While the main reason for holding the clinic was our education, the format was fun and exciting. Evaluations by the judges was very informative and helpful. We did learn a LOT! Thank you Kate and Tiago!
A blue ribbon for Connie and Leo!
The Trail Ride – 1st place went to Aline Greene of Saint Horse Marchadors, SC on Erva-Doce de Tesouro.
Conformation and Marcha – 1st place stallion to Bill and Sandy Kambic of Haras Lucero, TN with Ritmo A.J.
1st place mare to Bill and Sandy Kambic of Haras Lucero, TN with Aliane Fazenda Zouga. Aliane was bred in Brazil by Rick Schatz, then Fazenda Zouga, now in the U.S. breeding as Flying Oaks Ranch, OK who also was at the clinic.
1st place gelding to Connie Claire, our clinic organizer, of Ocala, FL with Leo, aka DaVinci do Summerwind, bred by us.
Jeff showing his winning form on Bacara! Whew - it was close!
Functional Test – 1st place won by Jeff Bosley of SW Future Foal @ Lumber Bridge on his mare, Bacara do Summerwind, bred by us.
For many participants, this was the first time they had ever done this! The riders and horses were learning fast, but there was only time for one run.
Grand Champion – Combining all of the scores over all three days, this was awarded to Jeff Bosley of SW Future Foal @ Lumber Bridge with Bacara do Summerwind.
Almost every person and horse earned a ribbon! There were quite a few Marchadors just started under saddle so we were all impressed by how well they behaved. As Tiago would say “You can see, this is a real Mangalarga Marchador!”
Congratulations to everyone! It was a great accomplishment!
The awards ceremonies were on Sunday, a great finale!
Kate riding Cheveyo do MManor, owned by Brooke Little, Marchadors InMotion
We all had a taste of riding and training under Kate’s expert guidance. Kate was able to ride each of the Marchadors herself to understand the movement and what it might need. She brought with her a toolkit and recommended different things with each horse, sometimes changing to a milder bit. Because she only had a short time with each horse and rider, she worked on getting the rider to feel the marcha when it was correct. Then they could recreate it when they got home.
The quality of the marcha is based on many components, not just smoothness. So, there was some range in the smoothness of the gait, the extension, the lift of the front legs and the expression of the movement (as compared to the “diagram” that should be in your head at all times.) Part of the answer in the difference was in conformation, which Tiago evaluated on every horse at the clinic with the owner and sometimes the breeder paying close attention!
Conformation check for Leo (DaVinci do Summerwind) by Tiago with owner Connie Claire looking on.
The Brasilians have a complicated and precise expectation about each body part, the angles, the length and the proportion to one another. Both the conformation and the marcha are evaluated and tested on all Marchadors being registered in Brasil by the ABCCMM. Some breeders in the U.S. like us, also follow that tradition. SW Future Foal is an ABCCMM breeder.
These measurements and evaluation relate to the horse being able to move and flex the front legs and the back legs in a similar fashion. In the marcha, the front leg hits before the opposite hind leg – this is called dis-association and it’s why it is a marcha and not a trot. There is often over reach where the hind legs hit in front of where the front legs landed.
Surprisingly, all but one of the Marchadors in the clinic were marcha batida horses, even though some owners had believed perhaps that they were marcha picada because they were so smooth.
Kate in teaching mode. Bill Kambic, owner and rider on his stallion Ritmo A.J., Haras Lucero
So much valuable information given to each rider and owner! Much of it was videotaped and I will be producing videos all summer so that we don’t forget!
From this year’s clinic, here are the learnings that are ringing in my ears from Tiago and Kate.
“There are 5 senses to help you feel that the marcha is correct. Two eyes (if you are watching). Two ears (close your eyes and listen). One seat. (you can feel it).”
“Relax your horse – the neck must be flexible and supple.”
“Don’t bounce or post! Relax your hips and move with the horse.” If you move up and down the horse will follow you and not stay smooth.
