JUST A SIMPLE STORY

by Marco Aurelio Dapelo M.

I was born in Lima, Peru on April 4, 1958, the oldest of a third generation of Peruvian Paso horse breeders.  My grandfather, a son of an Italian immigrant who came in the late 1800’s, and my father, Mr. Jose Antonio Dapelo V. “Pepe”, were two of the original founders of the Asociacion Nacional de Criadores y Propietarios de Caballos Peruanos de Paso “ANCPCPP”.  They were active in breeding and showing horses as well as judging them since the 1920’s. My mother, Rosa Mercedes Murro Belgrano-Dapelo, is a daughter of two Italian immigrants, who were also involved in the Peruvian Paso horses.  

During my childhood, I was involved in an accident that resulted in the unfortunate death of my oldest brother.  Due to this tragedy, my mind was elsewhere, therefore, I did poorly in elementary and junior high school. As I continued my studies in the private Catholic North American School in San Isidro, Lima, I graduated from high school with better grades. I then attended the Agrarian University of Peru and successfully earned a Bachelor’s degree in Livestock Technology Production, “Animal Husbandry.”  Who would have thought it possible?

As a youngster, my father took me to the family plantation, Hacienda “LAS SALINAS”     in the valley of Lurin, near Lima, where I was first introduced to the Peruvian Paso horse breed. Meanwhile In 1967, I started to be involved in the breeding program of the ranch as well as creating my own crosses with the guidance of my father. This resulted in my being able to register in 1968, at the age of ten years old, my first horse out of “Elegante Dapelo” and the mare “JAD Cristal” named “Villa Manzanilla” with Reg: # 00177 in the Peruvian Horse Association. I was very exited and proud to accomplish such a memorable challenge. The year after I registered another horse and the year after, and the year after, and the …………

Ever since I was very young, I owned my own horse.  I would ride my beautiful dapple-grey stallion from the “Galpon” bloodline named “Villa Rescate” with my father and grandfather.  We would often visit the agricultural fields where we harvested sugar cane, Pima cotton, corn, grapes (from which we did our own home wine), and many other crops. We also visited the brave fighting bulls, which my father raised until the revolution in the 1970’s (to be exactly till 1973). Twenty years later in 1974 after the revolution, my father started raising the fighting bulls again in the northern region of Peru, “Piura”.

Since I have been involved in the fighting bull breed, I have had the opportunity and privilege to meet some of the remarkable and famous “REJONEADORES” (bull fighters riding Andalusian horses), Fermin Bohorquez, Alvaro Domecq, Angel & Rafael Peralta, to name a few.  They used to board these beloved of king’s horses and practice their maneuvers at our family’s Hacienda during the bull fighting festival, which was usually held in October.  These equestrian men educated me a great deal in the finer equitation of “DRESSAGE” on their fabulous aristocratic horses.  Since then, I have been extremely intrigued with the outstanding agility and spectacular “TOUCH” of these distinguished horsemen.  This aspect encouraged and influenced my interest in the training of the Peruvian Paso horse and played a significant role and contributed in the founding of many of today’s most successful training methods.  Now, I can appreciate and enjoy the wonderful ride of this noble, warm-blooded animal which is truly a fascinating horse to ride.

Throughout growing up, I had the privilege to be one of the last to see and appreciate the exquisite talent of the trainers at my father’s Hacienda before and during the agrarian reform in the early 1970’s by the totalitarian military government (in Peru, it was the end of an era or the way of life that had produced the Peruvian Paso horse.  For many breeders, a style of life was gone forever.  For others, it was just a questionable stage).  Trainers such as Luis Perez La-Rosa, Gregorio Villaverde, Teodoro Nunez, Alfonso Duany, and the old Sr. H. Carrera Cotrina, who was an excellent mule trainer, were taught by the legendary “Maestros de Maestros” Juan Orbegoso Villota and Carlos Zabala to name a few. (These Maestros used to train at our family plantation in the late 1940’s as well.) 

All of these equestrians were instrumental in my training and judging criteria.  They would often tell me, “Marco, the more you ride, the more you learn.  Every horse is different and you learn from your mistakes.  This is the experience of life which will give you the skills of a great professional.”  For the final “TOUCH”, my father, with his unique character, refined my knowledge with the patience and dedication found in the traditional and unique training methods of the Peruvian Paso horse.  I spent long nights listening, with great interest and curiosity, to the anecdotes of these masters, and their memories that would take them back, and their unbelievable stories full of wisdom. 

