RODRIGUES
T R A I N I N G
C E N T E R
w w w . r o d r i g u e s t r a i n i n g . c o m
RODRIGUES
T R A I N I N G
C E N T E R
BY JEFFREY WINTERSTEEN
T
he pastures of Brazil have produced some of the iconic Arabian horses of the breed. As a consequence, the country has also shaped and fashioned some of the notable horseman of the industry, many of whom have gone on to influence breeding and training far from
the fields of their homeland. Jo達o Rodrigues is one of these notable Brazilian horsemen, and he now calls Scottsdale home at his Rodrigues Training Center. Jo達o (pronounced zhuh-own) is a third generation horseman who has learned his craft from his father with brothers Alcides and Diego in the farmlands outside S達o Paulo.
João Rodrigues started riding at a very young age in Brazil.
“I was really influenced by my father,” says João. “I inherited the passion for the Arabian horse from him, for sure. My father Zeze was the pioneer of the breed in Brazil. He was the first trainer to come the United States and learn the American training methods, which he brought back to Brazil. He was also the first Brazilian to bring a horse from Brazil to a U.S. show. That was in 1991, when he showed Munir HCF (Lyphard x Bint Tahava) at Scottsdale in western pleasure. He won two classes and was Reserve Champion in open western pleasure. That was huge at that time! For a Brazilian guy this was a really big deal. It showed what was possible and the high quality of Brazilian trainers and horsemen. This opened the door for the Brazilian trainers to start coming to the U.S.” Zeze was the head trainer and farm manager at the well-known Haras Capim Fino, one of the largest and most prestigious breeding operations in Brazil at that time. Salete, João’s mother, ran the conditioning program for the training horses. Haras Capim Fino, owned by Polé Levy, produced 60 to 80 foals a year. The farm’s HCF initials were synonymous with quality and a multitude of national champions. They were the leading breeders in Brazil for 14 years in a row. “It was at HCF that I started learning from my father. My brothers and I were just little kids, but we were always at the barn. My father was pretty tough on us,” remembers João with a laugh. “I mean we had to work, we had to be at the barn taking care of the horses, but that was huge for us as far as a learning experience. It gave me a great foundation for life, that I had to work for my success. “The great thing about growing up at HCF,” he continues, “was we were able to be around some really high quality horses, to see them every day. From this I knew early on what a good horse was supposed to be. Some of those that influenced me were Lyphard, Almaden, Aladdinn Echo, Don El Chall, AF Don Giovanni, and Cajun Prince HCF.”
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These early formative years at HCF would have a lasting impact on João. He learned every aspect of horsemanship, making for a well-rounded education. “We worked in every level of the industry at the farm, from the breeding, caring for foals, all the way to the show ring — both performance and halter,” explains João. “I owe a lot to my dad and to Polé. Polé gave us a chance to show his horses; these were the best in Brazil at the time.” Most who know João understand his ability in the halter ring, but those same people might be surprised at his ability on top of a horse too. “Yeah, I rode a lot as a kid,” explains João. “I started riding and competing very early. Actually, my first national championship was when I was 11 years old in JTH. When I was 12 years old, I was National Champion Western Pleasure Junior Rider.”
Opening page: João with multi-champion Half-Arabian mare Donatella Versace (Versace x VF Campus Queen). Bottom right: João’s father Zeze Rodrigues on Munir HCF (Lyphard x Bint Tahava), 1991 Scottsdale Reserve Champion Western Pleasure Open and first place winner in two classes. Bottom left: Young João.
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João and Zeze, above, and João’s mother Salete and his daughter Giovanna are pictured at left.
