U.S. Mangalarga Marchador Association (USMMA)

Category: Newsletter

  • Equitana Open Air October 20-22!

    Dear United States Mangalarga Marchador Association members,

    Save the Dates – October 20-22nd

    The association has finalized our presence between Oct 20 and 22nd at Equitana Open Air Festival in Temecula, California. EQUITANA is a world-class equestrian trade show that is coming to the United States this year.

    We will be at booth 416, and will have the chance to showcase our breed during the official program in the arena.

    We are inviting you to come and participate – with horses, without horses, in the booth, in the audience, with your friends and fellow Mangalarga Marchador owners.

    Bringing Horses?

    The USMMA will need to confirm a number of stalls with Equitana Open Air soon. The following members have shown interest in participating with their horses:

    • Susan and Holm Neumann, Cascade Mounted Archery, OR, will come and bring their Mounted Archery riders and horses

    •Sandy Dory, Sublime Mangalarga Marchadors, AB, will bring some of her horses

    • Rick Schatz, Flying Oaks Ranch, OK, will bring some horses. • Ken Hanson will bring his horse.

    • Jake Martinez and Theresa Longo will bring some horses from Rancho de Los Cielos, CA

    • Jeff and Michelle Bosley, SW Future Foal @ Rio Verde, AZ, will bring horses from their farm

    • Alessandra Deerinck, Human Horse Sensing, CA, will bring her horse

    • Susann Gabriel, Dreamcatcher Ranch, CA, said her horses may be able to come to the event to show how MM can jump.

    Anyone else who would like to join us in bringing horses is going to have to communicate it to me as soon as possible, on or before June 30th 2017, so I can add them to our group and add stalls to the list.

    What’s Next?

    During the month of July we will have a meeting with all the interested parties to finalize our role at the event. During the meeting I will also talk about how we will organize the booth and the barn, and would love to appoint some of you (anyone can ask for this position!) in charge of supervising the booth and the barn area, and helping me with the movie, and the printed items for the event (the horse cards, shirts, tag and stall plates). I cannot stress enough that this event will be a chance for every USMMA member who is willing to come or contribute, to showcase the breed and their farm through the Association booth.

    As I already anticipated, we will have some time in the ring, therefore the chance to be showing our breed in front of a large audience. Every demonstration will be structured with a portion of the time during which we will provide information for the public that dos not know our breed, and a portion where we will demonstrate the qualities of the MM horse. This time in the arena allows us to hold our annual clinic/show and at the same time be seen by the public. In order to have this possibility I submitted a plan for the presentation that was approved by the Equitana USA Management. I can introduce some modifications in order to add interest to our presentation, but I have to keep close to the original outline that earned us the time in the ring. During the three days of the event we will also have the chance to go for a long trail ride in the wine country around the facility, i am working on the trail that we will follow, and the places we can visit.

    More details about where to stay, where to fly into and what to do in this wonderful area of California will be sent along with how to get tickets to the event after the July meeting.

    More about Equitana Open Air

    USMMA members who wish to give their business a larger exposure can also apply to EQUITANA USA to have their own booth, or to become sponsors and display banners and ads in different available spaces. The information about this topics is available by visiting the official links attached below in this email, or by calling directly Robert Keegan, general manager of EQUITANA USA.

    The OPEN AIR FESTIVAL at Galway Downs is one of the different venues where EQUITANA USA will be present during 2017 and 2018. There will be another trade show in Georgia in 2018, and if anyone on the East coast would like to participate, the USMMA will try to support you again.

    More about the USMMA Program

    Here are some points I have been developing for the event:

    1) The program I designed for the event is a clinic/show, where all of the members present will take part in the riding performance. It would be ideal to have a clinician to lead the presentation. A solution can come from the fact that some of the USMMA BOD members will be going to Brazil soon, and Jeff Bosley, USMMA President, will try to ask the ABCCMM if they want to take part with us in the clinic. In alternative, Human Horse Sensing can offer its services, and some of the members as well, so we can showcase the breed in very attractive performances. Rick Schatz has asked to do a Prova Fonctional in the ring, with the participation of all the members who wish to do so. Susan and Holm Neumann and their Mounted Archery School will do a demonstration. Susan Gabriel’s horses can demonstrate Mangalarga Marchador horses jumping. Sandy Dory, Alessandra Deerinck and Aline Greene can talk about their endurance experience.

