U.S. Mangalarga Marchador Association (USMMA)

Category: Member Forum

General Members Only Forum

  • New Website Page – MM Memorials

    We have added a page that captures some of the great Mangalarga Marchador horses we have known and loved. Some of them contributed mightily to the breed genetics and growth in North America. Others earn recognition on their contribution to our lives.

    Thanks to Ray and Jennifer Stewart who kicked off this effort with their heartwarming memorial to a beautiful station, Ritmo A.J.

    We would like to honor every horse with a writeup that we will share in MM news. However to add a permanent page in their memory, there is a sponsorship now to create this. We are exploring the idea of publishing a photo book for the sponsor too. Here is how to become a USMMA sponsor for a forever page on our website.

    MEMORIAL SPONSORSHIPS – $250 for a forever page.

    If you have owned a Marchador special to you, and want to honor their memory, create a website page dedicated to them. Submit photos, stories and share them to honor their contribution to our history from the person who knew them best. One day, we may create a book of our special Marchadors with your help.  Example of a another memorial written about MM mare Elba Cruzalta

    Click here to contribute online!

  • 2025 Breed Awards – Sports

    Congratulations to our winners!

    The USMMA sponsored Mangalarga Marchador breed awards in 4 disciplines in 2025.

    Endurance – AERCThere are 3 chances to win: Overall High Mileage, High Mileage Limited Distance, High Mileage Endurance (50 miles and over). 
    High Mileage Endurance – no entries

    The winner of overall High Mileage and High Mileage Limited Distance was Brooke Little riding Cheveyo InMotion.

    Working Equitation – USAWE
    Each level is eligible for an award and the winners were:
    Level 3 – Randy Gassett riding Nobre do Summerwind Randy also won the FOSH WE Reserve Champion for Gaited Registered Horses.
    Level 2 – Eliza Frazer riding Caetano-Veloso Lazy T.Level 1 – no entriesYouth – no entries

    Equine Trail Sports – ETS There was no MM reported – no winner.

    Mounted Archery – MA3 The winner was Connie Claire, riding DaVinci do Summerwind.

    These 2025 winners receive a BEST OF BREED MM ribbon and $50 – can be used for a MM branded item, a gift card to Riding Warehouse (a USMMA sponsor) or year’s USMMA membership.

    These associations track results by breed and report them to us. You need to be a member in both associations to qualify, competing on a registered Marchador.

    If you have a sport you would like to see added, please contact us! 

    Photos:
    Brooke Little on Cheveyo
    Randy Gassett on Nobre
    Eliza Eliza Frazer on Caetano (CAT)
    Connie Claire on Davinci (LEO)

  • USMMA ANNUAL MEETING – FEB 1

    Dear USMMA Members:

    I would like to invite you to a scheduled Zoom meeting – the 2025 USMMA Annual Meeting. 

    Agenda:

    • Welcome, Introductions
    • 2025 Events and News
    • Registry Report
    • Treasury Report
    • 2026 Events and Goals

    We look forward to the meeting and sharing this information with you. Please reply to this email if you have ideas or questions to submit. These will be discussed at the end of the meeting. 

    We will publish the presentation and discussion to all USMMA members in case you cannot attend.

    Best regards,

    Tia Nelson, DVM USMMA President

    TIME AND SIGNIN

    Topic: Annual Meeting 2025

    Time: FEBRUARY 1 @ 05:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada) 07:00 PM Eastern, 06:00 PM Central, 04:00 PM Pacific

    Join Zoom Meeting: by invitation sent via email.

  • Membership Renewals

    It’s a New Year! 
    We want to extend an invitation to join for new members who share our passion for Mangalarga Marchador horses – and to welcome back our cherished returning members. As always, we give thanks for our lifetime members whose unwavering support is essential to our mission to our incredible Mangalarga Marchador breed in North America. Lynn Kelley, USMMA Treasurer, is the membership coordinator with assistance from Amanda Moreira, Haras Yara, UT and others who join in on a local level. 

