If you are a fan of gaited horses, the Mangalarga Marchador might be for you. This striking breed developed in Brazil but can now be found worldwide.

History

The Mangalarga Marchador descends from the Brazilian breeding program of the Baron of Alfenas, Francisco Gabriel Junqueira. Junqueira imported a Lusitano stallion whom he bred to his Barb mares. Junqueira referred to the resulting horses as “Sublime.”

The Sublime horses featured smooth gaits and beautiful conformation. These horses proved popular, and some of them were taken to a farm in Rio de Janerio called Mangalarga. As public awareness of these beautiful horses increased, people began referring to them as “Mangalargas.” Junqueira remained very involved in the breed’s development, making recommendations to breeders on how to further enhance the breed’s physical characteristics and unique gaits.

As the breed continued to develop, the Mangalarga Breeders Association was formed in 1934 to further direct the breed’s development. However, breeders disagreed on the best direction for the breed. Some breeders wanted to strive to keep the breed’s original standards, while others wanted to develop the breed into a new type of horse. The stud book of the Mangalarga Breeders Association was closed in 1943, but the Association Mangalarga Marchador was founded in 1948 to take its place.

The Mangalarga Marchador continued to gain popularity, and there are more than 350,000 of the horses registered today. The breed was imported to the United States, and about 250 Mangalarga Marchadors are registered in the United States. They have become popular parade horses, having appeared in the Tournament of Roses Parade, the Equine Affaire, and on HorseTV.

Breed Characteristics

The Mangalarga Marchador is known for its beauty and striking appearance. It is highly intelligent and easily trainable. The breed typically stands between 14.2 and 16 hands, and weighs between 800 and 1,100 pounds. The Mangalarga Marchador most frequently has a grey coat, but bays, blacks, buckskins, and even paints also occur.

The Mangalarga Marchador performs three natural gaits: the walk, two ambling gaits, and the canter. The marcha batida is a gait where the feet move in diagonal pairs. However, the horse does not leave the ground; he always has feet present on the ground as he strides forward with his other feet. During the marcha picada the horse's feet move in lateral pairs with smooth transitions. Both gaits are smooth to ride due to the lack of suspension that is typical in a horse’s trot or jog.

There is rich tradition in the naming of Mangalarga Marchadors. A horse’s registered name always includes the name of the breeding farm in addition to the horse’s actual name. The farm's name can appear before or after the horse's name, and helps to identify particular bloodlines.

If you would like to learn more about the Mangalarga Marchador, visit the United States Mangalarga Marchador Association's website.

Image Source: wikimedia.org

Original Source: Mangalarga Marchador