Horse Riding Holidays, Portugal
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.
See our horse riding holidays in Portugal below.
Rides
Alentejo Dressage, Portugal
In the heart of the Southern Alentejo region of Portugal lies this beautiful countryside residence, home to a herd of purebred Lusitano horses and the ideal base for a dressage focused riding holiday. This top equestrian centre offers programmes based on classical dressage, traditional equitation and carriage driving, all under the watchful eye of the talented instructor Nuno Baptista. The beautiful centre is surrounded by centenary and cork trees, olive groves and the colours and sounds of a peaceful world almost forgotten in this day and age.
Algarve Tuition and Trails, Portugal
This ride truly does have something for everyone. Every level of rider is catered for from complete beginners who wish to learn to ride in the warmth and beauty of the Algarve, to those who are looking to explore this beautiful countryside on horseback. Riding is also offered to disabled riders.
For those wanting to appreciate and explore the area outside of the centre, long and varied trails are available allowing you to witness unspoilt landscapes and breathtaking mountain views. This makes a perfect option also for experienced riders looking for hours of endless trails amongst dramatic scenery.
These well run stables are approved by the ABRS and the Portugese Equestrian Federation.
For those wanting to appreciate and explore the area outside of the centre, long and varied trails are available allowing you to witness unspoilt landscapes and breathtaking mountain views. This makes a perfect option also for experienced riders looking for hours of endless trails amongst dramatic scenery.
These well run stables are approved by the ABRS and the Portugese Equestrian Federation.
Extremadura (Spain) and Portuguese Trails, Portugal
These trails rides are a wonderful way to see magnificent landscapes and unspoilt areas of Portugal and Spain. Horses are homebred on a farm in Extremadura, Spain, and are well-trained and enjoyable mounts. There are several trails with the majority of time spent across the Portuguese border but some with a few nights spent in Spain. Riding is Doma Vaquera style (a traditional Spanish method).
Lusitano Dressage, Portugal
A wonderful destination for dressage tuition in the beautiful Alentejo region of Portugal. The destination is dedicated exclusively to Lusitano horses and offers lessons in dressage for beginners to Haute École level from qualified and experienced instructors. Guests stay in a charming guesthouse decorated in traditional Alentejo style set on an 11 hectare property.
North Portugal Dressage and Show Jumping, Portugal
This equestrian centre offers tuition in dressage and show jumping and prides itself on the quality of its instruction and horses. The centre is home to 22 horses, many of which are trained to Grand Prix level and whose welfare and care are paramount. Instructors can teach from Beginner to Grand Prix level and the centre has excellent facilities for you to improve your riding in this lovely setting.
Ride and Relax Quinta, Portugal
A welcoming family-run quinta (farmhouse) in the green heart of Mid Portugal, one of the most unspoilt terrains for horse riding in Europe. This destination provides a great setting for a relaxed and easygoing riding holiday. You can explore the spectacular and diverse landscapes which range from eucalyptus, pine and cork oak forests on the lower slopes, to tracks which climb up to heather clad hilltops and offer breathtaking views. This is a lovely holiday spot for riders with non-riding partners or those who just wish to take it easy.
Territory of the Wolves and Wild Horses, Portugal
Horseback riding through the territory of the Iberian Wolf and the wild Garrano horse. Your hosts guide you on rides into the Peneda-Geres National Park where you can explore the mountainous region and search for tracks of the wolves and wild horses that still live there. These holidays are a chance to combine being in a peaceful, natural environment with good horse riding and a fascinating insight into the lives of the wolves and Garranos.