My First Trip to Brazil - written by Jane Switzer, from The Horse Show

I don't know where to begin so much has been going on - so I'll start with the horse part - so far I have ridden 6 different horses. Three stallions and three mares all Mangalarga Marchadors.  (Thank you Cheryl for preparing me to step up to the plate and ride - I couldn't have ridden even one of these horses if it wasn't for the hours you so willing put in to me and my success.)

Haras El Far

The first night at El Far they were doing a demonstration with one of the stallions - when it was over I said NEXT - and Magdi said SURE - I said I was just kidding but Magdi wouldn't let me weasel out.  So I went over and stepped on - what a ride - you know you can only ever have a first kiss - you remember it forever - well that is how my ride was - there will only ever be one first ride on the MM.

The MM seems to be very willing, saavy and smooth to ride. I am currently at Haras El Far. Magdi the owner of the farm is also the president of ABCCMM. Magdi has about 1500 horses here. Here at Haras El Far Magdi has allowed us to ride his finest horses - I am told this is typical of all the Brazilian breeders of the MM. The line is quite pure. The way that he chooses who breeds who is by looking at the mares side - for several generations. He believes that the mares side is the important side. A side note is that the El Far part of Haras El Far was his mothers name before she married his father.

I still can not believe I am really here. I an not even put into words how generous and friendly the people have been.

Mangalarga Marchador - A Breed Without Frontiers

Nomade de Clarion, MM stallion in Brasil

This was a popular tagline for the ABCCMM for many years.  We forget, because the Mangalarga Marchador breed is so rare here in North America, that it is known and prized around the world, but especially in Brazil!

In its native country, the Brazilian Association of Breeders of Mangalarga Marchador, the ABCCMM, currently has 5,000 members and 400,000 registered horses that live in approximately 22,000 farms!  This generates 43,000 direct jobs and 200,000 indirect jobs. 

In Brasil, Marchador horses break records in agribusiness, selling about $60 million (U.S.$) a year in only 75 auctions across the country. 

Xingera do Krieswald in the Netherlands

The broad scope of the Brazilian Association may be measured by their representation, with two affiliate associations in the United States and Germany, and it is present in the main Brazilian states through 53 centers that foster marketing and distribution.

Beethoven do Summerwind, one of 5 MMs now in Canada.

Caboclo da Piedade and Seamus da Boa Fe in the US.

The ABCCMM reports there are populations of Mangalarga Marchadors in 10 countries: Brazil, United States, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal, Canada, Israel, Peru and Uruguay.   (However, I personally know MM owners in Slovenia, Italy and France, so the number of countries is even higher)

The Brazilian National show, held every year in July for 11 days, is one of the biggest equestrian events in Latin America with 1500 purebred MM horses competing.  (I have heard that it may be the largest single breed show in the world, but could not verify that.)

  

Just this week, the ABCCMM exported 5 stallions to Europe to represent the Mangalarga Marchador breed in shows, expos and for breeding.  The first big event is EQUITANA in March 2011.  Last year, the ABCCMM was unsuccessful in getting horses into Europe on a temporary basis just for the big show.  This year, they would not be denied!

Patek de Maripa, MM stallion exported to Europe for breeding and expos like EQUITANA 2011

2010 ABCCMM Inspection Visit and Bacara

photos: Jeff Bosley on Bossa Nova de Miami, Bacara's mom and yearling Bacara do Summerwind that Jeff fell for 3 years ago.

In August 2010, Dr. Getulio Vieira will be again visiting the US to inspect and approve the US born Marchadors for dual registry with the ABCCMM – the Brasilian MM association. Jeff and Michelle Bosley have chosen to continue tradition with their mare Bacara do Summerwind (Caboclo da Piedade x Bossa Nova de Miami)

The ABCCMM’s inspection process is one of the cornerstones to the quality of the breed. Horses are inspected by the ABCCMM technicians when they reach age 3 (or later) – for conformation, for gait and for temperament. The Mangalarga Marchador is an unusual breed of horse with traits that have been carefully cultivated for generations. When a breed of horse has specific traits that are highly desirable and unique to that breed, then protecting it from indiscriminate or random breeding practices is wise. The purpose of the ABCCMM inspection is to make sure the animals that are registered and used for breeding purposes satisfy the clearly defined and developed breed standard.

For the ABCCMM, Marchadors that pass inspection are registered in their breeding books and allowed to breed. In Brasil, stallions are further tested on a group of 30 or so mares. After their foal crop is evaluated, the stallion may or may not remain a breeding stallion, even though he is fully registered.

The USMMA (US MM association) does not require inspection, but the breed standard is very close to that of the Brasilian ABCCMM breed standard. For us at Summerwind, we encourage and support the inspection process as a way to learn about the MM breed, your horse and if breeding, what characteristics to look for in a breeding partner for your horse. The goal of a good breeder is always to IMPROVE the next generation.

Jeff bought Bacara do Summerwind as a young yearling beauty. Bacara is now four years old and was started under saddle this year. Michelle Bosley seems to be enjoying her time in the saddle, even though she is a young horse. They live in Lumber Bridge, NC. Bacara is the only daughter of Caboclo da Piedade, so she is unique in our genetic pool of Marchador horses here in the US.