It was natural then, that when João was 18 he decided to turn his passion into a fulltime profession as a trainer. Three years later he earned his first national championship as a professional when he showed the bay son of El Shaklan, Bhaskar NA (x Binte Monietta), to Brazilian National Reserve Champion. He was also voted best handler of the show, cementing João as one of the most promising of the up-and-coming trainers. Following the trail his father blazed, João also looked to expand his knowledge and opportunity by coming north. “The first time I came to the U.S. was in 1998,” he says. “I was looking to improve as a trainer, to learn more. I thought the only place to do that would be the States. At the time there were a lot more horses in the U.S., and a lot of the U.S. trainers had a different way of doing things, a different knowledge from what I knew at the time.” João packed his bags and headed north to David Boggs’ Midwest Training Centre for a couple months from the end of November to the beginning of February. “It was a great opportunity to learn at one of the best training, showing, and marketing facilities in the world.” João’s second opportunity came the following year when Greg Knowles was judging the Brazilian Nationals. “He invited me to come and help for the Scottsdale show, and my father thought that it was an excellent opportunity,” remembers João. “I learned a lot from Greg and Lisa Knowles. Lisa had one of the best conditioning programs, and from Greg, his knowledge of finding a special horse, his training techniques, and a unique marketing ability.” 4 ▪ RODRIGUES ▪ WORLD
João now had a taste of the U.S. and wanted to do more there. He was, however, still having trouble with his English, and needed to spend more time in the U.S. to improve his language skills. As luck would have it, the noted breeder Lucy Whittier had recently been in Brazil looking for horses. “I remember it like it was yesterday,” says Lucy. “When Zeze backed me against a wall at the Scottsdale show in 2001 and asked, ‘Lucy, will you let João come to stay with you and teach him what you know about breeding horses?’ I’d met Zeze at the Brazilian Nationals a few months prior as he was J.P. Martin’s (Haras JP), favorite trainer. I had recently purchased Brazilian National Champion Colt Regal Actor JP and Regal Fada JP, Brazilian National Champion Filly from J.P., so I was familiar with João’s credentials. He’d been named Trainer of the Year at the previous nationals. I never had a resident trainer before but I said, ‘Sure.’ Besides, his father had me flat against a wall! And so began a warm association between myself and a very talented young man.
Two of João’s mentors: Greg Knowles, top left, and Lucy Whittier, top right. Middle right: At the 2000 Brazilian Nationals, João was voted best handler of the show. Left: João also earned his first national championship as a professional with Bhaskar NA (El Shaklan x Binte Monietta), Brazilian Reserve National Champion Stallion.
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João with his family, Annette, Giovanna, and Nicolas, above, and brother Alcides with his wife Margaux, are pictured above left.
João’s brother Diego joined the team with his wife, Tais, becoming an integral part of the operation about a year ago. Also pictured is their daughter Maria Helena.
“João called me ‘The Mama,’ as in ‘The Mama said this and The Mama wants that,’” chuckles Lucy. “He didn’t speak very much English, but I was amazed at how much he understood and how quickly he learned. João, still only 21 or 22 years old at the time, was a very hard worker. He took over my barn like he’d been doing it all of his life, and actually he had. João became our one-man show. Soon, all my broodmares were shining like they were about to go in the ring. Eager to introduce his native-bred Arabian horses to our country, João asked to take Regal Fada JP (Laddin BA x Firesong JP) to the U.S. Nationals that year. They were the youngest among their competitors, and so beautiful together and their Top Ten win is one of my fondest memories. “If João wasn’t an experienced breeder before he came to Las Colinas, he was by the time he left,” Lucy continues. “I spent countless hours teaching him about pedigrees, phenotype, genotypes and their influences in breeding. We bred 28 mares that season, settling 27 of them. His duties didn’t include foaling out the mares, but he insisted on being there for every one. A touching remembrance of him occurred when I crept down the aisle to one of the foaling stalls to check on an impending birth, and there was João, who had just made that torturous flight back from visiting his
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parents in Brazil, standing against a corner wall, sound asleep. Because of that dedication, caring and love for the Arabian horse, I am not surprised to see his rapidly-growing success.” João also remembers with fondness his time at Las Colinas. “Lucy was really a great influence and I learned a lot, especially about American pedigrees. In reality, although I am a trainer, the breeding aspect of Arabian horses is my passion.” The U.S. was becoming a big part of João’s life, but this took on a deeper commitment when he met Annette Jurek at the Scottsdale show. “When we decided that we were going to get married, I moved permanently to the States. Since Annette is from Minnesota, I got a job at Bob Boggs’ Midwest Station I, Inc. This became a key factor in the development of my training techniques and breeding knowledge. Since Europe is a major part of his marketing program, I had to train horses accordingly. Trot, attitude and the happiness of the horse became the number one focus of my training, and Bobby made it happen,” João laughs. “That is still true today. “The turning point in my career was when I got a job with Pomeroy Arabians. I was the head trainer and manager of one of the nicest facilities in Arizona,” explains
Sydney Dazzo with Verily PCF (Magnum Chall HVP x Veronica GA).
