Congratulations to new owners of Mangalarga Marchadors here in the Southwest! All great horse homes!
Valarie Giacalone, UT has purchased an SW Future Foal frozen embryo from Azenha de Maripa x La Paz Jivago (pictured left). She made history when it took! This will be the first Marchador foal produced from a frozen embryo in the U.S.! It will be born in May 2013. If it is a filly, the mare will be named Harlequin do Summerwind and if it’s a male, Hemingway do Summerwind. Both Valarie and son Chris traveled here to Colorado (in August, after the breeding) to meet and ride the Marchadors and this is what Valarie wrote: If anyone was wondering, these horses are so much more magnificient in person than in their wonderful pictures! They could not be more perfect, and Chris and I are thrilled beyond words to be part of this family!
Debra Rowley, Dallas TX has purchased Flying Oaks Pegasus. In a joint effort between Flying Oaks Ranch and SW Future Foal, the copper-bay gelding was sent to Ned Leigh of Ned Leigh Equine Focus, my equine transporter and horse trainer extraordinaire. After she lost her mare, Debra has been searching for a versatile horse that she can depend on and thinks Pegasus will be that guy. Pegasus is a 3 year old, but has been climbing the ladder of experience with Ned to do long rides, water crossings, lateral work and will continue on with Ned with some specifics from Debra before heading to TX. Ned says he is so light that he is a joy to ride. Great gait too!
Oma de Maripa
Adrienne Scheck, Scottsdale AZ has reserved the Future Foal of Brasilia do Summerwind and Oma de Maripa! Anyone who has met these 2 parents knows what a special horse this will be! We couldn’t be more excited. Expected late October or early November, code-named Genghis-Khan do Summerind (Adrienne has not picked new names), he/she will be a Mangalarga Marchador! Power! With a smooth and cadenced marcha batida gait, it will be a horse that can perform well at any discipline. And Beautiful! The first OMA foal in the U.S.! SW has retained the breeding rights for the future, whether the foal be male or female, so it will be a shared day of joy for all of us!
Congratulations on getting your very first Marchador horse!!!!
Two very special SW Future Foals remain available for reservation. We guarantee our foals! Expect to be IMPRESSED!!!!
#1 To be born 2/2013 in AZ: Hermes do Summerwind (code name, you would get to name the foal if you decide to reserve it.) The product of Azenha de Maripa, imported MM mare and Ximoio de Maripa, still in Brasil. This will be our sport horse foal in the true tradition of Agro Maripa! Ground covering marcha batida! Add the bonus of the most beautiful features in the head and neck. Almost pure Abaiba bloodlines, this foal will be the one that people will stop to watch. Before it is born, I am predicting it may be the most beautiful Marchador in America.
Reserve Hermes for $15,000 or reserve the foal in condominium with SW Future Foal for $10,000. We are interested in future foals or breeding rights in exchange for the reduction in price.
#2 To be born 3/2013 in NC: Hallelujah do Summerwind (code name, you would get to name the foal if you decide to reserve it.) The product of Elba Cruzalta (Bella), imported MM mare and La Paz Jivago, imported MM stallion. This foal will be a full brother to Tigre do Summerwind, a striped dun, who is still everyone’s sweetheart. This foal will be pure pleasure, laid back, so smooth, but still athletic, a marcha picada or marcha de centro gait.
Reserve Hallelujah and sing Hallelujah for a great price – $6,500. (U.S. Parents)
Please visit the mare and stallion pages for more information about the parents and for more photos and videos.. We would be delighted to talk to you in depth about the Future Foal program, what we offer and if this approach would be right for you!
SW Future Foal offers a 10% appreciation discount on any product to our current SW Future Foal customers and to any Marchador breeder.
There are many reasons to visit Brazil! But the best reason is for their horses! Did you know that Brazil is #4 in numbers of horses? (The U.S. is #1) I go for the Mangalarga Marchador – the National Horse of Brazil.