    We encourage members to renew promptly, as Lynn will start sending PayPal renewal invoices to current USMMA members this month. You can use the address on the invoice if you wish to pay by check. There are new ways to join immediately on your own. Use thislink to pay with a credit card. Pay using ZELLE or VENMO to usmmarchador@gmail.com

    Help us to foster a passionate and supportive community that thrives on engagement and collaboration as we celebrate the beauty and legacy of the Mangalarga Marchador breed! We believe in making our membership accessible to everyone, with individual fees set at an incredibly reasonable $50 per year and family memberships at just $75. To further accommodate different needs, we offer options for multiple-year memberships and lifetime memberships.

    We encourage you to bring your ideas and projects to the table—your creativity and initiative are what drive our community forward! Join us to work on these new efforts.
    Do you have ideas or projects you want to see happen? For example:
    -Regional Events
    -Trade Shows
    -Breeder DIrectory
    -Half-Marchador Registry
    -Improved Social Media
    -National or Local Sponsors

    Join us to make them happen! Together, we can make the Mangalarga Marchador a household word. Let’s make an impact in 2026.

    Best regards,Tia Nelson DVM, USMMA President

    The USMMA is the official Mangalarga Marchador nucleo in North America, recognized by the Brazilian MM Association, the ABCCMM.   The 2026 ABCCMM dues are due now. We can assist you in paying your 2026 ABCCMM fees if you are also an ABCCMM member. We pay in Brazilian Reals and you pay us in US$. Contact us if you need help this month.



  • Ride the West – Old Cave Creek

    by Lynn Kelley

    Our nucleo’s first Official ABCCMM Cavalgada Tematica! (Themed Trail Ride) On February 2nd, USMMMA members from AZ, CO, TX, UT and WA came to the OLD CAVE CREEK ride. In order to be official, the ride has to have at least 20 Mangalarga Marchadors participating. This number is smaller than in Brazil with the ABCCMM recognizing we do not have large numbers of Marchadors yet.

    Cave Creek is a magnet for outdoor adventures, cowboy heritage and live music.  With a history that includes ancient peoples, gold mining, ranching and dam construction, this scenic town is filled with the spirit of the old west.

    Our group of riders and horses trailered or drove to Cave Creek Regional Park to saddle up for our ride through the wide open desert.  We took a remote and scenic trail that eventually bought us into the town of Cave Creek.  Many of the town’s buildings are 200 years old making it a painting of the old west.   We rode into town heading for the Buffalo Chip Saloon, famed for barbecue, beer, line dancing and bull riding.  The Buffalo Chip bull riding arena provided the perfect place to tie up the horses while the riders went to the long family style tables to have lunch.

    It was a fabulous and fun experience!   I was dreading a group trail ride because so often they are boring to me.  But it was a beautiful day from the early “before it got light out” start to the final trailer ride back to the barn.  What can I say?  Marchadors are fun!

    The USMMA, an ABCCMM nucleo and the ABCCMM supported the event.  Many USMMA members gave their time, supplies or services to make the event come alive.  The ABCCMM provided official vests and passports that get stamped whenever and wherever you participate in these cavalagadas.  The ride was officiated by ABCCMM’s Dr. George Vilar.

    Special thanks to Carolina Peterson, who planned and pushed to make this event happen from the get-go.  Many volunteers went above and beyond the day of the ride and we thank Silver Stables for trailering many of the horses. Photos from the group and some by Jennifer Jeung.

  • Alan Villaça Clinic Jan 18-19

    The USMMA is committed to education and have several events planned by the USMMA and MM breeders this year. Our first USMMA event of the New Year crept up on us! It is happening in January! Alan Villaca, a top trainer in Brazil, CTE Alan Villaça, is coming to Arizona and will be training and teaching here. This clinic is open to all USMMA members and we hope you can join us!