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João. “It was a big breakthrough for me. We sold $2 million in horses and I realized I could make this work.” João’s next role was as the private trainer for PCF Arabians. “It was a remarkable opportunity and I got to be on the lead of some really great horses and worked with the finest people in our business,” remembers João. After three years at PCF Arabians, João and Annette decided it was time to go out on their own. With the middle brother, Alcides, as assistant trainer at Midwest, the mecca of the Arabian horse, Scottsdale, was the perfect place to call home. Their children, Giovanna and Nicolas, also inherited this passion passed down from their great-grandfather. Younger brother Diego joined the team with his wife, Tais, becoming an integral part of the operation about a year ago. The family-run Rodrigues Training Center is a full-service facility, which can help their clients in breeding consultation, marketing, mare or stallion management, foaling, and, of course, showing. Annette runs the office and the finances. The facility can house 52 horses between stallions, broodmares, foals, and show horses. João likes to keep about 30 horses in full training and he and Diego find that 15 horses apiece is about right, which ensures that each horse gets the maximum individual attention. “Diego trains, shows, and oversees the conditioning of the show horses and manages the farm,” says João. “He is really an excellent addition, to have his knowledge to draw on. And his type of training style is what we learned together. ” The Rodrigues team has also developed a strong reputation for their amateurs, as Sydney Dazzo explains. “João and the entire Rodrigues Training team have made halter showing a different experience for me. With my background being primarily with performance horses, João’s knowledge of both performance and halter horses has made the transition into halter fun, enjoyable and relatable. Our horses are treated and trained the way we prefer, as beautiful athletes, and this creates a well-rounded horse, handler and rider.” 8 ▪ RODRIGUES ▪ WORLD
The training side of the business, however, is only one aspect. Being centered in Scottsdale, one of the key locations for the Arabian breed anywhere in the world, has allowed João to play a much larger role helping people find the right horse. “We have become one of the elite barns in Scottsdale for marketing horses,” he says. Ron Armstrong of Armstrong Arabians explains why they use Rodrigues Training Center for their training and marketing needs. “When Laura and I send out our horses, we always have to consider a safe facility that has a trainer who is honest and has a great work ethic. We want an individual do a great job presenting our horses and also in assisting us in marketing those horses. João fits the bill. In the last three years, he has assisted in the sale of five of Armstrong Arabians’ horses. He has matched them up with the right buyers who are very happy with their purchases and, in most cases, he has continued to train and show the horses after the sale. “Rodrigues Training is small enough that all the horses are being worked directly by João or his brother Diego,” continues Ron. “Their location is perfect for marketing
Paige, Ron, and Laura Armstrong.
The Aria International partners with the yearling filly Truly Memoraable (Trussardi x MPA Giada).
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horses to anywhere in the world and their reputation is very good throughout the Arabian horse community.” Jeff Sloan of Aria Arabians agrees with Ron’s assessment, “I’ve been doing business with João for several years now. I consider him to be a valuable member of our extended Aria team. He is a great horseman and true professional. He has a discerning eye for a horse, and I always pay careful attention when he alerts me to an exciting purchase prospect. I know I can count on him to be measured and objective, even when he’s exuberant about the horse. One of the most thrilling show ring moments for me was to be part of the experience of João winning the weanling filly class at the 2015 Breeders Finals Show with Truly Memoraable (Trussardi x MPA Giarda). As her name implies, it was indeed just that! While we’ve achieved some great things together already, I know that our best achievements are ahead.” João Rodrigues has put three generations of passion, experience, and love of the Arabian breed into his endeavor at Rodrigues Training Center. All this, coupled with the hard lessons of work from his father at Haras Capim Fino, has enabled João to demonstrate in his own, unique way, what is required to be successful in the Arabian industry. 10 ▪ RODRIGUES ▪ WORLD
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