Alcainca Dressage Program

Lodging is onsite at the riding center.

Three meals a day are provided and will be served in a dining room located off the riding hall.

The typical breakfast will be very European
consisting of milk, coffee, tea, juice, bread, butter, cheese and jams. Lunches consist of salad, meat, vegetables and fruit. Dinners will usually be salad or soup, fish, vegetables and dessert. Coffee, tea, red and white wines are always available during and after the meals.
Special dietary needs can usually be accommodated with advance notice. Please advise Equitours of your
requirements.

• Overview:

  The horses are either purebred or part-bred Lusitanos, trained from a medium to an upper level dressage standard; able to perform all lateral exercises such as shoulder in, or half pass to more advanced exercises like flying changes, piaffe and passage. The Lusitanos, which have the same origins as the famous Andalusians, are considered some of the finest horses in Europe. Together with their Spanish brothers, the Lusitanos were the first horses to be brought to the New World and are the ancestors of most American breeds. Classic dressage saddles with snaffles and/or double bridles are utilized. Or for the Portuguese equitation and introduction to working equitation the traditional Portuguese tack can be used.

• Horse Breeds:

  Lusitanos

• Trip Pace:

  To suit riders

• Tack:

  Dressage saddles or Portugese Relvas saddles

• Weight limit:

  180 lbs

• Hours of Instruction:
  1 or two lessons a day
• Instruction and Training:
  The main instructor at Escola de Equitação de Alcainça is Mario Cardoso who is specialized in the training of young horses, as well as being a regional champion in Working Equitation. An accomplished rider, Mario has worked and trained with Bruno Carrilho (owner of the Lusitano sport horse stud farm Quinta dos Cedros), Miguel Ralão (dressage rider, Olympic), João Moreira, José João Dinis, Vasco Freire’s Dressage Plus (one of the most important stud farm of Lusitanian sport of the moment), as well as riding in shows alongside Miguel Fonseca (several times world champion of working horse) across all of Portugal.
• Types of Instruction:
  Clinics and Lessons, Dressage Training

Non-riders can enjoy the accommodations and region independently.

Located 25 kms northwest of Lisbon, 15 kms from the Atlantic Coast and 5 kms from the famous cloister of Mafra, the center is situated amongst hills and surrounded by lawns and woods nearby.

Lisbon airport, transfers are an additional cost.