    2) The USMMA booth will provide a space for information material to be displayed and distributed. All of our members will get the chance to congregate, Our booth is primarily an information resource, and in order to have the public interested we need to provide them with facts and data about the breed. I have seen that a great way to do so is to hold an ongoing round table for the public. Most of the American equestrian public does not know about our breed, and every USMMA member present at the event can be a breed ambassador, for which we will make a badge so they will be recognized. If you would like to volunteer to be part of the group of ambassadors, let me know.

    3) Printed material – A simple way to give the public something to take to remind them about the breed. A postcard/ bookmark is being designed for this event with a horse picture and the contacts of the owner on one side, and a diagram of the Marcha, the USMMA logo and website on the back. The postcards will be ordered from a single supplier and shipped to one responsible party. Each owner will pay for his postcards.

    4) A screen with an ongoing movie can be mounted in our booth, and will provide information about the breed. The footage will have portions of Brazilian typical events and portions of American Mangalarga Marchador horses performing here in the US. Everyone who wishes to have horses be included in the video will need to provide good quality footage (I cannot stress enough that we need good quality footage!)

    5) All of the members that are going to participate to the arena performance will wear a shirt that is being designed for this event, in order to show we are USMMA members.

    6) Everyone bringing horses will have to cover the expenses for their stalls, and I need to know as soon as possible the number of stalls needed by each owner and have a payment for it. We may also want to pay to have a couple of tack stalls to share between the USMMA members to save on the expenses, but if anyone feels the need to have their own tack stall they can contribute for the full price ($125) and have it.

    A draft of the program for the arena performance is attached below, any idea will be considered and every member is welcome to be part of this event.

    I will be calling each one of the interested parties, to talk about the details, or hear their thoughts and see if they can add to the USMMA presence at Equitana USA.

    PROPOSAL FOR USMMA 2017 EVENT AT OPEN AIR – EQUITANA at Galway Dawns Temecula CA


    Presentation in the arena
    Introduction:

    -History of the breed, narrated in a practical manner with emphasis on its versatility of applications.

    -Mechanics of the gait in the Mangalarga Marchador.and how the gaits were developed and changed in time.

    -Brief description of standards, inspection and soundness of mind.

    Day 1 Introduction followed by Demonstration of the MM versatility. (mounted archery)

    Day 2 Introduction followed by Demonstration of the MM versatility (prova fonctional)

    Day 3 Introduction followed by Demonstration of the MM versatility jumping (?), endurance and trail

    Additional possibility: A guided trail ride around the wine country, trails and length of the ride will be planned before the event, considering the possibility to visit different wineries and have lunch or dinner there.

    These links illustrate the organization that holds event and has official information:

    http://www.equitanausa.com/prospectus

    www.equitanausa.com/price-book-full

    Please get back to me and let me know if you are interested, and what you think about this great opportunity to let the American public see what a great breed we are bringing to our country.

    I want to thank in advance all that are coming with horses, or contributing to be part of the event. I also look forward to reading the responses, suggestions, and to be a part of something great with all of you.

    Sincerely

    Alessandra Deerinck 

    USMMA Secretary 

    Equitana Open Air 2017Chair 

    Ph: 760 715 1554

  • Meet the new Board Members

    About Lisa Estrada, CA – I am a project manager in information technology but a love for horses has existed since  my childhood. This was followed by the opportunity of working on a horse farm and being on a horse drill team for several years part time, during my teens and twenties.

    Later on in life,  I became absorbed in the Marchador Breed but didn’t get the opportunity to own one because of my dedication to my college education.. Now, that I am older and have a family I am excited that I get to be a proud owner of a beautiful Marchador, Sonadora de los Cielos.

    My hope is that my son will grow up with breed and find the joy, peace, and happiness as I did growing up being around horses.

