SW Newsletter

Check out our Newsletter for even more pictures and news that don't make it to the blog!

April SW News

Artemis do Summerwind and dad, Seamus da Boa Fe

We're back in Colorado!

We came back a little early - it turned cold and actually snowed!  Beautiful, but not what we or the horses are used to!  Coming from AZ, they were already slick.

The horses stayed in that day

View from our porch - mountains, what mountains?

 It's not like I don't know snow.  I grew up in New England, and yes, I had horses back there as well.  So, I know what it's like to care for animals with bad weather.  The temperatures are one thing, but the second thing that happens after the snow, is the MUD.

So, it's all about keeping the horses happy.  We have 2 dry lots and 2 small paddocks that we gave up to be trashed and we'll reseed in May.

There are the Rockies in the distance!

And to think, we thought perhaps we would be seeing hummingbirds soon!

Koyote Libertas enjoying the snow the day after

Where are we?   We live in beautiful Pagosa Springs, Colorado.  You may know the name of the town because it's where Pat Parelli's Natural Horsemanship have their summer college and campus.  It's near Durango, Colorado (1 hour west) and Santa Fe NM (3 hours south).  The weather here is usually close to perfect with warm days and cool nights.   The temperatures don't need to be that high because the sun is so strong in this altitude.   We just love it.

If you would like to come and meet a Mangalarga Marchador, we enjoy visitors!

Success! First Importation of MM Frozen Semen Arrives!

Summerwind SW FUTURE FOAL PRESS RELEASE

Oma de Maripa, one of the frozen semen donors

The first shipment of Mangalarga Marchador frozen semen from Brazil arrived in the US April 12, 2011!   The achievement is the result of a 4 year effort by Lynn and John Kelley, Summerwind Marchadors.   It also took the dedication and drive of Mr. Marcelo Baptista de Oliveira of Haras Maripa in Brazil, to navigate the red tape, paperwork and offer 3 of his stallions to be the first to ship to make history.

John and Lynn Kelley meeting the FEDEX truck at
Scottsdale Equine Reproductive Center.

While shipping frozen semen is commonplace these days, in Brazil, the Ministry of Agriculture regulates exportation by horse breed.  Up until recently, they did not allow collection and freezing of semen from Marchador stallions.  The ABCCMM worked with the Ministry of Agriculture and changed their registry rules as well.

Ximoio de Maripa, a semen donor.  Pure Abaiba bloodline.

Summerwind believes that importing frozen semen and embryos provides access to the better horses and proven producers in Brazil.  The Managalarga Marchador is the National Horse of Brazil.  It numbers over 350,000 there.

Haras Maripa breeds Mangalarga Marchador horses as performance and sport horses and have for over 30 years.   Their breeding program combines Abaiba blood mainly, with Bela Cruz and Herdade.   Haras Maripa genetically produces horses which are comfortable to ride, have a rhythmic, smooth movement - a sporting horse, which is sound, robust, has a good conformation, is extremely beautiful, with a good temperament and sweet.  One of their breeding products is in the US, Azenha de Maripa, imported by Summerwind in 2004.   Go see more of their horses!  http://harasmaripa.com.br/

Tiziu de Maripa (3rd semen donor) with owner and breeder,
Mr. Marcelo Baptista at Agro Maripa, SP, Brasil.

In 2003, Zane Davis, MT, wrote about Haras Maripa in his article for Western Horsemen  magazine.  In 2004, Maripa horses were used to ride the historic GOLD TRAIL in Brazil, a journey of about 9,000 miles from Sao Paulo to Golas City.    Now today’s Anhanguera Highway, 300 years ago, it was the main road where all of the wealth of the time traveled (gold, diamonds, slaves, livestock, salt, iron, etc.)        

“The importation of frozen semen and embryos from Brazil is critical to the improvement, diversity and numbers in the Mangalarga Marchador breed in North America.   With only 200 individuals here, you quickly run the risk of in-breeding or breeding horses of lower quality.  We owe Mr. Marcelo a lot.  We don’t know how to repay him for his effort.  This is a dream come true for us.”

Oma de Maripa, (also the top photo) is one of 2 stallions whose semen was frozen and exported.  The son of 2 ELITE book champion horses, himself a champion and a great producer.

The Mangalarga Marchador is one of the most outstanding breeds in the world.  Summerwind is dedicated to promoting and establishing the breed here.  

Summerwind would like to build a frozen sperm bank of champion horses and diverse bloodlines for any Marchador breeder to use.  "Perhaps in this first generation, it is not necessary, but in the next generation and beyond it will be.  That's the advantage of  frozen semen, it will be there forever."    In 2011, John and Lynn will travel to Brazil again to see more stallions and import again.   They will breed some of their mares to Maripa stallions this winter in Scottsdale AZ with their breeding vet, Dr. Jerry Longworth, of Scottsdale Equine Reproductive Center. 

For more information about the Mangalarga Marchador breed, visit Summerwind Marchadors at http://www.summerwindmarchadors.com and http://www.futurefoal.com or the MM association website at http://usmarchador.com. www.namarchador.org

Laio de Maripa, a main herd stallion of Haras Maripa, now in his 20s.  He is the sire of Oma de Maripa (and Azenha de Maripa here in the US).

Quinteto do Pau d'Alho, another great producer at Haras Maripa. Quinteto is the sire of the second stallion who was collected and frozen for exportation to the US, Tiziu de Maripa.

Marchador Clinic in TX

Kate Bar on Andante de Miami

I went to the Mangalarga Marchador gait clinic hosted by Legacy Marchadors last weekend.  It was a fabulous blend of information and riding taught by gifted instructor, Kate Barcelos (Kate Bar).    Kate's credentials fill a page, but a few of them are: 

• She was the #2 dressage rider in all of South America
• She is a vet.
• She is the 1st woman inspector for the ABCCMM (Brasilian Marchador Association)
• She runs an educational program for the ABCCMM 
• She trains and consults with many of the top Marchador farms in Brasil

So, we were in great hands.  Kate was not comfortable speaking in English and none of us knew Portuguese, so USMMA member Aline Oliveira Greene translated the whole time for us and did an excellent job.  Horse TV was there filming and taking photos.  Hopefully, there will be a video to follow.

Brooke Litte, Majestic Marchadors on Flying Oaks Windsmoke
Windy is marcha picada and for sale from Flying Oaks Ranch.

I am going to write up notes from the class, but for now, you can enjoy some of the photos!

Karin Roberts on her Marchador, Aja Bajoni do Premier

Most of us didn't bring horses, so thanks to those who did!
Sue Parris Current on Andante and Connie Claire on Aja Bajoni

Kate riding Ritmo A.J. palomino Marchador stallion owned
by Haras Lucero, TN

Kate with Aline Greene.  Kate's hat is the international
symbol of the Mangalarga Marchador - the horseshoe M brand.

Fidalgo do Summerwind Baby Book (video)

A great marcha de centro - so fast!

Remember the beautiful baby books that kept the treasures and memories?  Well, we tried to re-create that feeling in this video of Fidalgo for his off-site future owners, Lynn and Becca Boone.   The video is on the long side, but if you like watching foals, then the time will go by quickly.

Fidalgo is a Mangalarga Marchador stud colt who may stay a stallion!  That's great for the breed here, because he is all attitude, style and class!  The perfect son of Brasilia do Summerwind and La Paz Jivago, we are perfectly pleased with the result!

Have fun!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQX8b65mvwY