And to have fun! Brazil’s people have a great sense of humor and warmth. And passion, especially about their soccer and their horses! They are very serious breeders with some families having many generations in horses. Some of the original bloodlines and farms are still working – after two centuries!
Ever been? Take a look. The song is about Minas Gerais (General Mines), the mountainous state in the south of Brazil where the photos were taken.
In July, I traveled alone, and in July there is only one choice for me – the National Mangalarga Marchador Exposition in Belo Horizonte, MG. Why? Because everyone is there!
The ABCCMM (Brazilian Marchador Breeders Association) holds the MM National Show every year in July for 11 days. To participate in these championships 1.500 Marchador horses and their riders from all over Brazil travel to Belo Horizonte. All of the horses have to qualify to come by winning in several regional competitions. At the National Show, you can see the top Mangalarga Marchadors of Brazil in one place, at one time. It is like a candy store for the eyes.
The Marcha competition in front of the Judge’s Lounge (Arbitros)
In Brazil, the land of endless spaces and great distances, special emphasis is placed on the Marchadors’ natural gait, for which they were named, called the MARCHA. There are 2 championships given in each age and sex category – Champion of the Marcha and Overall Champion. For the overall Champion, there are three parts and the scores are combined to determine the winner:
Conformation
Marcha
Functional Test
All three parts can be going on at the same time for the big ring. The Marcha tests are carried out on the outside – an oval track, very similar to a race track with the horses moving at a good speed. There are separate classes for Marcha Picada and Marcha Batida. The horses move at a constant pace for 40 to 60 minutes. The breed is known for endurance and the gait is tested to ensure it holds up over long distances.
The judging is SO different.
One of the 5 judges of the Marcha competition and the independent auditor.
Overall, there are about 30 judges present for the entire eleven days, and they are long days, from early morning until after midnight! There are five judges evaluating the marcha competition . Each judge is accompanied by an independent person, from an auditing company. That person is the one who marks the notes and the scores from the judge he is with. While the class in going on, the judges cannot talk to each other, only to the auditor.
Each judge rides every horse in the class! The Brazilians love to have other people, even strangers test drive their prize horses. However, in this case, the judge is checking the temperament of the Marchador as well as the gait. The gait is judged on many aspects, not just the smoothness. These are:
Gesture – the front leg lifts and forms a C
Comfort
Style
Length of stride
Regularity
The Functional Test includes obstacles like jumps and barrels and requires walk, gait, canter, backing and lateral work.
The functional test part of the class was added four years ago by the ABCCMM to test the temperament, the versatility and the overall training of the horse and rider. The fuctional test is similar to Working Equitation or a Trail Class, with obstacles like a gate, poles, barrels and jumps, performed in a pattern in specific gaits for each obstacle.
This year, I got to stand with the judge during the Functional Test to learn more about the judging and point system. What a thrill! We run this Functional Test in a simplified version here in the U.S. with our Marchador horses.
After every class champion is named, there are final classes to name the CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS. All of the different age champions compete against each other (male and female are in different groups). The Champion of Champions this year was from a breeder I know, so I was as proud as he was when the name was called.
Oma de Maripa in front of the Agro Maripa booth with me and Marcelo Baptista, owner and breeder.
There is the general festive atmosphere and much to do at the National Show. At night, there are bands playing and serious horse auctions. Sometimes the Marchador is for sale (100% or 50%), but also breedings and embryos go for high prices. During the day, in other arenas, there are sporting events like pole bending, team penning and barrels. The big breeders have booths where they display their awards and their horses. The vendors are selling food, drink, saddles and more! If you see a Marchador you like, chances, are you can ask to take it for a test drive!
It was a whirlwind trip, but the ABCCMM makes it a memorable one every time. I would love to share it with you, for real.
Do you need a reason to go – here are my top 5! Mark your calendars!
November 2012 – Marchador Fest! Marchador Museum Grand Opening!
