RODOLFO GUZZO: An International HORSEMAN

By Gina Mishek

In these times, when international exchanges of commerce and information come hourly, if not by the minute, the world has become increasingly connected. This is certainly true of the Arabian horse industry, and Rodolfo Guzzo does a great deal to foster those international connections. Guzzo assists clients worldwide in marketing their horses, building their breeding programs, and showing their horses to the highest show ring honors.

Guzzo has worked his way up the industry’s ladder, starting out by conditioning and training horses at farms, such as Caetano and Fernando Fabrini’s Haras Fabrini in Brazil. Following his time there, he worked with trainers in the United States to polish his innate abilities. Since then, he has become one of the most respected sources in the world for marketing, breeding and showing expertise.

A longtime friend of Guzzo’s, Lenita Perroy, who is herself one of the most respected breeders in the world, sheds some light on how he became the expert he is today. “I met Rodolfo such a long time ago that I can’t remember which year it was,” says Perroy. “He was working for a very prestigious farm as an apprentice trainer. Very soon, he had learned so much that another even more prestigious farm took him on as their trainer. There, Rodolfo worked like mad, training and conditioning at least 70 horses, and showing them during the year, at least five shows each. It was a mad pace. He was always working, day and night. But this gave him great experience in just a few years. The farm had won everything, every year, at every show. When that farm closed, Rodolfo went to work elsewhere. He was very well known, and everywhere he worked, he was successful.” In a word, dedication is what got Rodolfo Guzzo where he is, and it is a trait he maintains today. He and his wife, Maris, own and operate Guzzo Arabian Training in Campinas, São Paolo state.

Additionally, Rodolfo travels the world to assist clients. As seriously as Guzzo takes his business, he is also grateful for it, and he says that one of the best parts of his job is, “getting to know the world, and so many wonderful people because of Arabian horses.” He adds that he truly enjoys, “knowing the joy I can give to people by winning a championship, selling a horse or helping to breed fantastic foals.”

Guzzo is also known for his terrific eye and sensibility with horses. He has found numerous champions, and has helped to put many horses into the hands of happy owners. His philosophy is that he first has to like a horse before thinking about marketing it. “Being sure of the horse quality is the first step in the process of the business,” he says. “If it is a stallion, it has to produce. If it is a mare who hasn’t produced yet, she has to have strong producing lines in her pedigree together with a natural beauty. My idea of marketing is having special horses for special people at the right time.” That philosophy also applies when he is helping people to find the horse they are looking for. “The first step is knowing the client and understanding what exactly they expect in buying a horse. If the client is already a breeder, we keep his breeding program in mind. To select the right horse, I look for quality and at the pedigree.”

Guzzo’s eye for quality has translated to success in competition, marketing and breeding, as Lenita Perroy points out. “I have always admired Rodolfo’s work, and I have always liked him as a person. So, when he came to me and asked if I would let him show my beautiful mare Hilany Reyna, I accepted. He was sure she would become the Brazilian National Champion. She did. Since then, he has shown other horses for me, and he has sold some of the horses bred by me to his clients. They have been very successful, and have won several National Championships.” Robert and Dixie North of North Arabians, in Ramona, Calif., have worked closely with Guzzo. In the past few years, he has led the Norths’ horses to numerous National honors, and he has also assisted them with marketing and purchasing horses. “Rodolfo is not only a great trainer, but his expertise in marketing is excellent as well,” says Dixie North. “He has been an agent in all of our Brazilian transactions over the past few years, and has marketed many horses for us to Brazil and From Brazil to Europe. Rodolfo is now instrumental in marketing breedings to Padrons Psyche, Sir Fames, the Brazilian stallion El Nabila B (who will stand at North Arabians in 2006), and Ever After, our beautiful young colt by Sir Fames.”

Guzzo with son Rodolfinho

Guzzo team
Special thanks to Dejair, Sandro and Guzzo Arabian Training's team for such outstanding success at the Brazilian Nationals, a show that we will never forget.

Jose Alves of Haras JM concurs with Perroy and the Norths in his praise for Guzzo’s talents. “We consider Rodolfo a great friend and great professional horseman, and we have been working together since 1999,” says Alves. “We could see that Rodolfo was doing the most professional and successful work at the Brazilian shows. We decided to work with him because it seemed that that would be the quickest and best way to get to the top in Brazil. Our breeding program is based on our own experience in breeding horses, but Rodolfo’s help was and still is very important to us. We appreciate him because of the ideas and information he can provide about how to succeed in getting the best results from the horses we breed.

“Rodolfo is an excellent horseman because he is very intelligent, honest, trustworthy, and hardworking (perhaps, too hard!),” Alves continues.“He is a leader, and he does his job with his heart. He really knows how to choose a future champion, and that, in addition to his many others qualities, is how he became a key figure in our marketing.”

Greg Knowles, who worked with Guzzo to purchase Brazilian National Champion DT Almanara this year, has a reputation as one of the top marketers of Arabian horses in the United States. Knowles says that Guzzo has earned his respect for a number of reasons. “First of all, Rodolfo is a great man,” says Knowles. “He is talented, compassionate, and very honest. My experiences with him have been nothing but fantastic, and I am proud to call him my friend.”

Having worked successfully with Americans like Knowles and the Norths, Guzzo notes that he is encouraged by the continuing growth of the relationship between North and South American breeders. “South Americans have bought wonderful horses from the United States over many years, and those horses give quality to our breeding programs. Now, it’s great to see many of our horses winning in shows all over the world. It was incredible to have U.S. National Champions competing in Brazil this year, and it is a great demonstration of support. The presence of so many breeders, trainers and friends from North America at our shows throughout the year is very important to the industry, and I hope this exchange of business and knowledge continues.

“The two markets have a lot in common,” Guzzo adds. “A horse that wins in Brazil should be very competitive in North America and vice versa. People always look for quality, and in the last few years, type has been increasingly important in both markets. I can appreciate that because I like very typey horses, but without giving away structure and necks. DT Almanara, who was Brazilian National Champion and was then sold to Greg Knowles, is a very typey, balanced filly. I am sure she will do great in the United States. The same goes for Cibylla el Yllan, an Yllan el Jamaal daughter also sold this year to Canada.”

Guzzo Arabian Training conditions and prepares horses throughout the year, and it is also a permanent source of quality horses for the worldwide market. Guzzo and his staff are continually hard at work, and he says that the teamwork and camaraderie on the farm have been a major factor in its success. “I am proud to have formed such a great team over the years at Guzzo Arabian Training. The work of everyone has been fundamental in building what we have today.”

The key to Guzzo’s success is that he uses his horse sense in a dedicated and responsible way. He advises seriously and honestly, with proven results—that is how he has built a base of clients who put their confidence and trust in him. Lenita Perroy says that this is only natural for him. “I am happy for all of Rodolfo's successes,” she says. “He deserves it, for it is entirely due to his talent as a trainer, as a horseman, and to his good sense in business, that he has achieved so much.”

Ever passionate about the Arabian horse, Guzzo says he will be showing and marketing horses as long as his body permits him to do so, and he will always be involved with the breed. “Marketing horses is about making people feel good,” says Guzzo. “Some people choose horses as a way of finding success, and I feel lucky that God gave me the chance to make this possible.”

All of my national title wins I dedicate to my wife, Maris, and our son Rodolfo. Without them I would never have achieved any of my goals. They are my inspiration every day of my life."
—Rodolfo Guzzo

Guzzo and his first National Champion