the Paso
Fino that started when I was very young," said Sanz. "I was
riding by the time I was two and it was what I liked doing best."Although
he is no longer directly involved with the training, Sanz oversees the
five on-site trainers.Aside from training and selling Paso Fino horses,
the Hacienda Guadalupe offers several other services, including boarding,
buyer education, consulting and appraisal, import services, show transportation
and client exhibition. The farm's breeding service includes an embryo
transfer program with 30 mares on site, as well as the selling of semen
for mare insemination.

Max rides his Paso Fino
Moreover, Gema Sanz, the youngest Sanz sibling, offers riding lessons
to horse aficionados of all ages.Although there are no current vacancies
for horse boarding, boarding fees are about $350 month, a price that
includes feed, hay, watering, bedding, stall and cleaning. Prices for
a horse span a broad range. A pleasure riding Paso Fino starts at about
$2,500, while a champion Paso Fino could cost from $20,000 to more than
$1 million.A family owned and operated business, everyone shares the
same passion for horses. Sanz Sr. and his wife Rosa host family night
every Friday. They ride together with their four children, Ernie, Maritere,
Shelly and Gema and their 11 grandchildren."It is good to see the
family in it," said Sanz. "We all share the same passion for
the horse."For more information, please call 305-596-0704 or address
email to e.sanz@222fino.com
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Hacienda Guadalupe
6401 Southwest
125 Avenue
Miami, Florida 33183
Toll Free: 1-800-2-Two-Two (1-800-289-6896)
Office Phone: 305-596-0704
Fax: 305-596-3253
Email: esanz@222fino.com
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