“Keep your hands steady with his mouth, but relax your arms and shoulders.” I found this instruction fascinating. How can I keep my hands set but keep my shoulders relaxed? But yes, you can do it. If your shoulders are not relaxed, your hands will not be quiet.
“More speed! More leg!” Most of us here in the U.S. seem to be riding our Marchadors way too slow for them to find their way. The marcha has speeds and often the horses smooth out at higher speed, almost at a canter.
“Disassociation” The rider should be able to feel AND hear that the hind feet are not hitting the ground at the same moment as the front feet. The shoulders and hips of the horse should be swinging free and easy. That’s why it’s so important that the horse stay relaxed. And it’s also why some horses get smoother after they warm up.
“Inside rein. Move your fingers!” To keep the head flexed and neck bent and soft.
“Breathe!” To keep you soft.
Rebecca Boone on Aviadora do Campo Real, waiting her turn. Aviadora was the most improved marcha at the clinic. For her it was all about releasing tension.
Here’s what I wrote up after the 2011 Clinic and it is remains the same too.
Perfect the 4 beat extended walk. (How many times are we told to practice a good walk in other disciplines?) It is ESSENTIAL for a good marcha as it is the take-off point and retreat point always.
Practice in straight lines before teaching in circles, lateral work or ANY other discipline. Teach the horse to elongate his back, his stride, relax and stretch without speeding up.
Always start on the good side for the stretches, but do both sides. Stretching from the good side will help the bad side to stretch easier.
To move into gait: From the walk, apply more leg pressure and ask the horse to speed up without losing the smooth rhythm that was there in his walk. Collect the reins (have contact) with the horse’s mouth to ask him to collect his body in a good frame.
Do NOT let your horse continue to gait if it is gaiting badly. Go back to the walk and start again.
On the other hand, keep the marcha going for long and longer periods of time. Don’t stop! Ask for MORE SPEED from his legs while maintaining the collection. You are trying to build MUSCLE MEMORY. (This works really well! I tried it on my horses after the clinic)
A marcha picada horse that paces is often still very smooth (I was surprised by this). You can tell because your hips will go side to side instead of forward and back. Try to put your leg on for more leg speed, but if that doesn’t work, return to the walk and start over.
Place your horse on the marcha gait line L4-D4. Some horses will need training help because of poorer conformation or genetics, but some horses might need help because someone interfered with their natural gait during training. The Marchador is a willing partner. If you ask it to change its natural footfall, it will learn to do what you want.
You can use dressage to supple the horse and build muscle, but not too soon (remember straight lines). Once you can do the circles, you can move to a higher-level figure. The Marchador can do lateral work and the higher moves IN GAIT! (Another surprise for me!)
Click here if you want to read the whole SW News article: SW News411
The Ocala MM Clinic was a resounding success. Hosted by Connie Claire, Ocala FL, everything went off without a hitch for the first ever Sela de Ouro (the Golden Saddle, the way of the Marchador) in the U.S.! The Sela de Ouro consists of 3 phases: a long ride similar to an endurance ride with vetting and judging, classroom and arena instruction and judging of conformation and gait, and also a functional test, similar to an obstacle class.
Some photos from the clinic, just click to enlarge!
Thanks to the team! Kate Barcelos, Connie Claire and Tiago Garcia
Kate giving private instructions to Folego do Lucero and owner Sue Current
One of the groups going off for the trail!
Aline Greene won the ride portion on her mare, Erva-Doce de Tesouro!
The MM clinic Opening Ceremony!
Jeff Bosley and his mare Bacara do Summerwind, grand champion
Sue Current and her gelding Folego do Lucero, riding for the championship in the functional test!
Champion stallion Ritmo A.J. with owner Bill Kambic
Connie Claire with LEO, DaVinci do Summerwind, champion gelding!
One of the ribbon ceremonies on Sunday! We were all winners!
