A life-long dream to ride the Way of St.James! |
Written by Sophia Baptista de Oliveira, Haras Maripa, Brasil
Two stallions, Patek and Urano de Maripa arrived in Germany in November 2010. Despite the cold in Europe they easily adapted. Thanks, also, to Astrid, Dieter and their team, all wonderful people to whom they were trusted. We visited them during Equitana, last March, and were very happy to see how well and healthy they were. We returned to Brazil certain that our adventure would have a great chance of being successful.
Taking a cool break |
The stallions are the sons of Oma de Maripá. (Laio de Maripá x Martinica HO, both in Brasil’s ELITE book.)
Patek is the result of an extraordinary genetics that comes from Laio and Moderna de Maripá. Laio has been a national champion and his mother, Festa AJ, an unforgettable breeding mare, also a national champion and gait champion, was a stunning chestnut mare!
Moderna de Maripá comes from Emoção de Maripá and Laio. Emoção is a daughter of Furacão Bela Cruz and Cafundó 3 Pontas, descending of two of the most ancient and traditional Mangalarga Marchador's farms: Abaíba and Herdade. The latter represented by Herdade Jupiá, 4-time national champion. Cafundó 3 Pontas was one of the most important of Cafundo's mares, an animal with unique comfort and temperament, and this Marcelo has been able to prove on the occasions he has had the opportunity of riding her.
Urano, is the offspring of a crossing of our genetics with the lineage 53. His mother, Bejota de Maripá, is a daughter of Major Pitanga's, one of the best horses Marcelo has ever ridden in terms of comfort. Urano is a grandson of Bagdá de Maripá's, full sister of Laio's, and great-grandson of Festa AJ's.
Sergio Lima Beck with Marcelo Baptista de Oliveira on Patek de Maripa |
We rode about 30 km per day, at 9km per hour, on average, depending on the ground. The ground, my major concern from the beginning, was really difficult. A lot of stones, gravels, some parts with very old stone paving. We used "Videas" on the horseshoes to have more adherence. And our brave horses, they stood strong! Without complaints! All they wanted was to ride, get back to the road!
We got in the saddle at about 10 in the morning. We always stopped for lunch at amazing places previously chosen by Paulo and Aurelio. While we had lunch the horses were fed and groomed. When back to our saddles, our horses were ready and crazy to go back to the trail. We usually arrived at our destination around 5 in the afternoon. The horses would then go to their stables, and we to our hotels, get ready for dinner.
Meeting other pilgrams on the trail - Camino de Santiago |
The "Camino" is marvelous! It's really a very ancient trail. Celtic. Mystical. Full of pilgrims who would always look at us with curiosity at first and then astonishment when learning that our horses had come all the way from Brazil! Unprecedented!
For the first time Brazilian horses were doing that sacred trail!
Success! Sophia and Marcelo arrive in Santiago de Compostela. 9 days and 300 km. |
Photo credits Paula da Silva. All rights reserved.
Major Christian pilgrimage route
ReplyDeleteThe Way of St James has existed for over a thousand years. It was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during medieval times, together with Rome and Jerusalem, and a pilgrimage route on which a plenary indulgence could be earned;[4] other major pilgrimage routes include the Via Francigena to Rome and the pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
The Way can take one of any number of pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. Traditionally, as with most pilgrimages, the Way of Saint James began at one's home and ended at the pilgrimage site. However a few of the routes are considered main ones. During the Middle Ages, the route was highly traveled. However, the Black Death, the Protestant Reformation and political unrest in 16th-century Europe led to its decline. By the 1980s, only a few pilgrims arrived in Santiago annually. Since then however the route has attracted a growing number of modern-day pilgrims from around the globe. The route was declared the first European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe in October 1987; it was also named one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.
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