Horseback Riding in Massachusetts

Classical Dressage in New England

Overview

If you are new to the dressage saddle or still developing a balanced effective seat, this program offers a systematic method to help you improve your seat as well as the effectiveness of your aids on the lunge-line.

Here, you develop the balance, rhythm, and feel within the movement of the horse. Once you progress through the process of developing balance, the head instructor, staff and schoolmasters help you refine and reinforce your understanding.

This valuable time on the lunge-line allows you to develop the ability to follow the movement of the horse without inhibiting it.

Lessons off the lunge-line to continue to perfect both your position and your overall riding ability are also included.

Onsite accommodations are in the lovely guesthouse. 4 rooms are available and each room shares a bathroom with one other room.

Some continental breakfast items are provided but lunch and dinner are not included in this trip.

  • Overview:
    The farm has eighteen Lusitano stallions and two Lusitano mares imported from Brazil and Portugal, as well as several Lusitano Warmblood Crosses. To help his students to develop the feeling and create the possibility of a harmonious dance with a horse, the instructor and his staff prepare their own equine schoolmasters. The center uses custom dressage saddles which have a comfortable seat and knee rolls.
  • Horse Breeds:
    Majority are Lusitano.
  • Trip Pace:
    To suit riders
  • Tack:
    Dressage saddles
  • Weight limit:
    170 lbs
  • Hours of Instruction:
    Typically two 45 min-1 hr semi-private lessons per day
  • Instruction and Training:
    As head instructor, Vitor Silva presents to his students exemplary training in the art of classical riding. With a strong background in classical dressage, he shares the knowledge and skill acquired through years of study with recognized riding masters of Portugal. Vitor teaches his students that while masters or trainers can share their knowledge and explain the technical aspects of riding, each rider must open him or herself to feel the horse's movements, responses and needs. Ultimately, he strives to develop this intuitive feeling in his students so that harmony between horse and rider can be achieved. For those riders still developing a balanced effective seat, Vitor has developed a systematic method of developing the rider’s seat and effectiveness of aids on the lunge-line. Here the rider develops the balance, rhythm, and feel within the movement of the horse. Once the rider progresses through the process of developing balance, the instructors and their equine schoolmasters introduce and reinforce the riders understanding and feel of effective aids. This time and preparation on the lunge-line allows the student to develop the ability to follow the movement of the horse without inhibiting it …to ask of the horse with great finesse and to allow the desired movement. Once the rider has developed an effective seat, the work continues in group lessons.
  • Types of Instruction:
    Clinics and Lessons, Dressage Training

Merrimac

Itinerary Summary

You can choose between a three and five day program. An initial assessment of each student is made upon arrival. Then the student and instructors define goals and set up an individual program for the week. Students will have two lessons per day, as well as an opportunity to observe other lessons and watch the head instructor train horses and fine tune school masters.

The length of each lesson varies, depending on the individual or the group.

Itinerary Addendum

THIS ITINERARY IS FLEXIBLE. CHANGES MAY OCCUR DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES.

Trip Map

Trip Dates & Pricing

Offered May 10 through October. There are no lessons on Sunday or Monday.
Additional Pricing Information:
All reservations require full, non-refundable, payment for confirmation. Purchasing travel insurance is encouraged! After a reservation is confirmed, 1 change of date is allowed with a date change fee of $150 if notified at least four weeks before scheduled trip begins and rescheduled to within 1 month of original stay. It is necessary to either drive or rent a car. The above prices include either 2 or 4 nights accommodation in the onsite guesthouse. Meals are not included but you have access to the kitchen in the guesthouse.


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Contact Megan Barrett

... I actually could feel the change in my riding and the horse's way of going - I experienced collection and lightness. 2nd ride of 3rd day - final for the trip - was absolutely amazing - sitting on and assisting a horse while the instructor guided him through all of the movements of a Grand Prix test - wow! - I was hooked - and by then I was getting a little more comfortable in my surroundings - I didn't want to leave. Now to start saving my pennies do do it all over again!

Kristin Soares