Learn a whole new way to be with horses, both on the ground and in the saddle, building a relationship based on harmony and trust.
Our Courses
Establish a connection both in the saddle and on the ground in our week-long courses. We are happy to teach total beginners but also welcome experienced riders, who are looking for a new way to be with horses.
Course structure
The schedule for each week is adapted to the needs of our participants at the time, but the basic elements are always the same: natural horsemanship groundwork, lessons and rides into nature at a walk.
Accomodation
Guests stay in our typical Alentejo ranch house in the midst of our valley, where the river Mira flows through twenty hectares of pasture. Enjoy evenings out on our terrace in groups of max five guests.
Our philosophy
Our philosophy is based on the idea that riding should be enjoyable for both human and horse. We strive for horse-friendly riding by using the principles of Natural Horsemanship, with a special emphasis on Freedom Based Training® inspired by Elsa Sinclair. When horses are free to decide if they want to be with us or not, we really have to try hard to fulfill the need for connection in us and the horse.
Dates & Prices
Temperatures in Portugal are most comfortable in spring and fall. Therefore, we offer courses from April until June and again in September and October each year.
Our Team
A small and dedicated team supports Sandra in her mission to help her guests enjoy their stay and maximize their learning with the horses.
Our Horses
Our herd of riding horses includes a few quarters, a few Portuguese and the odd warmblood, but all of them are excellent teachers.
What our clients say
197
Riders
25
Hectares of pasture
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Horses
Are you ready to learn with us?
Join us for a week-long course of horsemanship, including lessons on the ground and in the saddle as well as trail rides in the unspoiled nature of South-West Portugal.
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Final Project Trail by Nadia Mendes
Training Titus - Episode 6
Training Titus - Episode 5
Training Titus - Episode 4
Training Titus - Episode 3
Training Titus - Episode 2
Training Titus - Episode 1
Starting Zorro
Imelda & Luana in Denmark
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Facebook FEED
🇬🇧 🇺🇸 And here we are, still doing groundwork with Titus to build up his muscle and get him ready for riding. He's just not ready yet and even if it means boring you to tears with these non eventful videos, we're not getting in him until we think he's ready 😜
🇩🇪 🇦🇹 🇨🇭 Und noch ein Video mit Bodenarbeit von Titus. Er ist einfach noch nicht körperlich fit genug um geritten zu werden und auch wenn wir euch damit zu Tode langweilen, werden wir uns nicht draufsetzen,bevor die Muskeln nicht so sind wie sie sein sollen 😜
🇬🇧 🇺🇸 Course dates for next spring are set!
🇩🇪 🇦🇹 🇨🇭 Kurstermine für nächstes Frühjahr!
March 28
April 4
April 18
May 2
May 16
May 30
June 13
🇬🇧 🇺🇸 This week we want to show you how we have been preparing Titus mentally for accepting a saddle and rider on his back through careful step-by-step desensitization. Yes, we're harassing the horse with all sorts of different things, but rather get through it once in this fashion than create a horse that is afraid of the rider for the rest of his life, right? It's possible to desensitive even softer and slower and it is also possible to do it quite roughly in a dominant way. For Titus, we have chosen this relatively soft way, always making sure that he learns to relax and stay mentally present, instead of just holding his feet still. On the contrary, we actually want him to be relaxed and mentally present while in motion too.
🇩🇪 🇦🇹 🇨🇭 Diese Woche möchten wir euch zeigen, wie wir Titus auf den Sattel und den Reiter vorbereiten, indem wir ihn vorsichtig und Schritt für Schritt desensibilisieren. Dabei nerven wir ihn in der Tat immer wieder auf andere Arten und Weisen, aber besser einmal durch diesen Prozess durch als sein ganzes Leben Angst vor dem Reiter haben, oder? Man kann noch vorsichtiger und langsamer desensibilisieren oder man kann es dominant und grob machen. Wir haben uns für Titus auf einen ziemlich sanften Weg geinigt, bei dem wir immer darauf achten, dass er wirklich entspannt und mitdenkt und nicht nur die Füsse still hält. Im Gegenteil, wir möchten auch dass er in der Bewegung entspannen kann.