February 2013 – Carnaval in Rio! Featuring the Mangalarga Marchador!
July 2013 – National Mangalarga Marchador Exposition!
2014 – Soccer World Cup!
2016 – Summer Olympics!
The Marchador is the feature for Carnaval in 2013!
Nasci no sertão mineiro
Apesar de caipira pobre, eu descendo de nobre
Fui criado no cerrado, pra lidar com gado
Pra percorrer distâncias
Aprendi a marchar
Pro meu dono não se cansar
I was born in the farmlands of MinasEven though born to as a poor farm horse, I descend from noblityI was raised in the cerrado, to deal with livestockTo cover distancesI learned to marchSo that my owner does not get tired Sou Mangalarga Marchador
Aquele que as margens do Ipiranga
Montava o imperador.
Sou Mangalarga Marchador
Em toda história do Brasil estou.
I am Mangalarga MarchadorThat the banks of the Ipiranga (river)I carried the emperor.I Am Mangalarga MarchadorThroughout the history of Brazil, I am. Tenho fôlego de gato
Eu resisto ao carrapato
Sou manso como um cordeiro
I am cat-likeI resist the tickI am meek as a lamb Como um raio sou ligeiro
Sou cavalo da parteira
Sou cavalo sem fronteira
E só tenho uma intenção
Servir a todos sem distinção.
As fast as lightning , I amI’m a horse midwifeI’m a horse without bordersAnd I have only one intentionTo serve everyone without distinction. Sou Mangalarga Marchador
Aquele que entre altos e baixos
Sempre lhe apoiou
Sou Mangalarga Marchador
Em todo estouro de boiada estou.
I am Mangalarga MarchadorI travel high and lowWith always one foot on the groundI Am Mangalarga MarchadorIn herds that overflow.
We’ve met our goal! We wanted to create a frozen semen bank of superior Mangalarga Marchador stallions from Brasil. We felt that this would be good for the genetic diversity of the Marchador breed here in North America and also could help us to keep or improve our breed quality. Many of these superior stallions would never have been sold, but we can get access to their semen through modern reproductive technology!
If you have never used frozen semen, please contact us to learn more. We’d be happy to help you find a breeding vet in your area and see if your mare is a good candidate for using frozen semen. Success rates are often just as high as any AI using cooled semen.
Here is our offering! Frozen semen only.
Oma de Maripa, quite possibly the most beautiful Marchador. Owned by Agro Maripa Intl, SW has frozen semen.
$1000 One insemination dose of frozen semen, no guarantee. Second dose $500 if 1st dose is not successful, or if vet wants to use the 2 dose insemination system. Buyer pays shipping container costs both ways.
$1500 + $ Live Foal Guarantee option. Two insemination doses of Oma’s frozen semen. If frozen semen fails to produce a pregnancy, a breeding to an ABCCMM registered, imported Marchador stallion in the US via cooled semen provides the guarantee. Buyer pays shipping costs for containers and collection costs for cooled semen.
$1000 One insemination dose of frozen semen, no guarantee. Second dose $500 if 1st dose is not successful, or if vet wants to use the 2 dose insemination system.
$1500 +$ Live Foal Guarantee option. Two insemination doses of frozen semen. If frozen semen fails to produce a pregnancy, a breeding to an ABCCMM registered, imported Marchador stallion in the US via cooled semen provides the guarantee. Buyer pays shipping costs for containers and collection costs for cooled semen.
$750 One insemination dose, no guarantee. Buyer pays shipping container costs both ways. Second dose $500 if 1st dose is not successful, or if vet wants to use the 2 dose insemination system. Buyer pays shipping container costs both ways.
$1250 + $ Live Foal Guarantee option. 2 insemination doses of frozen semen. If frozen semen fails to produce a pregnancy, a breeding to an ABCCMM registered, imported Marchador stallion in the US via cooled semen provides the guarantee. Buyer pays shipping costs for containers and collection costs for cooled semen.