    About Cathy Pierce, TX – I am one of those girls who has always loved horses.  I was able to own my first horse (a quarter horse mix) at age 16.  I competed in local rodeos while in high school.  I was fortunate to be able to take my horse with me for 3 years of my college education, and had one horse from the time that I was 16, and my mare was 2, until she died at age 32.  I progressed to half Arabians, and then full Arabians, and an Appaloosa.
    My husband and I have been hosting foreign exchange students for 15 years.  We have hosted 2 Brazilian students.  One of these students (David) owns Mangalarga Marchador horses in Brazil.  I had never heard of this breed, and we did not find any MM horses in Texas at that time.  We were fortunate to be able to go to Brazil to visit David and his family, and we rode his horses in the mountains.  It was a wonderful experience, and when we returned to the US, we started searching for a MM horse of our own.

    Through on-line communications, , I purchased Destiny do Summerwind, a pretty buckskin mare from a lady (who had become ill) who lived about 140 miles away.  ,  We bred Destiny to Talisma Kafe using frozen imported semen.  She had a beautiful colt on my birthday the following year!  We learned of more MM’s for sale in Florida, and purchased a mare and foal in Florida.  I am now the proud owner of Cassandra do MManor, and Eduardo do MManor.

    I love riding them, and love their gentle nature.   I want to promote the breed in Texas, and help more people learn about our wonderful horses.

    I am volunteering with the USMMA in the position of membership coordinator.  I hope to be able to communicate with former members, and potential members to help promote these horses.  I want to help plan and implement clinics and expositions to showcase our amazing horses.  I realize that the USMMA is a small organization made up of volunteers.  I have found the other member volunteers to be wonderful people with a common goal of promoting the Mangalarga Marchador in the US and Canada.
    I love to volunteer for organizations that I am passionate about, and the USMMA is definitely one of these organizations.

    My other passion is my work.  I am a physical therapist with my own business called Therapy First in Corpus Christi TX.

     

    To view all the USMMA Board Member volunteers, open this page on the website:   

    http://t3k.315.mywebsitetransfer.com/about-us/usmma-boards/

  • A Tribute to Howard Bonis (1944-2017)

     

    By Lynn Kelley

     

    Howard Bonis, the first Marchador owner in Maine recently passed away late January, 2017   When Howard could no longer take care of his beloved horse, a great home was found with Cyndy Falvey, only a few minutes away on the Maine coastline.   Cyndy is a long-time horse owner and has another older Thoroughbred on her property.  Cyndy also took Chama’s companion, the goat (named Goaty)!    The two animals are inseparable and when Cyndy trail rides, often the goat comes along!   As a tribute to Howard, Cyndy has given a generous donation to the USMMA in Howard’s memory.     Thank you Cyndy!

    You can read some of Howard’s obituary here and gain a sense of what kind of person he was!  I met Howard when he contacted me to purchase a Summerwind Future Foal.  Already in his late 60’s, he guaranteed me that he would be a great home with no problems training horses from a young age.   He proceeded to tell me many, if not all, of the stories about the horses in his life, including a Morgan stallion that he loved for many years.   He had acreage in Maine so he set out to build a horse barn and hay storage on the property.   He put a paddock up on the crest of a hill with plenty of trees for shade and shelter.   All for his future horse.

    Howard was convinced that his Marchador would be enjoyed by the whole family including his grandchildren.   He also wanted to use the horse as a therapy horse with autistic children.  Before his foal was born, an older, trained Marchador became available that I thought might be a good fit for Howard and perhaps better than waiting for a foal to grow up.    Howard agreed.   Chama was off to Maine!   Chama was loved by the family.   He was well-cared for by Howard who got to relive all of the warmth and enjoyment about grooming, feeding, and riding again.  After Howard’s death, his family wrote and told me how much they  thought having Chama prolonged Howard’s life.

    I drove to meet Howard and his wife Susan after a Kelley family wedding in New Hampshire.   It was a memory I will always treasure.  Little did I know then, that it would be soon after, he would need to give up his Marchador.   After Chama moved on to Cyndy, we were fortunate enough to meet her.   Cyndy often comes out west in the winters so we met during Barrett-Jackson week.   A horse couldn’t be more lucky to have these two owners in Maine!   

    Obituary  Howard L. Bonis Jr.,

    Howard L. Bonis Jr., 72, of Arrowsic, died Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. Howard died peacefully with his wife by his side and surrounded by his children.

    Howard was born on March 5, 1944, in Norwalk, Conn., to Howard L. Bonis Sr. and Mary Castango Bonis. He grew up in Norwalk, Conn. He was a member of the first graduating class of Brien McMahon High School in 1962. After high school, Howard attended Norwalk Community College, before enlisting  in the United States Marine Corps.

