|
Like all American breeds, it descends from
European horses introduced by the conquerors.
In the beginning of the
19th century, Don Joao IV, frightened by the arrival of Napoleon
the 1st on the Iberic peninsula, took refuge in Brasil. He
took all his cavalry with him. His horses were the Alters
(Andalusian founder).
The Brazilian family Junqueira
purchased some stallions and bred them to local mares with
Dutch origins in order to obtain a horse adapted for livestock
work, hunting, polo and traveling.
The Junqueiras wanted
a horse that could serve the boss as well as the ranch hands.
They introduced Arabian, Anglo-Arabian, Thoroughbred and American
Saddle horse blood into the Mangalarga, in hopes of conserving
a certain amble: the marcha trottada, or a walking trot.
Text written with the participation
of Stéphane Bigo
|
|
Characteristics of the Mangalarga
breed
| Breed |
Mangalarga |
| Origin |
Brazil |
| Height at the withers |
15 1/2 to 16 hands (1,55 to 1,60m) |
| Build |
Middle length |
| Colors |
Chesnut, bay, grey, roan |
| Character |
Calm and energetic |
| Capacities |
Saddle horse. livestock work, equestrian
games, trips (from pleasure riding to long voyages). |
| Qualities |
Resistant |
| Head |
Rather long, straight profile, wide forehead,
alert eyes, long ears. |
| Neck |
Long and muscular, abundant mane. |
| Body |
Withers somewhat prominent, doral-lumbar
line short and straight, rounded, strong hindquarters, abundant
tail attached high. |
| Shoulder |
Sloped and well muscled. |
| Chest |
Deep |
| Legs |
Solid bones and well-developed joints, resistant
joints and tendons, long pastern, strong, well made hooves.
|
With Stéphane Bigo's participation
By Le Guide du cheval - Maurizio BONGIANNI. Fernand Nathan Editions,
Paris - 1980.
|
IDDN certification