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

Marchador mares - Breeding Tips

We believe the Marchador mares are very robust and natural in their heat cycles. Like some other ancient breeds, the Marchador mares hold on to their egg folicles much longer and their follicles get much larger. Many breeding vets start their breeding process with a follicle of 35 mm. With a Marchador mare, we often wait until at least 45 mm or 50 before we begin breeding. We have seen follicles of 52-60 mm without ovulation in our mares.

So, our advice is - when breeding with AI - wait a day or maybe two - more that what the textbook calls for.
Of course, every mare is unique and ultrasounding each of your breeding mares during their estrus cycle will provide valuable information to you on how to manage that mare.

Good luck!

I rode Bella today (real name Elba Cruzalta) just around the ranch property and marveled at our journey together. Such a sweet mare and willing to try to do anything - like walk by that blue tarp over the hay - even though I can tell she's very apprehensive about it. Perhaps, I think, we need to do some tarp and scary things training to help this old girl.

She went comfortably - just at a walk, at my request. Such a difference from the mare who would rush almost out of control if you ever loosened the reins. I am content and happy on her back.

So now that she is happy, we will move on to the finer elements of riding. I would love to get her to bend and supple, to give her head some and start using her back end a little more. (She's learned on the ground to do that, but under saddle, not so much). But, I think, we have time for that - and today we just enjoy the walk - the sunshine and fresh air, the feeling of eternity like time has just stopped and that this ride can last forever.

I will miss you Bella when your owners come for you. For the rest of my life. You are a special one, a spirit horse.

Fazenda Calciolandia, Brazil

Calciolandia has specialized in smooth PICADA gaited horses for decades, even when that gait was unpopular and not allowed in the show ring. Their breeding program relies on strong Herdade roots often mixed with Passa Tempo, with occasional introductions of other old bloodlines like Angai or Tabatinga. Gabriel Andrade is a major breeder and was the major exhibitor at Brasil’s 2009 National Show.

Their horses are very beautiful - wonderful heads and expressive eyes - and very smooth. Another characteristic is the color. Most Calciolandia horses are bay, chestnut and palomino, not grey. The main stallions used there were the Herdade greats: Cadillac, Capricho, Tirol, Gas Cardeal and the Passa Tempo ones: Zum Zum and Segundo Rio Verde. The farm’s main focus is not horses, but cattle – they have 4 breeds there.

Calciolandia Marchadors were the first MMs imported in 1992 by the owner’s son who moved to FL. When he returned to Brasil, these horses became the foundation for Lucas Guerra of MM Horse Farms in Miami. We have two mares from MM Horse Farms original stock: Bossa Nova de Miami and Chanel de Miami.