    His bravery during the Vietnam War earned him a Purple Heart and Bronze Star With Valor. While in Vietnam, he served as a fire team leader with the Company F, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines. He was medically retired from the United States Marine Corps.

    Howard married Susan Walker Bonis on Sept. 9, 1967. Howard met Navy Corpsman Susan Walker at St. Albans Naval Hospital on Long Island, N.Y., while he was recovering from injuries sustained on the battlefield. He went on to graduate from American International College with a degree in political science, and later earned his master’s degree in special education from Salem State University.

    The most rewarding years of his professional career were spent as an educator in both public and private schools.

    A celebration of his life will take place in Maine in the summer of 2017. He will be privately interred at Arlington National Cemetery. We ask you to celebrate Howard by having a root beer float, eating an éclair, or dancing with someone you love.

    Chama Lustre do Lucero – the well-traveled Marchador  First Marchador in Maine.

    Chama  was born and bred at Haras Lucero, TN, the breeding farm of Bill and Sandy Kambic, long-time members of the USMMA.   He is the son of Desafio de Miami x Apple Pie de Miami, both bred by the Guerra family of Florida, the first importers of Marchador horses to the U.S.   

    At a young age, he was sold and shipped to California to Jake Martinez and Theresa Longo at Rancho de los Cielos.   They were relatively new breeders and wanted to have some Marchadors to sell as they started their breeding program.   Chama moved from there to Oregon, where he was trained and competed successfully in mounted archery at Cascade Mounted Archery with Holm and Susan Neumann.  

    Being a horse “anyone could ride”, Chama moved south again to AZ to Sandy Hull.  When Chama didn’t work for her, Sandy moved on to another Marchador and Chama left here bound for Maine!   His forever home with 2 wonderful owners – Howard Bonis and now Cyndy Falvey!

  • Marchador Journal Spring Edition

    Enjoy your Spring edition of the USMMA Journal.  We hope to publish quarterly, January, April, July and October.
    One of the things we hope to do with this publication is to feature the diversification of how the Marchador is used with real life examples.  This Spring we are featuring Endurance Riding.  Because of that focus,  we also included an article by Dr. Deb Bennet on the Skeletal Maturation of Horses.
     
     Five years  ago  in the  USMMA Spring Journal, we featured an article on Brazilian champion endurance rider Pedro Werneck .  He  has been an endurance competitor for 25 years ,  is a member of the Brazilian PAN American team and  races in Brazil and internationally.  Wherever he competes the horse of this choice is the Mangalarga Marchador.  This Spring,  I thought it interesting  to report closer to home and  feature two U.S.M.M. A. endurance riders, Aline Oliveira Greene  and Alessandra Deernick.  Hope you enjoy hearing from them.
     
    Please feel free to share with us stories of how you use your Marchadors by emailing me at: 
     
    SubmissionDeadlines: 
    SUMMER-June 30:       Focus on Breeding and Stallions
    FALL: September 30:    Focus on Children and Jumping 
    and WINTER: December 31.  
     
    As we are just starting to roll out the USMMA Journal  as a quarterly publication, we are seeking input as to what are readers want.  Towards this end, we are asking the question:  
     
    DO YOU WANT TO HAVE  PAID ADVERTISING IN THE JOURNALS.? 
     
    Please share your thoughts on this by  emailing me. montanamarchador@gmail.com 
      
    Happy Trails,
    Tresa Smith

     

    North American Marchador Association Journal is out!!!   Edited by Tresa Smith and Produced by Lynn Kelley.   Articles and photos submitted by any and all USMMA members!

     

    Added feature to the spotlight on endurance is this article by Dr. Deb Bennett PhD. on bone growth and maturation.

  • Show Subsidy Award Goes to Connie Claire!

    Congratulations to Connie Claire, the first applicant and recipient of the USMMA Show Subsidy Award in 2017.   Connie and her husband Doren will travel to Texas (from Florida) to compete in an international mounted archery event with their Marchador gelding DaVinci do Summerwind, better known as LEO!     For more information about the event going on March 9-12, 2017,  you can visit the STAR Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/events/272323396520177/
    In 2016 USMMA allocated $750 to the grant fund . All of it was used to fund 3 separate requests for $250 each .
    The 3 grants funded were the only requests received .
    .
    The application form on our website has been updated . A fillable form is available . Also please email Laurie Klassen, the Award Administrator to notify her if you are submitting an application. It’s just a backup to make sure no applications are missed.

