The Marcha gait - more from the Clinic

My notes from the clinic:

Ø  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.

Ø  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.

Ø  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.

Ø  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.

Ø  Do NOT let your horse continue to gait if it is gaiting badly.  Go back to the walk and start again.  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)

Ø  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.

Ø  In marcha picada, you can help the horse learn the right rhythm by adding weight to the front feet (could be shoes) or the opposite in marcha batida.

Ø  As you can see from the diagram on May 1's post, some horses will need help because of poorer conformation or breeding, but some horses need correction 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.

Ø  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!)

Good breeding ensures a great gait naturally.  This
is Fidalgo do Summerwind, marcha de centro.

Dressage will help to supple the horse, stretch and build the
muscles so it also helps get a smoother and better gait.

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

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.