“Welcome to Ranch Gruta Azul!” Nene, one of Brazil’s best cutting horse trainers greeted us on approach.
Riding next to Nene, another trainer, and the ranch’s vet, we made our way into one of the most beautiful horse ranches I have ever visited in my life.
“Tomorrow you will ride some of our cutting horses,” Nene said.
‘Gruta Azul’ is a cutting ranch just an hour outside of ‘Campo Grande’, the capital city of the Brazilian state of ‘Mato Grosso do Sul’. It is here where some of the best cutting horses in the entire country train and evolve to become champions. Many were born in the United States and are imported into Brazil.
As we rode by the stallion’s barn Emma asked Nene if that was where we would be staying. He laughed and pointed out a nearby house.
“Oh my goodness, the stallion’s barn is so nice I thought it was where we were resting,” Emma said, laughing.
As it turned out, we were to be hosted by the workers’ family in the ranch owner’s home.
Tiao, one of the workers, relayed to us a message from the ranch owner Norberto Leite – “Mr. Norberto and his daughter Patricia had to travel, but they want you to feel at home.”
He showed us our room and Emma and I were left standing there with our jaws on the ground. On the bed were chocolates and presents for us with a special note from the family, and on the bedside table sat a bottle of champagne on ice… We didn’t know what to say.
That night we drank beers and ate delicious meat with all of the farms workers. It was an amazing night! The next morning I woke up early, ready to try some cutting.
Ever since I was a young boy I have dreamt of this moment. Cutting is one of the most prestigious sports within the world of the quarter horse. As you separate a cow from the rest of the herd, you are really able to see the horses athleticism and intelligence. The horse must keep the animal away from the herd as it jumps from side to side trying to get through. All while the rider keeps the reigns down and lets the horse work on its own.
“Filipe I love this sport so much… It is amazing to work with these horses and see their development over the course of the training,” Nene said as his eyes filled with water.
As I watched him warm up the horses I could see his tremendous passion for the sport and these animals.
“Horses are everything to me, they are my friends, my job… I feed my family thanks to them,” Nene said.
As I mounted the first quarter horse of the day and slowly made my way towards the herd my heart took off. I was so excited I couldn’t stop shaking. When I separated my first calf the fun really started. With a smile on my face that spread from ear to ear I cut my first animal.
“This is amazing!” I yelled as my horse jumped from side to side like a cat.
After I finished, Nene took the bride off his horse and told me to jump on. Not only did I get to try cutting, he was about to let me ride bridle-less to really see the power of the horse I was on.
“This is one of our best horses Filipe and he is from your home town, Pinhal,” he said as I hopped on.
I can’t even begin to explain how amazing and emotional this moment was for me. As someone who admires the great American quarter horse and cowboy culture as much as I do, this was one of the greatest moments of my life. I can’t thank Nene, Mr. Norberto, Patricia and the entire Gruta Azul family enough for all of their love and help.
“Filipe you did so well today I would like to give you one of the buckle’s I won here in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul,” Nene said as he handed me a beautiful belt buckle.
I immediately put it on my belt. What an honor! I left the ranch rendered speechless by the kindness I had encountered within its fence lines. Mr. Norbert had now offered me a helping hand not once but twice while I crossed his state. I had of course already enjoyed his hospitality in the Pantanal, just outside the town of Miranda at his farm ‘Arancua’.