    For more information on the Show Subsidy Award Program or to submit an application, please follow this link:

    http://t3k.315.mywebsitetransfer.com/membership/awards-programs/

    For more information on Marchador events, please follow this link:

    http://t3k.315.mywebsitetransfer.com/shows-and-events/events-calendar/

     

  • Marchador Journal – Winter Edition

    From the Editor: Tresa Smith

    Enjoy your Winter edition of the USMMA Journal.  It is here via pdf file and also on-line, along with a video of Marchadors in the snow!

    We hope to publish quarterly, January, April, July and October.

    Consider this journal yours. It is your COMMUNICATION vehicle.
    Share your stories and photos;
    Post events on our Bulletin Board;
    Keep current with USMMA news and Board action;
    Ask questions;
    Learn more about Marchadors;
    Voice your concerns.
    Give us your input and suggestions:
    Get involved!

    We published this initial first edition to show people what it might be like, but we would like future editions to be much longer and with more photos, as YOU contribute. There is no limit to the length that the publication can be.

    This publication will only really work if it is a two way street. CONTRIBUTE.

    Send your contributions to : Montanamarchador@gmail.com .

    SubmissionDeadlines:
    SPRING-March 31:
    SUMMER-June 30:
    FALL: September 30 and
    WINTER: December 31.

    I end with one question and that is that we would love your feedback on whether on not we should allow ads in this publication. Please respond YES or NO.

    Happy Trails,
    Tresa

     

    Click to download the pdf file  journal 1 2017 final smaller

    Or read on-line!

  • 3 Marchadors enter 2017 Northwood Farms Challenge

    The Northwood Farms Challenge was created to encourage and motivate horse owners and riders to get out with their horses in inclement weather – the first 12 weeks of winter, to be precise!    Starting with about 50 friends and acquaintances, it has grown into an international event with over 1000 participants.

    The challenge is simple and the only winner is you and your horse.    12 weeks, 40 hours, 30 rides. 1 horse.  There is a Northwoods app that helps you log your time if you aren’t already using one.

    While that may not sound challenging – it is when you have weather issues, bad footing and other wintertime problems like not being able to trailer to an indoor arena to ride.

    Three Marchadors are in!   All greys and all youngsters – 3 and 4 years old!  Aria de los Cielos with Alessandra Deerinck, Gaia do Summerwind with Adrienne C. Scheck and Hawke do Summerwind with Lynn Kelley.

    The group is very supportive and encouraging.   Of course, we three have a decided advantage living in CA and AZ.   We are not braving the snow, ice and frigid temperatures that some of the group is.

    Look to join next year if you need some winter motivation!

  • USMMA Registry Survey Project – 2016

    Look up your horse (on a laptop or desktop computer!  http://t3k.315.mywebsitetransfer.com/registry/view-pedigree/
    Goal: To correct and update the USMMA Horse Registration Database in 2016, including new photos. To encourage people not registering their Marchadors to join the USMMA and registry. If successful, to recommend that this project be repeated every 5 years. As a side benefit, people will also be asked to rejoin the USMMA as part of the survey process if they are not current members.

    Project Volunteers: Tresa Smith, Lynn Kelley, Megan Fallwell Thanks to them for their help and support.

    Budget: $0

    What we did:
    Emailed all members asking for updates on their horses.
    Followed up with phone calls if no response.
    Input new information into Wikihorse.

    Results of the project:
    New on-line form created for submitting registration information on a new foal. On the USMMA website. Completed form and photos emails directly to Registrar.
    Corrected EVERY MM record for horses in the US and Canada.
    Added country of birth.
    Standardized the registration numbers.
    Added the ABCCMM registration number and, if appropriate, the M Brand under markings.
    Changed many horse colors to grey.
    Changed some horses from stallions to geldings.
    Updated owner information and began transfer process for over 10 horses.
    Updated death records.
    Added 23 new foals born in 2015 and 2016 to the database. Will be registered as DNA is received.

