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Hacking and Riding instructions
You may ride for hours through untouched nature, then pass small farms and
large old country estates and pick your way through eucalyptus and pine
tree groves, under ancient cork oaks and past fruit-laden orange trees.
Long sandy tracks invite you to heart bursting gallops. Tiny white
villages offer an opportunity to rest in a small café. Adjust yourselves
to a totally different pace of life. Or if you have come to refresh your
equestrian skills, the instructors are some of the best in the country and
the purebred Lusitanos are a joy to ride. Of course you can do a bit of
both during your week’s stay.
Embedded in the lovely rolling hills of the upper Alentejo region, 100
miles northeast of Lisbon, lies this country estate. The equestrian center
is surrounded by cork oak groves and a wonderful garden, blooming all year
round. Go for a refreshing swim in the pool or simply hang out in the sun
on the lawn.
 IT-PGSR01-A
2008 Rates include six nights accommodations, all meals, 5
riding days, English speaking guide.
7 days/ 6 nights Packages:
A. 5 hrs group lessons
and 10+ hrs trail rides
$1,285 (€
901)
B. 5 hrs private lessons
and 10+ hrs trail rides
$1,550 (€
1091)
C. 5
days of trail rides
(15+ hrs)
$1,275 (€
897)
D.
10 hrs private instructions
$1,445 (€
1011)
E.
Beginner program -- 3 lunging-, 5 beginner- and 3 reg. group lessons
$ 825 (€
581)
F.
Non rider accompanying a rider
$ 660 (€
463)
Single room: +$240 (€
168) - no single supplement if willing to share
- shorter and longer stays can be arranged
Dates: Weekly from SU-SA
Meeting: Ponte de Sor
Airport: Lisbon
Transfer: from Lisbon $195 (€
135)
or by scheduled bus to Ponte de Sor (€
40)
Level:
All levels - for hacking out Low intermediate+
Horses:
Lusitano stallions and geldings
Pace: Moderate, trots, canters,
gallops
Max Riders: 8
Note: Max weight 190 lbs.
Lunging lessons and beginner
lessons are 30 minutes each
HT SPECIAL 10% OFF
for all trips between Nov 15 and March 15
Horses and instructions:
The Lusitanos derive partly from the center’s own stud. Most of them are
trained by the instructor, João Dias Branco (CMFED Centro Militar de
Educação Física de Desportivo), from the very first steps up to High
School movements.
We offer
instructions in dressage and introduction to the art of classical
Portuguese riding in the indoor or outdoor arenas. Each day, under the
expert eye of the top instructors you can learn shoulder-in, extensions,
flying changes, circles and diagonals and even thrill to piaffe and
passage. The less experienced rider has the opportunity to learn to use
their seat as well as the precise control of the horse.
The highly trained horses can teach the Grand Prix dressage movements or
simply carry the rider through the most secret places of Portugal. From
the 'piaffe' in a high level dressage lesson, to cantering along deserted
tracks through wonderful wildflower fields, you will find all is possible.
The instructor will help you to discover the magnificent beauty of the
country, introduce you to the region's nature and wildlife, and most
certainly "infect" you with his enthusiasm for Lusitano horses.
Sample Itinerary
Sunday, Day 1: Arrival after 4:00 pm. Rest, relax and being
introduced to the farm and its facilities. Dinner is at 8:00 pm
Monday, Day 2: After breakfast taken in the cottages, meeting
at the horse part with the riding instructor and his team. Horse
testing and Equitation lessons.( Starting at 9:00 a.m.) Lunch
at about 1:00 p.m.
Afternoon:
trail ride into the surroundings of the farm. Visiting the highest
point of the region with an exceptional overview. We ride to an old
airfield built 100 years ago from an great uncle of your host.
Ancient eucalyptus trees let their shade flow over the vast area,
hiding stories of civil war and stormy times of the latest history
of this country. Ruins of glorious times, long gone, new plantations
of oak and pine trees which will give their value to next
generations ( 2+ hours ).
