Fortaleza Ranch is the base for Oscar Quijandria, trainer of Peruvian Pasos. Oscar began training in the 1970s as a young apprentice to Hugo Nieto Suarez, of Ica, Peru. There he learned the traditional, classical way of training these magnificent horses, with their smooth, four-beat gait and wonderful temperaments. He also was part of that breeding program which has produced dozens of champion hor
ses in Peru. Oscar came to the USA in 2000, and began working for ranches and breeders of Peruvians in New Mexico and California. Since then, he has trained numerous show horses, including many Champion of Champions, as well as horses for trail and recreation. In 2014, he branched out on his own, with his wife Carol, to found OCQ Peruvians, and to purchase the property that is now Fortaleza Ranch. Here is where you will find gentle, classical training of the Peruvian horse, in a way that emphasizes perfect control while experiencing the immense pleasure of riding a horse with "brio" - the energy that propels Peruvians to be one of the most enjoyable, and, dare we say, least boring rides! At Fortaleza Ranch, we offer the classical Peruvian training with calm and gentleness. Horses trained here are soft in the mouth, responsive, and fine tuned to show off their wonderful gait. Oscar is also pleased to take on any problem horse that perhaps has gotten off to a rocky start. We also offer tune-ups and complete training, from halter to being finished in the bit. We offer reasonable boarding with the best personalized care for all breeds, as well as training and boarding packages. Boarding for all horses are in 24 x 24 ft corrals, with shelters, auto waters, and quality hay. Amenities include round pen, arena area, tack room, restroom, fridge, and trails are accessible right off the property. If you've never ridden a Peruvian, we would be honored to show you what you've been missing. If you own a Peruvian, you owe it to yourself to have quality training.