    Location / Ranch Contact information:
    Elizabeth Sims
    Silver Stables LLC
    38326 N 31st Ave
    Phoenix AZ. 85086
    Elizabeth Sims (623) 363-5748
    D.J. Sims Klein (623) 414-1774 

    Clinic Organizers:
    Carolina Peterson (503) 970-3750
    Lynn Kelley (602) 999-3915
    Elizabeth Sims (623) 363-5748

    MORE INFORMATION HERE

    USMMA WAIVER FORM to sign

    Please fill out the form below, if you have an interest in this first clinic offered January 18 and January 19!  

  • Alan Villaça Sign-up Form

  • 2024 ANNUAL MEETING

    December 15, 2024 @ 5 p.m. MST

    Video and pdf of the presentation given by Tia Nelson. On the YouTube video – f you need more time on any screen, just pause the video.

    Youtube Video – click here to watch.

    PDF file to download

    usmma annual meeting 2024Download

  • ABCCMM INSPECTION VISIT

    February 2025

    Dr. George Vilar, ABCCMM inspector and judge will be coming to the US in early February, 2025. 

    Currently, his only planned stops are Phoenix, AZ and Corpus Christi, TX. If you have Mangalarga Marchadors that need inspection and would like to join this inspection visit, please contact Lynn Kelley, 602-999-3915. 

    Sharing a planned inspection visit will lower the costs overall by splitting the airfare among many breeders. There is another planned inspection visit in August 2025.

    INSPECTION DETAILS AND PLANNING

    The cost of the inspection is $600US per breeder, per location for the inspector. That is often paid in cash or check directly to George. 

    In addition, you must pay for ABCCMM membership and/or registration fees, plus the cost of airfare to get the inspector to your farm. Housing, meals and transportation for the inspector should also be included in your planning. Most people just have the inspector stay with them.

    We estimate a definitive registration (riding) inspection could take an hour to 1.5 hours per horse.  Following the riding inspection, the horse measurements are taken and the horse will be branded with the ABCCMM trademarked Horseshoe M brand. 

    Plan on 15- 25 minutes per provisional (foal) inspection. During the foal inspection, the horse will be microchipped. 

  • Cavalgada Thematica – Old Cave Creek  

    Catch the Spirit of the West

    February 2, 2025 Cave Creek, AZ 

    Cave Creek is a magnet for outdoor adventures, cowboy heritage and live music.  With a history that includes ancient peoples, gold mining, ranching and dam construction, this scenic town is filled with the spirit of the old west.  

    We will saddle up to ride through the open desert to arrive on the town streets where many buildings are 200 years old right next to modern shops and restaurants.  We ride through Cave Creek tying horses up at the Buffalo Chip for lunch. The Buffalo Chip serves up line dancing,  barbecue, beer and weekend bull riding competition.  The cavalgada then heads back to our trailers.

    Get your Mangalarga Marchador ready to join the fun the first week of February.   There are a few extra horses available for out of state riders.

    ABCCMM/USMMA OFFICIAL EVENT!

    Everyone is welcome, but space is limited, Sign up today!

    Meet at Cave Creek Park parking lot and be ready to ride at 9:15 a.m   15km total.  Ride will last approximately 3.5 hours.  2 hours from the park, through town to the Buffalo Chip Saloon. Lunch / Social Hour at Buffalo Chip Saloon.  Then return to the Park via a different trail.

    Cost: $50 per rider

    ABCCMM Official: Dr. George Vilar

    Trail bosses:  Mike Crowley and Randy Gassett 

    Please fill out the following forms on our website namarchador.org 

    Questions?   More information?   Please contact the ride coordinators:

    Carolina Peterson, SW Regional DirectorABCCMM Liaison 503-970-3750 or carolina1470@aol.com Lynn Kelley, USMMA Treasurer  602-999-3915 or lynnkelley@me.com

    VISIT CAVE CREEK CITY WEBSITE