The morning after participating in Gabriel Monteiro’s horse parade, we continued on towards the city of Presidente Prudente, Sao Paulo – the Decatur, Texas of Brazil.

In the 1950’s, the King Ranch, one of the largest and oldest ranches in the world, bought land near Presidente Prudente in Brazil. The operation sent workers, machinery and a Quarter Horse stud by the name of Saltilho Jr. along with 7 mares to the South American country.

There were different European breeds of horses in Brazil at the time, but the Quarter Horse revolutionized work in the field. The animal’s athleticism, cow sense and intelligence made it the perfect fit to work the large pastures of the Brazilian King Ranch.

On March 31, 1968, the Ranch held the first Quarter Horse sale in the country and it was at that moment that the breed took off in Brazil. Ranchers from Presidente Prudente and the surrounding area began purchasing horses from the King Ranch Remuda and crossing them with their own animals. Within a few years the number of pure Quarter Horses grew significantly in the country and the Brazilian Quarter Horse Association was born.

The day before arriving in the birthplace of the Brazilian Quarter Horse I heard a noise I hate – a loose horse shoe clanking. I was forced to stop at a gas station, borrow a hammer and nail it back on Life’s front right hoof.

Just after 4pm, with a sore back and an empty stomach, I rode into the Quarter Horse Ranch in Presidente Prudente.

“Filipe welcome to the Ranch, we are so proud to be hosting you and your mares,” Heitor, the president of the ranch said shaking my hand.

The Quarter Horse Ranch, home to Latin America’s largest indoor arena, was started by the first breeders in the region in 1974. It is where the first Brazilian Rodeos and timed event competitions began.

“We started the Ranch so there was a place for the Quarter Horse and the cowboys and cowgirls to evolve and grow,” Ruy Terra, the Ranches first president told me.

Today in his 80’s, Ruy was the visionary who built the gigantic indoor arena and all of the horse stalls on the property.

“At first people were against what I was doing, they didn’t have the vision I had back then,” he told me as we walked the ranch.

Today the Quarter Horse ranch still hosts rodeos, timed events and different shows. It is the meeting place for most of the breeders in Presidente Prudente and Brazil. In just a few minutes there I already felt like I was amongst old friends. Everyone wanting to help care for the mares and hear stories. It was amazing.

After hearing Ruy’s story I asked him what he loved most about the Quarter Horse. After all, he was one of the first Brazilian Breeders after the King Ranch if not the first.

“The Quarter Horse is the family’s horse, when you go to a competition you see the kids riding, competing alongside their parents and grandparents. That’s what I love about this horse,” Ruy told me while he watched the mares eat with great interest.