    Not under the scope of the project and new questions raised: Perhaps future projects
    Did not update photos unless people submitted them. Many horses now adults still show foal photo.
    Did not contact non-USMMA members. Should be done this year or as part of the USMMA membership drive.
    Did not update transfer process – and it is clear that people do not understand it.

    Some Numbers and Information:

    • 293 Marchadors in the USMMA database today.
    • 265 Marchadors still alive in the USMMA database today.
    • Added 23 new MM foals born in 2015 and 2016 (not yet fully registered)
    • 37 Marchador owner transfers identified. In the process of collecting $$ if they want the registration. Some are non-members.
    • 63 Marchadors were born in Brazil.
    • 6 Marchadors born in Canada. 24 Marchador horses there in 3 provinces.

    Breakdown of horses is below. 4 US states – AZ, CA,  MT  comprise more than 40% of the MMs in North America.  Canada breakdown is BC – 5% , AB, – 3%   SK – 1%.

     

     

  • Marchador Wins 30 mile Endurance Ride

    Aria de los Cielos and owner/rider Alessandra Deerinck won the Death Valley Encounter on December 29, 2016.

    Several Marchador horses and owners ride endurance and some have achieved great results, but this is the first WIN!   First place!   And they rode barefoot, even more impressive!   Congratulations to Alessandra and Aria!

    If you’d like to ride along with them, here is Alessandra’s diary of the ride.

    Last week of 2016 diary by Alessandra Deerinck
    Monday and Tuesday went like any other week, training horses in the morning and taking care of my family in the afternoon.
    All the excitement began with Wednesday, with Aria and I going to the Death Valley Encounter. I was very happy to have Kathy with me and it got even better when Tuesday night Sonia Deerinck told me she had decided to join us.
    Wednesday I woke up at five. Went to the barn early to work Misty and headed for Vivian Thwaits’s barn at seven forty five to work Skye Mama and Luca. John Thwaits was going to feed them lunch for me, so I could leave for the ride. At 10,30 Sonia and I met Kathy in Escondido and began our four and a half hours drive up to the desert.
    The Mojave Desert is a magical place, I love going there to ride, but I honestly say I would not be able to live there, it is a very tough and rough natural environment. After the rain it becomes green, and one could think that the new vegetation is tender and fragile, but if you touch it you find how tough and thorny things are to be able to survive in the extreme desert weather.
    One of my first times riding there, I accidentally touched a twig with one of my knees, making a four inch tear in my riding pants. Since then I have learned to respect all that surrounds me, and this time I brought it to the extreme when Aria and I climbed up the Slate Range. ….but now I am still talking about the trip!
    …..Kathy with her truck and travel trailer followed me to Trona, and we arrived at base camp, at the Trona Country Club. We found a great spot for our camp, at the end of the row of trailers, and next to other riders who had put up big corrals for their horses, on the sandy ground.  Sonia and Kathy helped me set up an electrified pen for Aria. It was the first time she would spend the night in Auchan enclosure, and I was very nervous about it, given her ability to get free from any kind of tack. Last week she got out of her endurance bridle without damaging it and calmly came to look for me in the tack room, since I had just left her in the cross ties, attached by the halter.
    We watched Aria while setting up camp and she seemed to be fine, until she touched the wire and ran in a circle kicking up in the air, then she stopped and stretched her nose out, to test the wire one more time. She did not touch it again, instead she immediately settled and began eating her hay. Shortly after I took Aria to the vet check and was pleasantly surprised by how she approached every water trough when we were walking through camp and drank from it. She passed the check with As and a great attitude.
    At seven I went to the ride meeting with Kathy, who was very curious about endurance and came to listen to our pre ride briefing. This was my first time at the Death Valley Encounter, but I rode many times in the Duck Rides, that are managed by Annie and Dave Nicholson. They do a fantastic job at organizing the rides, and I feel very safe when I am riding because it seems that Dave knows where each rider is during the whole time we are out on the trail. Several times while riding in the “middle of nothing” I would see his Jeep driving up to us and checking on how we were doing.
    ….going back to the ride meeting, all was pretty clear when we left the clubhouse. I was already looking forward to sleeping in a warm trailer, instead of the back of my SUV, as I normally do at endurance rides. It had been a very long day and I needed all the rest I could get to be ready to ride. Kathy, Sonia and I went to bed early.

