Discovering the Paint Horse: Interview with Claudia Chiandetti, President of the Paint Horse Club Italia
At FieraCavalli Verona 2025 we met Claudia Chiandetti, President of the Paint Horse Club Italia, an association founded in 1987 to promote the selection, breeding, and culture of the American Paint Horse—one of the most distinctive and recognizable horse breeds in the world.
Chiandetti welcomes us with a smile in the Club’s official booth, surrounded by horses showcasing the spectacular coat patterns that define the breed. “Our goal,” she explains, “is to share and enhance the value of the Paint Horse—a versatile, reliable, and historically rich animal.”
“The Paint was born as a working horse, but in Italy it is used in many disciplines today”
Often associated with the wide-open spaces of the American West, the Paint Horse is traditionally a working ranch horse, accustomed to movement, livestock, and constantly changing environments.
“Here in Italy,” Chiandetti tells us, “the Paint maintains that vocation. It’s a strong, calm, trustworthy horse that doesn’t scare easily and knows how to move safely across different types of terrain. This nature makes it perfect even for trail riding—a horse you can truly rely on.”
Beyond ranch work and trekking, the Paint also plays an important role in sporting competitions and official shows.
Morphology, performance, and versatility: the three ‘souls’ of the Paint Horse
One of the greatest strengths of the breed is its versatility. Chiandetti describes the three main categories:
1. Halter (Morphology) Paints
“These horses have impressive structure: they are large, heavily muscled, and built to highlight beauty. Halter competitions evaluate proportion, muscle mass, and coat quality. Here at FieraCavalli we see many of them—always a thrilling sight.”
2. Performance Horses
More athletic and lighter than halter horses, these are shaped for sport.
“They have specific athletic abilities. In performance classes—such as Trail Horse, Showmanship, or Western Riding—precision and harmony between horse and rider are judged by national and international judges. These events allow the horse to earn points within the American association, increasing its value.”
3. The Trail/Leisure Paint
For riders who want a trustworthy companion for outdoor riding:
“It’s a rustic, sturdy, and balanced horse. Less ‘extreme’ than the halter type and less athletic than the performance type, it still maintains the harmonious lines of the breed. It’s an ideal partner for anyone who enjoys nature with peace of mind.”
Tobiano, Overo, Tovero: when the coat becomes art
The Paint Horse’s coat patterns are one of its most iconic traits.
“The Tobiano pattern is the most common: a white base with colored patches—bay, chestnut, black, and more.
The Overo pattern has a darker base with more irregular, sharply defined white markings, sometimes with the ‘frame’ pattern.
The Tovero combines characteristics of both. Each horse is unique—no two Paints are the same.”
This richness of color is so central to the breed that in halter competitions, the coat is highlighted and evaluated almost like a living artwork.
Conclusion: a breed that wins hearts
Claudia Chiandetti speaks of the Paint Horse with contagious passion. Surrounded by the spectacular horses in the booth, it’s easy to understand why this American breed continues to win the hearts of breeders and enthusiasts in Italy.
“The Paint truly is a horse for everyone,” she concludes. “It can be beautiful, athletic, strong, and reliable all at once. It’s not just an athlete—it’s a life companion.”
Valentina Sozzi
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