by Lynn Kelley

Our nucleo’s first Official ABCCMM Cavalgada Tematica! (Themed Trail Ride) On February 2nd, USMMMA members from AZ, CO, TX, UT and WA came to the OLD CAVE CREEK ride. In order to be official, the ride has to have at least 20 Mangalarga Marchadors participating. This number is smaller than in Brazil with the ABCCMM recognizing we do not have large numbers of Marchadors yet.

Cave Creek is a magnet for outdoor adventures, cowboy heritage and live music.  With a history that includes ancient peoples, gold mining, ranching and dam construction, this scenic town is filled with the spirit of the old west.

Our group of riders and horses trailered or drove to Cave Creek Regional Park to saddle up for our ride through the wide open desert.  We took a remote and scenic trail that eventually bought us into the town of Cave Creek.  Many of the town’s buildings are 200 years old making it a painting of the old west.   We rode into town heading for the Buffalo Chip Saloon, famed for barbecue, beer, line dancing and bull riding.  The Buffalo Chip bull riding arena provided the perfect place to tie up the horses while the riders went to the long family style tables to have lunch.

It was a fabulous and fun experience!   I was dreading a group trail ride because so often they are boring to me.  But it was a beautiful day from the early “before it got light out” start to the final trailer ride back to the barn.  What can I say?  Marchadors are fun!

The USMMA, an ABCCMM nucleo and the ABCCMM supported the event.  Many USMMA members gave their time, supplies or services to make the event come alive.  The ABCCMM provided official vests and passports that get stamped whenever and wherever you participate in these cavalagadas.  The ride was officiated by ABCCMM’s Dr. George Vilar.

Special thanks to Carolina Peterson, who planned and pushed to make this event happen from the get-go.  Many volunteers went above and beyond the day of the ride and we thank Silver Stables for trailering many of the horses. Photos from the group and some by Jennifer Jeung.