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Horse Riding
Portugal is the country considered by many as the home of the
pure Lusitano breed. This attractive "hot blooded" horse has been bred and
developed in the central Ribatejo and upper Alentejo regions for hundreds of
years and today is considered a mix of Arab and the pure English Thoroughbred.
Internationally acknowledged for its gentle nature and yet its equally graceful
agile movements in the bullring. The breed is often chosen by riders for the
special training to participate in the international competitions of equestrian
events.
A choice of Hacking or Dressage, the visitor will normally find they both
readily available. In the Algarve there are many established Riding Stables that
are to be found the length of the coast.
The variable terrain of the Algarve provides a very varied selection for
Hacking. In the area of Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago the soft sandy soil
through enchanting pinewoods makes for a very comfortable ride. The inland
region of Silves provides small valleys and tracks that take the rider into
charming countryside or further up into the dense eucalyptus forests. To the
west of Portimão there are seemingly endless rides into virtually uninhabited
areas with open rolling hills. A trip further north into the Alentejo region
around Évora provides the rider with the freedom of long open countryside
riding.
Enjoyment of Dressage is related on the quality of the mount and the Stable
should be carefully chosen. The experience of riding a Lusitanian horse that has
been bred and trained for the bull ring is sheer magic!
Stables provide selected horses for the nervous or inexperienced rider. When
initially discussing with the Stable your mount it is a highly important to be
honest about your own riding abilities so that the Stable can provide a suitable
