Getting to know Monte Velho

By ride consultant Biggi Hayes

I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Monte Velho in Portugal for a few days, arriving there late on a Saturday night. The driver Monte Velho sent for my transfer from the Lisbon airport was very attentive and had sent a WhatsApp message the day before so we would know where to meet after exiting the arrivals hall at the Lisbon airport.  Everything worked seamlessly and soon I was whisked away for the 1.5 hour drive to the Eco Resort. It was almost midnight by the time we arrived there and Ricardo knew which room to take me to.

Monte Velho is out in the countryside with the nearby village about 15 min away. Upon arrival a wonderful peaceful feeling washed over me and I knew I would enjoy my short time there.
Sunday is a rest day for both the horses and the instructors and so I used the time to rest up, use the wifi and relax. I enjoyed a couple of short walks and took advantage of a massage that is available to book throughout the week and helps the recovery from long travel days. Sunday is the general arrival day and later in the afternoon I was joined by the other guests who were booked for the week of riding. It was an eclectic group, and they came from all over the world: Australia, Canada and Belgium and it was fun getting to know everyone.

Monday morning starts with semi- private lessons for everyone. At Monte Velho you can choose to do a full 5 days of lessons, riding twice a day with a trail ride too, or adjust the number of lessons and trail rides that work best for you. Bernardo was my instructor for both lessons and under his watchful eye I felt the correct movements and learned to refine my aids, this helpsboth horses and riders to be more precise. It took work but the reward was incredible!

On Monday afternoon, the owner Diogo took a few of us for a trail ride to explore a part of their large property. What a pleasure to ride with him and learn more about the resort. Afterwards everyone met in the stable yard and joined a breeding tour as the facility has a large breeding operation of their own stock. It was very interesting to learn of Diogo’s breeding philosophy and how he plans to improve the existing bloodlines and Lusitano breed to cement its importance as a world class dressage horse that will be able to compete against the Warmbloods in the sport. What an exciting vision for the future.

After a quick refresh we all met again, this time in the comfortable living room to enjoy a wine tasting, which is a special treat that is offered once during the week. We tried a vinho verde local to Portugal which was very fruity and on the sweeter side, a perfect summer wine with a crisp fruity note. Since I am not much of a red wine drinker, I only tasted a sip of one from Monte Velho’s own winery. Afterward we sat down for another wonderful dinner and shared horse stories. A perfect day.

Tuesday morning I had the opportunity for another early lesson before heading back to the airport. While this was a quick trip for me to get to know this beautiful and peaceful eco-resort, I am already planning my return for next year to continue my dressage education.