Someone, somewhere, from Aristotle to present time, has stated a version of the saying, “the more we learn, the less we know!” Whether it’s about horsemanship, horse care, specific breed or discipline knowledge, most horse owners recognize they just don’t know enough! From being youngsters who dream of having a horse some day to becoming adults who achieve their heart’s desire later in life, each journey is uniquely personal. Even though you can generally find any topic on the internet or ask someone “who knows”, the best thing to do is to get back to “Basics”… learn in person if possible, hands on. While knowledge isn’t a substitute for proficiency, building on a foundation of education is an essential requirement for having horses and it often saves one from unnecessary expenses. Including in your annual horse budget an amount for attending clinics or a symposium can be invaluable.
“In person” experience is exactly the opportunity that owners of Mangalarga Marchadors who are breeders or who are considering breeding this uniquely gaited National Horse of Brazil, will have. Thankfully, Brazilian importer and breeder Claudia Bellandi, C&C Bellandi Mangalarga Marchadors in Ocala Florida, is extending herself to bring Paulo Henrique Lobo, one of the most highly regarded modern breeders and an expert Brazilian competition judge for the ABCCMM association in Brazil, to present a full two day clinic Friday May 26 – Saturday May 27th at her farm.
“This is the most important advancement for the Mangalarga Marchador breed ever presented in the United States. Foremost expert Paulo Henrique Lobo, owner of NOVA ALCATEIA Mangalarga Marchador, will immerse us in how to consider morphology (conformation) when breeding, the importance of having correct angles to support a proper batida and picada gait and riding for balance to bring out the best qualities of your horse” says Claudia Bellandi. “Those who attend will see Paulo ride my champion stallions and learn many valuable things about the function of the Marchador history in developing the breed into what it has currently become in Brazil. Carrying forward this information, allows the horses in America to maintain their comparable status with the Brazilian association who authorizes the annual inspections of offspring of ABCCMM registered parents. This is especially important for breeders who have pioneered the establishment of this breed twenty years ago.”
Only a limited number of people will have this experience. The $700.00 USD investment for this two day clinic will be well worth it for the high level of expertise and quality education that attendees will receive. (Those interested in attending can contact Claudia Bellandi at 352.816.2627 or Linda Holst at 858.212.6650 or email: marchadorhorses@gmail.com for registration information.)
Need Creates Purpose!
While most American Marchador owners are enthusiasts with a passion for the breed, the lack of large scale horse breeding operations and training resources (similar to Thoroughbred and QH farms), along with the long-term financial cost while having little or no breeding experience, hinders most Marchador owners from becoming breeders. As a result, the registered Mangalarga Marchador breed head count has stagnated at fewer than the average number of 400 horses in America in any given year for the past twenty years; especially with the original group of horses (imported or bred 1992 – 2002) aging out along with their original owners!
“Clearly, there has become a need for a younger generation of breeders to carry forward the development of this breed for this next decade”, explains Linda Holst who has owned and bred Marchadors for the past 21 years. Rancho Linda Marchadores began with one stallion and breeds from carefully selected traditional bloodlines. “I reach out to the foremost Mangalarga Marchador historian Ricardo Casiuch in Brazil for the foundation history and photographs. The value of his books with the breed genealogy and pedigree charts has been immensely valuable.” Even hindered by not understanding Portuguese, “A Historia Do Cavalo Real – As Costelas Do Abismo” containing the most influential stallions of the breed in the 20th century remarkably shows that many of these stallions and famous bloodlines are represented in the U.S. due to the selection of the early importers. “I have created a Legacy breeding program with my 28 year old Herdade stallion Batuque de Miami. He’s the second horse of this breed that was actually bred and born in America in 1995 and is the great grandson of Herdade Cadilac. In 2004, I imported my two most important foundation mares. Blue roan, Tabatinga picada mare Laponia Trimonte just turned 30 years old in March! While she is no longer breeding she has produced exquisite daughters and Batuque’s first filly in nine years who represents everything I have been breeding for was born last month. As a breeder, I have accomplished a feat of endurance considering this is an unknown breed with roots in Brazil!”
In order to achieve these very important goals, Daniel Pulliam and Linda Holst has established the Mangalarga Marchador Breeders Registry (MMBR) in Bonsall CA, to specifically support the breeding and marketing of Brazilian Mangalarga Marchador stallions and mares in the U.S. The primary purpose is to expand the genetic lines in the United States and connect Mangalarga Marchador owners with available breeding stock. This sounds simple, but it’s not! There aren’t many breedable Marchadors available, the owners and breeders are geographically far apart and everyone associated with “growing the breed” has different goals. Many individual mare owners experience the challenge of finding the most complimentary Marchador stallion, so MMBR created an online newsletter and directory (www.marchadorstallions.com) of a selection of available stallions with their pedigrees. The marketing skills of a few experienced breeders helps, but without having more Marchador horses available to carry on, the number of these extraordinary horses increasingly become in short supply. It takes more than dedication to the breed, it’s a commitment to educate and encourage up and coming horse breeders.
Stepping up to the challenges that American Marchador breeders face with a little known breed, Daniel Pulliam is also expanding the visibility of the Mangalarga Marchador as a whole, by creating opportunities for independent breeders to show off their horses and collaborate. Leading the way with participation in the Southern California Horsemans Council (SCHC) Breed Shows since 2021, he alone created the opportunity for Rancho de Los Cielos (Riverside, CA), Rancho Linda Marchadores (Bonsall, CA), Monarch Marchadors (Crum Lynn PA), High Country Marchadors (Pagosa Springs CO) and C&C Bellandi Mangalarga Marchadors (Ocala, FL) to have a public venue for both stallions and mares. For dedicated breeders, he represents Marchadors 2.0 and makes continued breeding worthwhile and exciting!
By Linda Holst
Rancho Linda Marchadores