Meet Stella

Stella and Ventaje del Reino Biography

Stella Manberg-Wise, upon completing a Masters thesis on Equine Locomotion,discovered Paso Fino horse,
and bought her first, over 30 years ago (a PR son of Cupido).

She has been involved full-time since 1979 in breeding, training, researching, drawing, writing published articles, consulting and giving educational clinics on balanced riding (Riding in Harmony), training using dressage principles, and gait and above all, loving the breed - ever since.

Besides founding one of the Regional Chapters of the Paso Fino Horse Assn (Mason-Dixon), she organized and chaired many successful Paso Fino horse shows, including the first in the state of Maryland, the first all-Spanish breed show in the US; contributed most of the illustrations in the national association rule book, and has held various regional offices, from president to director on the national board.

Although always just a small breeder, she was owner of 4 time Top Ten Sire Favorito que tal, known for his outstanding largo & producer of numerous National and Grand National Champions in Pleasure and Performance; a 2 time Reserve National Champion Dam; and has produced numerous Nationals placed horses (and High Point Endurance) over two decades, mostly Pleasure and Bellas Formas, including 4 in 2001. The aim of her program has always been to produce a top quality, versatile all-around horse with a wide range of gait speeds, a long-term personal companion enjoyable and successful in a wide range of equestrian pursuits.

Previously a teacher, she most enjoys sharing her knowledge and consulting with newcomer riders and breeders on the many attributes and unique aspects of the breed, especially characteristics and preservation of the naturalness of the Paso Fino gait.

How It All Started

It all started with pony rides in very early childhood; I spent the first twenty years of my riding life taking lessons, learning and exploring every riding discipline-western, dressage, hunt seat, saddleseat, galloping racehorses, and even driving. I've always had an interest with the different ways horses could move, how and why, and the influence of both nature, environmental factors, and the rider. By the time I was in my late teens, I was already working part-time professionally, but working around horses regularly and voluntarily, just to gain more experience and riding time between lessons was something I'd grown up with, not having a horse of my own. This continued throughout college and graduate school, as I'd have to call myself a perpetual student, even today!

I was having a hard time deciding which breed I'd eventually like to own myself, because while it's certainly nice to be paid to ride someone else's horses, it can be painful to become attached to someone else's. To me, that bond is one of the most rewarding aspects of the human-horse relationship. I was favoring the gaited breeds, but preferred the natural horses, which, in the northeast at the time, were few and far between. It wasn't until I was on vacation in Florida in 1975, after completing my Masters thesis, "Equine Locomotion: Visual Perception vs. Reality," that I discovered the Paso Fino - one trail ride is all it took to make a decision. Certainly, in light of my interest in gait, I felt driven to explore the possibilities of this unique gaited breed, so new in the US at the time. I found myself coming home from vacation with Cupidito (above), a 3 year old colt! And that was only the beginning of the adventure...

I consider these next 26 years one long research project in breeding and training, trying to preserve the natural aspects of gait thru educated breeding, as well as developing ways of riding and training just as naturally. While I initially intended to raise and train my own horses for pleasure, the opportunity to train others added to my understanding of bloodlines, conformation and gait, and by 1979 I quit my teaching job to work with Paso Finos full-time. Over the years, my intense interest in refining my understanding of natural gait has included working periodically with other breeds of gaited horses, including Walkers, Racking Horses, Saddlebreds, Missouri Foxtrotters, and Spotted Saddle Horses...kind of, "comparative work," to gain better perspective of similarities and differences. differences.

Great Rewards Stella and Favorito que tal

I have had the proud pleasure of
owning a 4 time Top Ten Sire,
Favorito que tal,producer of
numerous National and Grand
National Champions; recipient of numerous Championships, High Point awards, and Nationals placements with my stock,including 4 this past year, although the focus has always been to produce a top all-around horse with versatile gait capabilities, not necessarily a "show horse."

Regardless of what recreational activity we choose to do with our horses, we all share the goals of developing our understanding and communication skills with these wonderful equines to work together in as perfect harmony as possible...which to me, brings the greatest rewards of all.