Sisters couple imports Brazilian horses

Holm and Susan Neumann on Ima and Inajara in Brazil. Photo provided

The Sisters horse scene is gaining some exotic influence. Holm and Susan Neumann have begun the process of importing six of Brazil's national horses, the Mangalarga Marchador, to join the two they already have.

The horses are gaited, range in size between 14 and 16 hands and appear in a variety of colors. The two unique gaits which the horses display have the colorful names Marcha Picada and Marcha Batida (pronounced Bachita).

Picada is a four-beat lateral gait; Batida is a smooth-riding fast trot.

South America had no native horses prior to the arrival of Europeans several hundred years ago. The Portuguese armies brought horses with then when they set out to claim large portions of the continent.

Napoleon's invasion of Portugal in 1808 caused the king of Portugal to flee to Brazil with his family. He also relocated several select stallions from his royal stable. These fine animals were crossed with Spanish Barb mares and eventually produced the original Mangalarga Marchador horses.

Renowned for their even temperament and smooth ride, the Marchadors have been what the horse world calls "using" horses right from the start. They excel in varied activities, from stock work to dressage and jumping, endurance riding, and most importantly, being safe, all- around family horses.

The Neumanns and clinician Clint Surplus traveled to Brazil in March to select their horses. The horses -- two bred mares, one filly, two geldings and a two-year-old stallion -- will arrive in early June.

The breed has had a presence in the U.S. for a few years now. The Neumanns first saw them at the Western States Horse Expo in Sacramento. They purchased a gelding and stallion, then decided to go to Brazil to buy direct.

Surplus' first exposure to the breed was at one of his clinics, where Susan brought one of her Marchadors. She talked about their upcoming trip and told Surplus he needed to go with them, he said.

While in Brazil, they spent several days at the breeding ranch where the horses were purchased before going on to a riding school which specialized in Marchadors.

"They wanted us to see the versatility of the horses," said Surplus. "We spent three full days riding a variety of horses in different disciplines as well as on the trail."

Surplus himself rode five horses during the three days.

"The horses have a very reasonable disposition," said Surplus. "They are thin-skinned and sensitive, but not over-reactive. They think before they do anything. Disposition becomes important in breeding when a horse takes the kids to school in the morning, and Mom to get the groceries in the afternoon," he added.

Susan Neumann is excited about the potential for the horses in Central Oregon.

"We want to help establish the breed here," she said. The Neumanns' stallion is standing now and owners of gaited mares in particular are encouraged to give the breed a try. The imported horses will be available for sale.

For more information, look up Mangalarga Marchador in your search engine. The Neumanns may be contacted at 389-9744; or at [email protected]