SW Future Foal offers a 10% discount to all SW Future Foal customers and also to any MM breeder.
SW Future Foal will continue to add stallions to the semen bank whenever possible. Please check back to see if more stallions are available.
Good friends trying some drill basics at Summerwind.
A group of us have talked about forming an all-Marchador drill team. We’ve had fun while we are together. BUT, as you know, not many of us are in the same location which makes our “team” much more difficult. So, the idea is to start practicing as individuals or however many Marchadors we can assemble. If we can learn the manuevers, we can look for venues to get together.
Here is an article and some pdf files that show the components of a drilll. Practice with any of your riding partners so you and your Marchador get to know them and we will work on putting together a routine! Look for venues and to connect with other Marchador owners in your area!
Excerpt from the horsechannel.com Illustrations by Tom Kimball
Joining a drill team for competition or pleasure can add a new dimension to your riding. All you need to get started is a dedicated group of riders with willing horses and somewhere to practice. Print out these drill formations for your team to try out. Good luck!
Straight Line Abreast This is one of the most basic drill maneuvers. Riders line their horses up side-by-side with saddle horns in a row. The exercise starts at a walk with a lot of space in between horses. As horses and riders become more comfortable, the space between them can be decreased and the speed increased. If this is too overwhelming at first, the exercise can be completed with two riders and horses in the formation, then eventually four, et cetera.
Nose to Tail While the straight line abreast maneuver accustoms horses and riders to riding side-by-side, the nose-to-tail exercise lines the team up front to back. This can be done along the rail or in a serpentine around the arena.
Pairing Up Everyone rides single-file down the centerline, and as they reach the end of the arena, the first rider and horse turn left. The second rider and horse turn right, and so on. When these two lines meet at the centerline again, riders and their horses pair up and continue riding.
90-Degree Turn or Flank Turn Riding single-file along the rail, riders turn their horses to the center of the arena at the same time, transitioning from riding nose-to-tail to riding abreast. When they reach the other side of the arena, they turn in the opposite direction so they are riding nose-to-tail again.
Mini Sweep Everyone rides along the rail of the arena in an oblique pattern: Looking at it from the side, each horse’s nose should be in line with the knee of the rider in front of it.
Pinwheel Two riders stand their horses side-by-side in the center of the arena, facing opposite directions. The others line up alongside, facing the same direction as their center, or pivot, rider. Then the whole formation rotates around the two pivot riders, who circle their horses in place. Everyone must ride a little faster than the rider to his or her inside to keep the line straight.
Full Team Crack Riders and horses line up in the oblique pattern, and everyone moves around one pivot rider and horse in the center of the arena. Again, everyone placed outside of center rides a little faster to keep the line moving straight.
Single File Cross Half of the team rides single-file down the centerline of the arena while the second half rides across the arena, perpendicular to the other line. The lines alternate crossing the center and make a cross pattern. The more advanced version of this is to ride a cross in pairs, so each rider and horse crosses two lines of traffic while passing through the center.
Figure Eight The team rides a continuous figure-eight, and horses and riders cross paths in the middle. The challenge here is to maintain equally sized circles on both sides of the figure.
Interlocking Circles Instead of riding in a figure-eight, there are two separate circles that intertwine at the center.
Valarie Giacalone, UT has purchased an SW Future Foal frozen embryo from Azenha de Maripa x La Paz Jivago (pictured left). She made history when it took! This will be the first Marchador foal produced from a frozen embryo in the U.S.! It will be born in May 2013. If it is a filly, the mare will be named Harlequin do Summerwind and if it’s a male, Hemingway do Summerwind. Both Valarie and son Chris traveled here to Colorado (in August, after the breeding) to meet and ride the Marchadors and this is what Valarie wrote: If anyone was wondering, these horses are so much more magnificient in person than in their wonderful pictures! They could not be more perfect, and Chris and I are thrilled beyond words to be part of this family!