I started to participate in showing horses as well as breeding my own bloodline during my youth in the early 1970’s.  I also worked as a show official in positions such as ring admission attendant, ring master, show steward, etc.  Later, I was an assistant judge for Antonio & Fernando Grana, Jose Musante Hurtado, Carlos Gonzales B., Carlos Luna De la Fuente and for my father as well.

I have been professionally training horses and showing my own horses since 1975.  Aside from raising the Peruvian Paso breed, managing and training for different ranches, I have held seminars, educational clinics, and encouraged and supported kids’ shows.  I have also judged fun shows, open houses and regional horse shows in Peru, Central America, and across the United States and Canada as well. 

Over the course of the years, after being in Central America a few years, my family and I decided to come to the State of Texas in 1982 to open new frontiers for the Peruvian Paso horse breed. 

To continue the family tradition, I finally fulfilled the wishes of my father.  After being in an internship program for several years, in which I was in an interview test, student judge under renowned judges, judging tests at official horse shows, I became an official carded judge list “B” and final nomination in 1992 by the ANCPCPP Board of Directors. Finally, after I decide to complete the program, in the year 2000, I became an OFFICIAL carded judge list “A” with a certified diploma by the ANCPCPP Board of Directors. I am as well a carded judge for the NAPHA organization.  I am presently an owner and breeder of Peruvian Paso Horses and a current member of the ANCPCPP, the NAPHA (PPHRNA & AOOBPPH), and the PHAC (Canadian Livestock Records Corporation). All of these are Peruvian Paso Horse Organizations.

Along the way, I have had the opportunity to train hundreds of horses.  Life is for learning and I have had the chance to learn much, to teach much, and to share my skills and knowledge, as well as the chance to teach the “classical equitation” in this breed.  Their magnanimous and superb temperament, strength, brio and extravagant front action are nature’s school master and the Peruvian Paso breed now occupies a prominent place in the equestrian scheme of many countries.

I have found that, after shivering my way through spring rains and summer snowstorms, battling mud and stallions, crossing paths with many strong-willed owners and competitors, sharing the excitement of winning many championships at the shows, my work as a manager and trainer along with friends like Gayle and Lee Lydic from Madison, Ohio, Al and Leesa Gratkowski from Decatur, Michigan, as well as many others, has been a rich and rewarding experience.  I am grateful for the chance to not only train excellent horses but to work with tremendous people.  I have a deeper understanding for their love for the finest horses and hope that those who came into my life can also say that I have given them some new insights and ideas.

I played an important role in the Ringstead Ranch’s activities located in Millarville, Alberta, Canada. Rick Cones, the owner, and I worked as a team to create a successful breeding program and show strategy.  The ranch has more than 70 horses and we foaled more than 14 mares yearly.  Aside from my primary responsibilities as a trainer at Ringstead, I was a consultant and advisor for the ranch and for other breeders as well.

After arriving to Texas and resting for a while, I worked on making my dream come true. I worked managing and training for Pecan Valley ranch, owned by my younger brother, Lucho and his wife, Jeanelle Dapelo in Weatherford, Texas.

They say all good things must come to an end.  Now, I have moved on and, much to my surprise, I left Venezuela, Panama, Ohio, Michigan, Canada and many other places with a mixture of excitement for the future and regrets for saying goodbye to many wonderful years and friends. I wanted to pursue a long-held dream back here in the state of Texas (where it does not snow in July! ), to settle and to finally to be reunited with my family.

Now I not only live in Texas fulfilling my dream, but I am also married (Finally !!) to my dream woman, Rusti, in the beautiful historical town of Granbury where I settled my ranch named “Criadero El Refugio USA”. El Refugio, is on 29 acres of gorgeous coastal pastures overlooking the Granbury lake where I continue raising and breading our beloved Peruvian Horse.

To thank everyone who has touched my life and passion for the training in the years covered by these wonderful horses would be impossible.  I know who they are and so do they.  I thank them for their enthusiasm, love, affection, trust, and tremendous hard work.  These are things one never forgets.

“I have the unique ability to convert the training into passion……
……it is a great joy to train horses”.

MARCO.

-  To ride is to aspire to gentleness...

-  Reins of silk...

Spanish proverb