MARCELO GUZMAN INTERVIEW

Q - You just arrived in Rio Verde, AZ - Tell us about your new location.

A - It was a long journey before making this dream happen. I needed to accomplish a lot of things, sport and business ways to be able to move here, but since we wanted it so bad, we worked hard for several years in Europe, Chile, Texas and Kansas before being blessed to find a fabulous location in Rio Verde Dr at 174st at Janey Vatcher’s beautiful SJ Ranch. We have everything needed to be able to train: nice big arena & cutting pen, both with great footing, horse walker, spacious stalls, cattle, turn outs and all the equipment needed to work the arenas professionally.

Q - You are both from Chile and were accomplished horse people there, what are some of your acheivments?

A - Well, I did a lot of showing in different disciplines. As an exchange student in Western Australia, I won the National Cutting Horse Association Youth High Point Award of that state in 2003. In Chile, I was multi National Champion in all Rodeo Chileno (Chilean working cow horse) categories at both school and university nationals. Yes, I was the guy on TV and Year End books (he says laughing). I qualified several times to the Chilean Rodeo’s National Finals as an OPEN Rider since I was 17, almost every year that I can remember. I also competed in Show Jumping, where I won several shows including some regional awards. In Reining I won the Chilean Style Reining National, the Reining Chile Open and I still have the CRI3* FEI Reining National record in Chile on my Purebred Chilean stud Lil’ Rockstar. I was qualified in 2014 and 2018 for the FEI World Equestrian Games as part of the Chilean Reining Team. That season also I placed in FEI Shows in Europe and Chile which helped me to be #1 in the FEI World Rankings in early 2018.

Q - What drove you to move to America? A - There are a lot of things involved in this decision. First my desire to show the Chilean Breed to the world, my dream to help those with different abilities (para-riders) and be a world class trainer, but at the end of the day I can say that it was Al Dunning who inspired me to come. He told me that if I really wanted to be a world class horseman and fulfill my dreams I needed to be in Scottsdale, AZ.

Q - Tell us about some of the training you will be offering? A - have a special passion for colt starting. It motivates me a lot and I consider it safer for myself when I start colts from the very beginning, to be sure that they will have a solid foundation and absolutely no bucking.

training. I believe that horses that work willingly, learn faster, last longer and can face any challenge. I’ve seen enough of useless horses that move pretty but at the end of the day are dangerous in front of a new challenge. Ground work is my signature, my horses need to behave perfectly and have great manners before I even think of putting a blanket on. I’ve learned from great horsemen and horsewomen from 3 continents and there are a lot of things in common, but solid ground work is the most frequent similitude.

Q - Do you accept all breeds of horses and levels of training?

A - Of course! I’m a horse lover, and all horses are welcome. I can help people to find the right direction for their horses based on their own skills. Actually, I have very good contacts to import the best Purebred Chilean Horses, Warmbloods, and world class performance Appaloosas. Arabians are a breed that’s always caught my eye. I love their power and personality and even if it takes a little longer to train them, I think that the Arabian horse’s spirit is just something else and not many people understand them. Any horse can be good for something when they are sound, and I’m always looking for exotic breeds. Training exotics breeds is always a challenge that makes me dream that maybe one day I could train a horse that will change the course of the industry. I’m a big fan of Quarter Horses, they are the best horses in the world nowadays, and I think the AQHA and APHA have done an extraordinary job with their promotion world wide, specially through NRHA and NRBC that seems to be turning the reining horse in to a new breed that’s creating ‘’Hybrid Vigor’’ out of the best performance horses world wide. I’d always prefer a green horse over one that’s all ready started. I don’t care about the breed, a good horse will always be a good horse. They may have different purposes in life, but a good horse will always be a good horse.

Q - What about the riders, do you accept the Non-Pro and Amateur rider?

A - I accept people of all levels and abilities including my favorites that are Para Riders. As an “old school” or trainer and coach that has adopted modern horsemanship techniques, my main goal is to ‘’ Custom train the horses’’ for my customer’s needs. Everyone has a different body conformation, different weight, different balance and different skills. As a horse trainer, I need to make sure that the horses I train will be suitable for my riders and not force my riders to fit in my program. I ride every horse differently, to be able to fit both the horse’s and its rider’s needs. Every team (horse & rider) has their own highs and lows, and my job as a trainer is training the horse to help my riders in their weak areas and coach my riders to work on their own weak spots and excel on their strengths.

Q - You have completed the Team AD program, and have worked with Al Dunning quite a bit. What was the best part of the program?

A - To me, just being around Alis a huge blessing and learning opportunity. He is more than a successful trainer, he is a righteous man, an exemplary Christian and a real character. I can tell that the best part of the program is his mentoring, his very own example. Every time that he corrected my videos or every time that he teaches me a new skill he does it in the right mood. He is never anxious, he is always calm and always having fun while he teaches. Of course, the knowledge he passes is immense, but learning from him the way to do things and how to achieve little goals all the time, is what made the big difference to me. It took me like 4 years… but I finally made it to be accredited by Al and it is a big honor to me.

Q - One of the area of training that you specialize in and have done very well at are the Para- Riders. What does it take to be a part of your Para-Riding program and how does one sign up?

A - I’ve been so blessed to be involved with WPR (World Para Reining) it just makes everything worth the effort. Being able to work for people with different abilities motivates me more than anything. To be part of the program, people just need a horse and to be willing to learn. Para, is more than just getting on a horse and waiting for someone to assist you, it’s about daily improvements and home work, even when not riding. It may take a little longer than normal riding but the benefits are even bigger.

Q - The Chilean bred horse are a favorite part of your program, as well as the Quarter Horse. Tell us about the Chilean bred horse?

A - Chilean Horses are America’s Oldest Stock horses with a registry that’s started back in 1895. They tend to be a little smaller than an average Quarter Horse. They have been selected for centuries to work cattle in Chile, which is a big deal and huge part of our tradition. The Huaso style of riding, same as Western, comes from the old Spanish Jineta Style and what elder breeders looked for in a Chilean horse conformation is pretty similar as what Californio Vaqueros did. They are smooth, very powerful, have great stamina and are always willing to please. Cow sense has been bred into them for generations, and even though they tend to be hot, they are extremely soft in the mouth and have a naturally huge stop. Their color spectrum is very wide and sometimes rare, making them even more interesting. I believe their biggest virtue is their heart, their courage and their willingness to work. Not many breeds have that willingness and good attitude towards work. I think that the mixture of any breed with a Purebred Chilean, especially with Quarter Horses will make superior horses. Right now I have Lil’ Rockstar available for breeding’s, who holds the National Reining Record in Chile, is a money earner in all NRHA major events in the Novice Horse Classes in 2019, 2019 Novice Horse Year End Champion in Kansas Reining Horse Association and 2020 Multi Open Champion of the Central Plains Reining Horse Association.