Category Archives: Events

SIlver stables Summer Camp

August 27, 2023 summerwind

At Summerwind Ranch, Pagosa Springs CO

Kids and Marchadors are a recipe for success, fun and lots of learning! Led by D.j. Sims Klein – who sometimes covered more miles than the horses did. The camps ran 3 mornings each week for July and August here in Pagosa Springs Colorado.

Many children were brand new to horses and young! The youngest this year was 6 years old. Some were returning again. The kids, parents and grandparents love the whole experience and thank us repeatedly for making it possible.

We use only Mangalarga Marchador horses for lessons. One boy smiled broadly when he found Caboclo da Piedade was going to be his lesson horse again this year. He said “I wanted him and was afraid he would be dead”. (Caboclo is 24)

Quotes to remember:
“I love this mare – she doesn’t like boys and neither do I”. “I have acorns in my pants” (aker riding the trails)

How they love the horses! They braid the manes and tails. They bring treats to feed. Some even brought extra treats to leave as a surprise for later in the feed buckets. They don’t want to leave to go home.

Their joy is contagious. Determination and courage are evident and every students confidence grew by the hour.

The Marchadors are unbelievably kind and patient with the fumbles, unclear direction, and little people who have to stand on tip-toe to groom their mount.

D.j teaches horsemanship, not just riding. The camp kids go get their own horse from the pasture, get them ready to ride, learn ground work, how to mount and then to ride. At the end, they do the reverse operation, sometimes ending in a favorite activity – a horse bath! They are very serious about learning.

We are very serious about sharing and teaching children. They are our future.

Some photos from the camps – July and August

Education, Events

MAY INSPECTION AND CLINIC

June 6, 2023 summerwind

May 2023 ABCCMM InspecMon Visit and Clinic – Arizona

Dr. George Vilar traveled to the US to hold ABCCMM inspections planned in Phoenix, ScoHsdale and Sedona AZ. Sandwiched in on Sunday was a joint ABCCMM/USMMA clinic on Sunday.

May 21 – Inspection in Phoenix and ScoHsdale May 22 – Clinic in Phoenix
May 23 – Inspection in Sedona

We had a great weekend! All MM horses passed! 6 preliminary inspections and 1 definitive inspection.

Galante do Lucero – 13 yo buckskin gelding
Paloma do Summerwind – almost 2 yo palomino/grey filly
Que-Pasa de Harvest Meadows, yearling bay colt
Querida do Summerwind – 7 month old black tobiano filly
Rae do Summerwind – 7 month old black tobiano file
Remington do Summerwind – 8 day old buckskin colt
Rhapsody do Summerwind – month old buckskin filly

ABCCMM Inspec;on part 1 – PROVISIONAL. ABCCMM-eligible foals get inspected for genetic defects, whorls, markings and color recorded, hair is pulled for DNA Parental Verification and the last step is microchipping. Foals must pass this inspection to be eligible for the next inspection – part 2.

ABCCMM Inspection part 2 – DEFINITIVE. Adult horses – Galante do Lucero -the only one in this visit – they get inspected for conformation, many measurements and angles recorded, and height. Then under saddle they are judged for quality and the marcha gait. In both parts of the inspection, they are also judged for temperament – calmness, docility, willingness etc.

Only MM horses that pass the ABCCMM inspection are registered in the ABCCMM breeding books and they can produce ABCCMM progeny. (The USMMA registry is a Parental and DNA based registry without inspections).

On Sunday, the clinic was taught by Dr. George Vilar, ABCCMM technician, judge and clinician. It was training needed for the Mangalarga Marchador from youth to under saddle. Ground work included many common exercises but with more emphasis on the legs working independently to enable the disassocia;on needed in the gait.

Under saddle, the ground work was repeated as a warm- up for the horse – relaxing, stretching and bending. Then under saddle, the focus changed to transitions with the canter being used as a method to get the rider and the horse used to speed and impulsion.

The speed was used as a indication of how fast the horse should/might move in the marcha gait, but not allowed to move into the canter.

All the riders and horses did great, although in the heat, everyone was tired quickly. We followed the clinic with food and a social time for everyone to talk there. There are many new Marchador owners and USMMA members in AZ so George also used the time to explain and show the ABCCMM online registration system.

We had a professional photographer, so more photos may be coming and also captured the whole session on video. We hope to edit and condense the video and share it with all members.

Thank you Dr. George Vilar for coming and the wonderful, professional service you always bring. Thanks to all the USMMA who participated In the clinic and who honor the tradition of the ABCCMM registration and inspection process. We all learn something every time.

Events, SW News

DECEMBER SHOW Scottsdale

October 5, 2022 summerwind

Join us at Westworld, Scottsdale AZ on December 9, 10 and 11! It’s the Working Equitation Regional Finals, more info on that on their website.

Westworld will be host to several horse shows that weekend, so many arenas going, many things to see and do. And holiday or horse shopping!

Summerwind Marchadors is a show sponsor, and we will have a booth at the show all weekend. Please stop by! The USMMA, the Marchador association will also be represented well by the USMMA Southwest Region and USMMA breeders.

You can meet a Marchador and many Marchador people gathered there to show, to man the booth or to that come to cheer. Head for an arena or barn to see the horses! A fun way to spend the day.

December 9th – Dressage

December 10th – Ease of Handling

December 11th – Speed and Cattle Trial

For more information on the show, directions and updates, please visit the Western Zone Working Equitation website.

Education, Events, SW News

July Summer Camps

July 31, 2022 summerwind

Taught and managed by D.j. Sims of Silver Stables, but using Summerwind Marchador horses mostly. This year a few people brought up their horses up for camp too! It was a full month of three-day events with kids that were experienced riders and kids that sometimes had little or no experience. We had one group from Arizona, and the others were “locals” – either vacationing or living here in Pagosa Springs.

Marchador horses and kids go together!

Thanks to D.j. and Elizabeth Sims for the time and effort into planning, driving, teaching and doing all the other activities that went into another success.

Here are some photos from the camps! The horses and the kids were awesome!!! Summerwind Marchadors used were Artemis do Summerwind, Caboclo da Piedade, Caesar do Summerwind, Hawke do Summerwind, Koyote Libertas. Joining us from Arizona were Fidalgo do Summerwind, Sabela da Tranquility, and Topsy, a very cute pony.