Dinner at about 8:30 p.m.
Evening: a dinner with sweet surprises will wait for you. A lot of
talking and exchanging of ideas and new impressions might take your
attention. Or a check game for the more thoughtful, a snooker part
for the never tired, a dreaming session in front of a fireplace or
night walk for the romantic or a comfortable bed can also fulfill
your evening-activities.
Tuesday, Day 3: After breakfast lessons (First lesson,
starting at 9 a.m.)
Back for lunch at about 1:30 p.m.
The “Vale das Mòs”-Ride:
The ride may take you through secret pads, passing old water mills,
hidden lakes with rare water birds. Small fertile valleys where
people from the nearby village grow everything - they don't need to
buy in supermarkets. The land is still ploughed with the help of
mules or bulls. Storks and herons may search for their lunch on the
fields. With a brief canter you might reach a white old village for
a refreshing stop. Hills and valleys unexpectedly green, miles
without seeing anybody and all of a sudden a rabbit, a wild boar or
a partridge hen with her twelve babies...from horseback all this
scenery almost looks like a movie, (ca. 4 hours ). Dinner at
8.30 p.m.
Wednesday, Day 4:
Morning: Today all the group lessons will take place in the
morning, starting at 9:00 a.m. After lunch at the usual time of 1.30
p.m. you have the day off for relaxing or taking the chance to visit
the famous state stud of the Royal Horses in Alter do Chão 40
Minutes away. Another option to visit are several medieval towns
like Èvora, UNESCO world patrimony town, Estremoz, Castelo de Vide
or Marvão. Your hosts will be glad to help you on your choice.
Dinner at 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, Day 5:
Vale do Arco Trail
The Ride may introduce you to hidden places where the time seems to
have stood still. White painted cottages, cobbled streets, women who
carry their load on the head, old mule wells and a lot of medieval
phenomena still in use will surprise the riders on their way. You
may stop for a drink in one of the little cafés and get acquaintance
with the local folk who are known for their friendliness. ( ca. 3
hours )
Lunch at about 1.30 pm
Afternoon: group lessons, starting at 4 p.m.
Dinner at about 8:30 pm
Friday, Day 6: After breakfast at 9:00 a.m. lessons will
start. Until the lunch at about 1:30 p.m. you may be ready with your
lessons.
After a lazy lunch at about 3 p.m. - the trail of this last riding
day may include long sandy ways for comfortable canters or smooth
trotting over wildflower fields and vast valleys where sheep and
goat herds having their siesta. Through orange or lemon groves you
arrive to a white village for a drink. Your way back leads you
through oak or pine tree forest. Being surprised by some pigs
running in freedom in the forest or even meeting a fox who has lost
his way, the guests will come back full of nature and its calmness.
The word “stress” will not exist anymore, at least until reality
will have you back, (ca. 3 hours ).
Dinner at about 8:30 pm
Saturday, Day 7: Depart – if your timetable allows you, after
a nice lazy breakfast and a long farewell to Paradise.
Facilities:
All guests
are free to use the communal rooms at the main house. It includes a living
room with fireplace, a common room with a billiard table and a chess table
etc., a large dining room, a TV-room, all with central heating, and a
swimming-pool (12m x 6m) with a pergola-shaded terrace.
Non Riders:
There are plenty activities for non-riding companions: The vast Alto
Alentejo countryside invites you to long walks through forests and cork
oak groves or to mountain bike tours. At the great lake of Montargil, you
can go swimming, water-skiing and sailing; canoeing and kayak tours on the
river Tejo are also possible.
Among the great events of the year in the "Lusitano world" list both the
Lusitano fair in Lisbon during the last week of June and the "Feria
Nacional do Cavalo", the Lusitano fair in Golegá, during the first 10 days
of November. You can easily combine the stay with a visit to each of these
absolutely remarkable events.
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