I met Lynn Kelley in 2015 at the PBR Finals in Las Vegas. She was showing some Mangalarga Marchadors to the public. I could tell from my first look they were a beautiful gaited breed and the rest is history. I became a breeder.

I searched America for the best mares I could find and purchase. I started with Crensa and Sabela. I then purchased some frozen semen from a champion stallion in Brazil from Lynn.

Talisma Kafe was my choice of stallions because I always believed “breed to the best and forget the rest.” My first colt was Apache do High Country and he was born n my lap. He grew up to be a good looking stallion, so I started showing him in California. He ended up winning a couple of grand championships which got the attention of a Marchador breeder in Germany. Apache made history the day his frozen semen was approved and shipped to the breeder in Germany. It had never been done before.

Just recently, the same German breeder decided to take another High Country Marchador yearling stud colt. We sent Bandit do High Country to Texas to be tested and shipped by plane to Germany. The Germans like my breeding program and are going to spread the word in Europe about the High Country Marchadors and their breeding program.

In 2024 we continued our breeding program by importing new frozen semen from Brazil, Jaguar Da Boa Terra. We will be hand-picking some of our mares for Jaguar and we have a small supply available for sale to anyone interested in improving their Marchadors with new lines.

Always remember when creating a new product, do the best so the next generation is better than the last. I consider us still in infancy of breeding Marchadors in North America. Now is the time to breed the basic products for an outstanding future product. 

Again, breed to the best and forget the rest.

Ronald and Nancy Knaack own and operate High Country Marchadors in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.