Vivaldi de Besilu

Photo courtesy of Stunning Steeds
(2010 – )
Owned by The Besilu Connection, Ltd - Benjamin Leon
Inducted: 2021

Photos

Photo courtesy of Stunning Steeds
Photo courtesy of Stunning Steeds
Photo courtesy of Stunning Steeds
Photo courtesy of Stunning Steeds
Vivaldi de Besilu (Bribon de San Isidro x La Ley de Cuatro G, Mandato de La Luisa) is regarded as one of the most exciting stallion prospects of the modern Paso Fino era. Vivaldi de Besilu's impeccable breeding, incredibly good looks, powerful body and fantastic temperament allied with his athleticism makes Vivaldi a dream horse among Paso Finos.

Born with a gait unique to the breed and considered among the smoothest riding horses in the world, the origin of "Los Caballos de Paso Fino" - the horses with the fine step - goes back to the Spanish conquistadors. It wasn't until the mid 1940's, when American servicemen came into contact with the stunning Paso Fino horse while stationed in Puerto Rico, that the first Paso Finos were imported into the United States.

Vivaldi, born in 2010, is following in the footsteps of his sire Bribon de San Isidro, also a Champion at the top level. Bribon, a top producer of Classic Fino offspring, was on the Paso Fino Horse Association's (PFHA) Top 10 Sires list for eight consecutive years from 2012 through 2019. Also on his sire's side is Amadeus de Resorte Cuarto, regarded as one of the most influential breeding stallions from Colombia with more than 1900 offspring. Amadeus de Resorte Cuarto was named Fuera de Concurso, Campeon de Campeones, Mejor Jefe de Raza and Mejor Caballo del Ano (for five consecutive years) in Colombia, as well as Top 10 Sire for PFHA for many years. His dam's sire, Mandato de La Luisa, a top producer, appeared on the PFHA Top 10 Sire's list in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 and was sire of well-known Patrimonio del Ocho.

Vivaldi's owner, The Besilu Collection, began developing the breed in 1982, importing a group of horses from the Dominican Republic. Their goal was to improve the quality of the Paso Fino breed and produce the ultimate modern Paso Fino horse, by introducing conformation, power, athleticism, speed, nobility and naturalness in the Paso Fino Gait. They have since produced an impressive group of some of the winningest horses of the Paso Fino breed.

Vivaldi de Besilu's foals are no exception and have already shown promising natural movement. Vivaldi is expected to be a strong sire for the Paso Fino breed.

Vivaldi's trainer, Eliecer Guzman, describes him as a true showman saying, "He loves the show ring. I strongly believe Vivaldi knows when he has won. He especially loves all of the attention. Also when he is given vacation time at the farm, after a while he appears sad. He perks right up when he is in training and gets excited to see us preparing the trailer to head to the shows." He thrives on the excitement of the arena and loves the attention that comes from a competition environment.

Accomplishments early on in his career include 2014 National Champion 4 year Colt and 2015 Reserve Grand National Champion Stallion. Vivaldi also claimed the 2017 XIII Mundial 1st Place Paso Fino Stallion in Bogota, Colombia, and the 2019 XIV Mundial 3rd Place Stallion in San Juan, Puerto Rico. One highlight of his career was competing against his own sire Bribon de San Isidro at the Ocala Summer Festival and winning the Grand Champion title.

Vivaldi de Besilu made Paso Fino history at the 2020 Paso Fino Horse Association's Grand National Show when he was crowned Grand National Champion Fino Stallion for the fifth consecutive time, making him the winningest Grand Champion in the competition's history. This remarkable achievement broke the previous record of four consecutive wins in the division, held by Capuchino since 1987.

Earlier in the year, Vivaldi de Besilu was inducted into the Spectrum International Hall of Fame after his outstanding performance at the competition in Miami, Florida. He won the Spectrum International's Fino Stallion 7+ Years class and was crowned Grand Champion Fino Colt/Stallion for the second year in a row.

The culmination of his 2020 achievements was the announcement that Vivaldi was named a National Horse of Honor by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) - the first Paso Fino ever to be recognized for this top honor.