Travel blog - Girlfriends and Lusitanos: a top week in Portugal

Four girlfriends who know each other from a riding school in West Brabant. Four suitcases full of riding clothes, sunscreen and very good spirits. Destination: Portugal. More specifically: the beautiful surroundings of Tomar. What followed? A week full of Lusitanos, culture, culinary delights, great conversations and above all: lots of fun.

Our holiday was organised by Floor, owner of Global Horses. Her unparalleled talent for connecting and her genuine interest made it seem after a few days that we had known each other for years. She flawlessly managed to convey her great love for Lusitanos to us. Floor really seems to know everyone in the Portuguese horse scene. Doors therefore open for her that remain firmly locked for others. Thanks to her, we were able to visit Manuel Veiga, the country's most renowned Lusitano breeder. On an ancient estate, owned by the family for many generations, where the mares and foals could graze in a protected nature reserve. How impressed we were! Floor also made it possible for us to meet some top riders. Who can say the same to us?

We stayed at Quinta do Falcao, owned by Rui Salvador - one of Portugal's most famous bullfighters. Rui has since retired, but his impressive career lives on in his own museum on the grounds. And as if that wasn't special enough: exactly during the week we stayed there, he became a grandfather for the first time! So we celebrated not only life on horseback, but also new life - with an extra festive glass of wine to go with it, of course.

And speaking of wine, one of the highlights for me was the field trip through spring green grassland and rolling vineyards, followed by a wine tasting with snacks and then a delicious dinner at an enchanting location: Casal das Freiras. The horses left for home relaxed by trailer. Us? We stayed for a while.......Finally, slightly rosy and full of stories, we were taken back to the Quinta by car.

All week we rode gorgeous Lusitanos - elegant, powerful, friendly, sensitive and SO willing to work. An unprecedented experience for all of us. We received private lessons from Pedro Teixeira Farto, a passionate instructor who managed to pair us with exactly the right horse every time. A gift in itself. His lessons were intense and inspiring and he had an excellent sense of what we needed as riders. Besides dressage lessons, we could also choose Working Equitation. For me, this was the first time I was introduced to this branch of equestrian sport. Super fun and despite some clumsiness, I eventually managed to ring the bell, trot over the bridge and grab the decanter from the barrel. Also during the Working Equitation lessons, it became clear once again how fast, agile and well-trained Lusitanos are. On the last day, Pedro, himself a high-level WE rider, gave a short demonstration. Wonderful to see how he and his horse worked together!

In between, we made time for culture and wonder: the historic town Tomar with the famous monastery Convento do Cristo, the accompanying aqueduct no less than 6 km long and one of Portugal's most impressive, a tear-jerking performance by an amazing Fado singer with two musicians and a visit to Golegã, the horse capital of Portugal, where everything and everyone breathes horses. We were in our element because just in "our" week the ExpoEgua, a multi-day event focusing on the Lusitano horse, took place there. We were able to attend a number of inspections of sweet mares, cute foals and curious young horses.

And the weather gods were also kind to us. In fact, the weather was so perfect that it seemed someone had arranged it especially for us. Not too hot, not too cold - just right for a riding holiday.

In short: a week that really had everything. Lusitanos, friendship, deepening, culture, wine, adventure and sunshine. And now that we are back home, we finally understand what the Portuguese mean by "Saudade" - longing back for something beautiful you experienced...............

Barbara Schout