On our guided riding tours using Brazilian Gaited Horses "Mangalarga Marchadores" (MMs) we explore the nearer and farther surroundings of the guest farm. We mostly ride in a hilly countryside on agricultural supply tracks / paths and pastureland, passing through sugar cane fields and small villages.

The origin of the MM breed dates back to the mid-18th century, the name "Mangalarga" referring to the name of the "fazenda" where horses with a gait bent have been consistently bred. These slim and elegant saddle-horses with a withers height between 140 and 157 cms have very strong nerves and a good character. Their natural pace "marcha" results from selective breeding aimed at enabling horse and rider to go far distances as comfortably as possible without tiring. There are two types of "marcha" – the "Marcha Batida" (a broken trot towards a diagonal sequence) and the "Marcha Picada" (a smooth broken pace towards a lateral sequence). MMs definitely are something special – going in the smooth "marcha" makes you think "Feels like flying!" The number of MM enthusiasts world-wide grows and grows. There are approximately 450 thoroughbred MMs in Europe, even in China they are used as patrol horses for border protection. Brazilians proudly call their MMs "o cavalo sem fronteiras" – "the horse without frontiers".

We recommend you to bring

• riding breeches or jeans
• jodhpur boots with low chaps or semi-high boots with wide legs and solid soles
• a riding helmet or a wide-brimmed hat – with a protective insert in case you don't use a helmet
• sun glasses and sun protection cream with a high factor (sunblocker)