Portugal lends itself to horse riding with its varied terrain and wonderful climate enabling you to enjoy horse riding all the year around. Portugal has a special link with horses as it is considered by many to be the home of the wonderful Lusitano - a horse bred for its gentle nature and for being trained in classical dressage. The Lusitano has been bred and developed for hundreds of years and is a mixture of Arab and the Engish Thoroughbred. Its graceful agile movements make it perfect for international competition in equestrian events.

Portugal has so much to offer for the horse rider - riding in the Algarve is a wonderful experience as the coastal plain varies considerably. Around Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago area the soft sandy soil through endless pinewoods makes for very comfortable riding. In the inland region of Silves the valleys and tracks can take you into scenic countryside or up into the dense eucalyptus forests. West of Portimão there are endless rides into virtually uninhabited areas with rolling open hills. A trip into the Alentejo region around Évora will offer a visitor the freedom of riding in open unspoilt countryside.