Cavalgadas - the Way of the Marchador in Brazil
Learn about Cavalgadas, a way of life for the Marchador horse in Brazil, and where you can ride!
by Lynn Kelley
One of the reasons we so enjoy the challenge of breeding Mangalarga Marchador horses is the inspiration and teachings provided by many exceptional Brazilian Breeders. Marcelo and Sophia Baptista de Oliveira of Agro Maripa are a wonderful example.
A great Brazil trail ride with Maripa stallions in Minas Gerais. Photo courtesy of Agro Maripa.
Marcelo is a successful businessman, but his real passion are his Marchador horses. He has been involved in breeding Marchadors for over 30 years and focuses on beautiful horses with both an athletic and fast Marcha gait. Agro Maripa Marchadors can best be described as Brazilian sport horses!
Zenana de Maripa - example of Brazilian Sport horse breeding.
Their Maripa breeding program is proven on cavalgadas (long rides) and sporting events. Every Marchador stallion is tested before they are allowed to become one of their breeding stallions.
Cavalgadas are a way of life for the Marchador horse in Brazil!
We have had the pleasure of joining Marcelo on one such long ride where the athleticism and fast, soft Marcha can really be experienced.
The author, Lynn Kelley, riding Tiziu de Maripa, Marchador stallion in Brazil.
We arose early one bright sunny morning. After a marvelous farm breakfast, we walked out to see our horses (MM stallions all), already groomed and saddled for the ride. We took off at a brisk pace over very hilly terrain, each of us quickly settling in to experience the Marcha gait. An occasional canter or full gallup with breathtaking views added to the enjoyment! After several hours we arrived at a mountain retreat for lunch, a swim in a waterfall pool and a siesta on the porch.
Agro Maripa - country farmhouse setting up for morning coffee. In Minas Gerais, every farm makes its own farm cheese, like the one sitting on the sideboard in this photo. I love it!
Out on the trail - three Maripa stallions though the hills, mountains and valleys in Minas Gerais. Photo courtesy of Agro Maripa.
All Maripa stallions out for a ride. The breeder regularly takes the young stallions out for the long rides. It is a test for him to evaluate their marcha, their performance and their temperament. Not all stallions get to breed in Brazil even though they are often kept as stallions for riding. Photo courtesy of Agro Maripa.
Coming in to the farmhouse at mid-day. The horses cross water, open gates and climb mountains with ease. Meeting cattle along the way is not a problem.
The view from the farmhouse porch. Every hammock was taken in a few minutes!
Maripa Marchador horses are also in Europe where Marcelo and Sophia have ridden cavalgadas of their own, like the pilgramage of St. James in Spain where they rode 300km on their Marchadors stallions. Recently, they also rode their Marchadors in the Alps and on a tour of the Castles of the Loire.
In fact, the cavalgada is the BEST way to meet the Mangalarga Marchador! There is just something about the long ride that lets the rider and the horse relax, settle in and enjoy the ride, the company and the scenery. It is the best way to travel! We have ridden in a cavalgada on almost every trip to Brazil and have fallen more in love with the country and the breed every time. We wish you could pack horses in your suitcase!
A group ride in Brazil hosted by Fazenda Tabatinga along the river. Lots of waterfalls! We moved cattle! and a stupendous lunch awaited us at the end.
Ouro Preto in Brazil. There are some rides that are history rides - historic colonial towns or fazendas in Brazil.
We usually ride with the Marchador breeders when we visit Brazil, but you can also book your own cavalgada and choose the kind of riding holiday that you would like, including historic rides - colonial cities and the origin of the Mangalarga Marchador, beach rides - Brazil has beaches that are beyond compare-- the country rides in the interior of the hillsides of Minas Gerais; the schooling ride-- countryside rides with equitation lessons.
We would encourage anyone either interested in the Marchador breed or just looking for a wonderful riding experience to visit Brazil. Come join us! Let’s go for a long ride!
How you can go:
Learn more about great Brazil riding holidays in the Pantanal, along the Bahia Coast and beyond on EquitrekkingTravel.com.
Learn about Brazilian Tours with Marchadors: Ocean rides Haras Agua Boa farm and Hotel, Hotel Marinas, Countryside rides Haras Clarion - Alice Fonseca.
Check out other destinations Lynn Kelly visited, including Agro Maripa Brazil and Haras El Far. Learn about the Brazil Marchador Breeders Tour.
About the Author: Lynn Kelley has owned Marchador horses since 2001. One of the founding members of the U.S. Mangalarga Marchador Association in 2004, she has been instrumental in developing and keeping close ties to the ABCCMM, the Brazilian association that brought the Brazilian inspection process to the U.S. in 2005. She and her husband, John travel to Brazil almost every year to learn from the breeders first-hand and to carry on their tradition of excellence. For more information on the Marchador breed, visit the Marchador association websites: (North America) usmarchador.com ; (Brasil) abccmm.org.br or (Europe) eamm.de
Lynn and John also own and operate Summerwind Marchadors, one of the largest and oldest Marchador breeders in the U.S. They offer access to some of the top Marchadors in Brazil through imported frozen semen and frozen embryos. SW Future Foals can be found across the U.S. and in Canada.