All the way from AZ, Adrienne Scheck got to ride Lynn Boone’s mare, Aviadora do Campo Real
It was a family affair! Our instructors pose with the Bosley family
Grace Funderburk, Sunset Farms, on her MM gelding Havai Por de Sol
On the trail, me on Esthique do Premier, Aline Greene’s MM mare
Brooke Little, Marchadors InMotion, on her young stallion Cheveyo do MManor
Aline Greene with her mare Erva-Doce de Tesouro. They won the trail competition!
Bill Kambic on imported MM mare Aliane Fazenda Zouga (Amora). Amora was bred by Rick Schatz in Brasil!
Connie Claire and Adrienne Scheck out on the trail. This was Leo’s first trail ride, ever!
Tiago teaching from the back of Cheveyo do MManor, owned by Brooke Little, Marchadors InMotion
Connie Claire, clinic organizer at the awards table.
Brooke Little atop her stallion Cheveyo do MManor of Marchadors InMotion, Ocala.
Jeff Bosley and Bacara do Summerwind. They won the functional test and Grand Champion!
Instructor Kate on Ritmo A.J. owned by Bill and Sandy Kambic, Haras Lucero, TN.
World champion archer Lukas Novatny did an exhibition for us. Thrilling!
The instructors were flown in from Brasil to evaluate the 18 people and 12 Marchadors that participated. Most were from the East Coast, but some of us came from AZ and OK too. The breeders and owners there represent 40% of the Marchadors in U.S. (Next year, the clinic moves west.) The instructors were ABCCMM (Brazilian MM association) professionals Tiago de Resende Garcia and Kate Moura da Costa Barcelos, both licensed veterinarians and judges in Brazil.
Tiago is the ABCCMM Director of the ENA – the National School of Judges. The ENA’s objective is to train MM judges on how to evaluate conformation, gait and functionality of the MM breed. Tiago and his team judge every sanctioned ABCCMM show in Brazil. Tiago has hosted symposiums and lectures to enlighten and inform MM breeders.
Kate is an ABCCMM inspector (the 1st woman) and education program director. Kate was the instructor of our 2011 MM clinic. An accomplished rider, competitor and instructor, Kate was the #2 dressage rider in South America and now uses classical dressage in preparing and training Marchador horses for many farms in Brazil.
We had a fabulous time meeting new people, Marchadors, and of course, learning more about our fabulous MM breed! Our heartfelt thanks to Connie, Tiago and Kate!!!!
The Champions:
Sela de Ouro ride on Friday – Aline Greene, Saint Horse, SC and her mare Erva-Doce de Tesouro
Combined Gait and Conformation on Saturday: for Stallion – Bill Kambic, Haras Lucero, TN and his imported MM stallion, Ritmo A.J.; for Mare – Sandy Kambic, Haras Lucero, TN and her imported mare, Amora or Aliane Fazenda Zouga (bred by Rick Schatz, Flying Oaks Ranch, OK when he was breeding MMs in Brasil), for Gelding – Connie Claire, FL with her gelding Leo or DaVinci do Summerwind (bred by SW Future Foal, AZ)
Functional test on Sunday – Jeff Bosley, SW Future Foal @ Lumber Bridge on his mare Bacara do Summerwind (bred by SW Future Foal, AZ)
Almost every person excelled and placed in each competition so the results were exciting and close! We even had a tie for the winner of the Functional test so there was another run made by Jeff and Bacara against Sue Current on Folego do Lucero! Brooke Little from Marchadors InMotion, came with her young stallion Cheveyo do MManor (Erva-Doce’s son) who impressed the crowd with his gait, disposition and performance. Except for his youth (he had just been started under saddle at age 3), he could have won it all, in my opinion.
And a good time was had by all! Be sure to come to our next one if you can!
On the trail, Lynn Kelley on Esthique do Premier, Aline Greene's MM mare
The Sela de Ouro is Portuguese for “Saddle of Gold”, the WAY OF THE MARCHADOR. It is a multi-day event that the Brasilians use to test the Marchador horses and the Marchador riders.