    I woke up at four to feed Aria her mash and make sure she was ok. The trail was on very difficult and rocky terrain with a severe climb and it was Aria’s second ride. A month earlier she had kicked to corral and caused a rough spot at her hairline on the left hind heels, I chose not to wear hoof boots because I knew it would have caused a sore, but I also did not know how. Ad the terrain was going to be. In hindsight I am happy about my decision, it made so I had to slow down and walk, even in certain parts where I could have gaited. It made so Aria learned to be an awesome teIl horse, in fact when we are on rough terrain she lowers her head and watches carefully every step.
    ….back to the morning, we saddled up after a great breakfast and had a moment of thrill, when Aria got spooked while Sonia was holding her near the trailer and took off with the saddle. Unfortunately she ran by a few of the poles of her corral and tore it apart. Aria did not go very far and walked up to our neighbors that were saddling their horses.
    The ride started at seven, and I left camp following other riders, being passed by some and making our way to the mountain range. The terrain was not too bad until the climb began and I felt we were going up to what looked like the moon, only we were not on it.
    The Panamint Valley is an amazing place and being there with my young horse was an incredible experience. I had no idea that we were in the lead, and rode Aria like we ride everyday in Daley Ranch, enjoying every second. I only have one problem with her, which is a great one to have…she is a very social horse and likes company. It is very difficult to go past any person or animal on our way. At home, we ride around the golf course at Reidy Creek, on a dirt trail, and Aria stops to go up to everyone that she meets.
    At the vet check the vet announced to me that I was the first LD rider to come in, and I did not make anything of it, knowing that there was many riders and horses more experienced than us, and we were there only to have fun. That said and done, I have to be honest and say that in this ride I ended up passing a group of riders because we had a very different way to pace our horses, and I must have appeared very competitive because I wanted to pass them, but Aria did not want to do so. We went past them and kept our pace and they went their own pace, making for the best situation, instead of getting in an argument over it.
    More riders passed us and I thought we were nit in the lead anymore. The downhill was fun, Aria being a Mangalarga Marchador, we cruised down very fast and smoothly. At the bottom of the hill we were passed by a very hot blooded and fit horse, who kept cantering and changing speed. I was dreading Aria’s reaction to that behavior, but she kept being her “cool” self. She did not want to pass the horse, even when the rider turned back and made a circle. Aria stopped and waited for them to ho ahead, while I was laughing at myself, because I allowed her to do so. We were at the last half mile and I dismounted and walked past the finish line, where Kathy was waiting for us. She was taking a video and stopped right before the vet announced me that Aria and I had just won our first ride.
    Aria was not sweaty or dirty, and her feet looked just like normal, even after 30 miles of riding on one of the hardest trails in this region, as Annie told us this morning when we left yo hi home.
    My Aria de Los Cielos, young, barefoot, Mangalarga Marchador mare was the first of her breed to win in an AERC ride.
    I had to keep pinching myself to believe that this is what happened!
    When I reached the camp, our corral was perfectly standing, clean and ready, the neighbors corral was just like mine and I felt that I had two angels (Kathy and Sonia) taking care of us.
    We received a beautiful engraved plate as a winning award, went to sleep and traveled back home in the rain.

    At 1,45 I was back to work, grooming Skye Mama and Luca after dropping off Aria at La Fleur Farms, where Rosalie and Misty welcomed us with a loud neigh, while we appeared at the gate.
    Now that I have filled the screen of my phone with this very long story, I am ready to dream more….

  • Registry Update Project to Begin

    USMMA Members and Mangalarga Marchdor Horse Owners will be contacted during September and October to help us  correct and update the USMMA Horse Registration Database.    We will be requesting and validating the horses’ information like color, sex, death, and ownership.   We will also be trying to collect in new photos.

    Some of the information we have is taken at the time of registry.   We know that some horses change color, get gelded or change hands, but often these life events are not communicated to us.   Hence, the reason for the survey.

    diego1USMMA Members Lynn Kelley and Tresa Smith will be conducting this survey along with our Registrar, Megan Fallwell.   We do not anticipate this project costing any dollars to complete.

    We will be emailing each recorded owner the USMMA record on their horse or horses and asking them to complete the survey and correct information.
    Please return the emails and surveys by November 1.