In Brasil, throughout the year are qualifying rides for the final Sela de Ouro held at the time of the Mangalarga Marchador National Show in July. The European association has hosted a Sela de Ouro in Germany since 2009. Now in 2012, the USMMA and ABCCMM are helped Connie Claire host the first ever in the U.S. at the MM Clinic in Ocala, FL.
Riders from the US and Europe that finish the Sela de Ouro in their country can qualify to ride in the final Sela de Ouro in Brasil!
During the ride, the horses and riders are evaluated on the trail, on a track and in an obstacle course over several days.
Marchadors are evaluated on their marcha in these aspects:
Gesture
Comfort
Style
Length of stride
Regularity
In addition, a vet check tests them for endurance fitness and integrity.
The riders are evaluated on riding skills and also on the functional test.
Seat and leg contact
Center posture and balance
Use of the aids
Control and security
Naturalness
Functional test (like an obstacle course – see the video below)
Each competitor has to demonstrate minimal skills of a good rider and good knowledge of his horse on the trail. The tests and judging are conducted in environments and situations that simulate the roads, sports and travels of ancient knights in speed and distance variables. The trail has natural hazards in varied terrains of forests, rivers, valleys and mountains.
Amadeus do Summerwind and Kristy Everson are learning mounted shooting together. Kristy loves it and they look great together. Watch for them to show up in competitions soon! Their first is March 30.
Tigre do Summerwind and Elba Cruzalta (Bella) sell to Jeff and Michelle Bosley, NC!
Chama Lustre do Lucero is moving to Maine from AZ! Chama will be the first Marchador in Maine and in all of New England. A giant step forward for the MM breed. Howard Bonis is busily completing his barn and plans to ride Chama in the 4th of July parade. Howard released his reservation on a SW Future Foal to take advantage of an opportunity for an adult, marcha picada horse. Smooth sailing, Howard!
Diego do Summerwind
Diego do Summerwind is offered for sale by Pat Rollingson, Alberta, Canada. Pat has sold her ranch and is moving into a city in 3 weeks. Diego has been with Pat since birth. He is the first Marchador born in Canada, the son of La Paz Jivago and Vedete de Itajoana, both imported by Summerwind. For anyone in the U.S., importation paperwork is easy enough. Offers welcome! Contact her at marchadors@gmail.com.
Flying Oaks Ranch, Oklahoma has added Marchadors and a fulltime trainer to their operation in February. For selection, selection and selection, they have the most Marchadors in the country. Added Paxaio do Vale Vermelho, imported MM grey mare and her daughter, Marchwind Aitana. Aitana will be offered for sale. Flying Oaks Windsmoke and Flying Oaks Stardust who had been staying in AZ, returned home. In addition, they added their first 2012 MM foal, Flying Oaks Thor in February!
Rox Rogers places 2nd and 3rd in her first Cowboy Dressage event in MT on Mangalarga Marchadors! Have you ever heard of Cowboy Dressage? It’s really growing in popularity here in the West! Great training for you and your horse!
Have you seen the photos of Connie Claire starting her young horse Leo? (DaVinci do Summerwind) Way to go Connie! She has been following the step-by-step program of Clinton Anderson and achieving great results! They look like they are both enjoying learning! Great job, Connie!
The Brasil in Focus photography competition is coming to Minas Gerais. Their wonderful works offer you a sneak peak into Brasil! Beauty, art, perspective all wrapped up in one day of shooting! The photographers are from around the world, and they are in Brasil scouting out where and what they will shoot. Minas Gerais state is the birthplace of the Mangalarga Marchador, so there will be horses, for sure.
This video is Agro Maripa, where one of our mares is from and also the imported frozen stallion semen from Oma, Tiziu and Ximoio. We were there in July 2011! Would you like to go back with us?
