The Art of Dressage in the Country of Nuno Oliveira

8 days, 7 nights, 6 days of equestrian training

Special departures for the Golegã Horse Fair in November: 6 days, 5 nights and 3 days of dressage

The art of horse dressage according to Nuno Oliveira: “One tends, nowadays, to forget that horsemanship is an art. However, art does not exist without love. But those who do not have the discipline necessary and who do not have the technique cannot have the art.”
An exclusive dressage training course, run by a former pupil of the grand master of the art of dressage, Nuno Oliveira, who took the discipline to perfection with the High School, or Haute Ecole form of dressage. The principles are the expression of the foundation of art of equestrianism: lightness and the love of horses. Teaching is based on classical dressage, aiming for perfect harmony between the horse and the rider. A refined, precise and light way of riding, which has pushed boundaries thanks to its students who also bring their own experiences to the discipline. 
In the exceptional setting of stables in Portugal, you will be able to learn and improve in dressage, according to your level of ability and your goals. You will have the opportunity to ride magnificent Lusitano horses born and bred here by your instructor. You will also have the opportunity to see the impressive costumes and traditional harnesses from the 18^th century, an era known as the golden age of equestrian art. Guided tours of the largest Lusitano stud farms and the famous Portuguese School of Equestrian Art are also part of this unique holiday.

You’ll enjoy:

• High quality dressage lessons following the teachings of Nuno Oliveria, who trained the owners of the centre
• French-speaking teaching and supervision
• The sunny, friendly and professional setting of the stables
• Beautiful Lusitano horses, that are light, willing and supple
• Visiting the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art in Queluz, with its magnificent Alter horses
• Guided tours of large Lusitano stud farms
• The relaxed atmosphere and free time between horse riding lessons
• Being near to Lisbon, where you can enjoy spending the evening or the late afternoon
• Comfortable accommodation at a hotel

* "Full" stay as of 4 participants, available upon request all year long (departures every Sundays): 8 days including 6 days dressage training with 2 visits to Lusitano stud farms, 6-day dressage clinic/training, full board in a highly comfortable Quinta Hotel, all transfers every day, dinner with Fado Music in Lisbon (see price detail below)

** "Simple" stay as of 1 person, available upon request all year long (departures every Sundays): same dressage clinic as the "Full stay" including only accommodation with half board, in single or double room in 3* Hotel located close to the stables, and the 6-day clinic/training (see price detail below)

*** "Short" stay as of 2 participants, available upon request all year long : day course with 2 ½ days on horseback (see price detail below)

Special departures for the famous Golegã Horse Fair : 6 days, 5 nights, 3 days of dressage (for more information on the programme, see “Day by Day”)

PRICES ARE WITHOUT FLIGHTS (FLIGHTS CAN BE BOOKED UPON REQUEST)

PRICE DETAILS "Full" stay* and Golegã

Included in the price:

• Return transfers for the airport and all transfers during your stay
• 6 days of dressage training which are made up of 12 dressage lessons in the morning and afternoon (3 days/6 lessons for the special programme for Golegã Horse Fair)
• Supervision by an experienced English and French-speaking dressage instructor
• 2 guided tours of stud farms (except for the special programme for the Golegã Horse Fair)
• Dinner and evening in Lisbon including a Fado music concert (except for the special programme for the Golegã Horse Fair)
• Accommodation at a 3* hotel on the basis of a double room
• Full board, from dinner on the first day to breakfast on the last day
• Financial guarantee of all money deposited with Caval&go

Not included in the price:

• Flights to Lisbon (upon request, based on currently known prices, according to availability )
  
• Lunches on the first and last days
• Alcoholic drinks at mealtimes
• Tips, personal expenses, optional visits
• Single room supplement: €190/person
• The rider’s individual travel insurance
  
  

PRICE DETAILS "Simple" stay ** or "short" stay ***

Included in the price:

• 6 days of dressage training which are made up of 12 dressage lessons in the morning and afternoon (2 and a half days/5 lessons for the "short" stay)
• Supervision by an experienced English and French-speaking dressage instructor
• Accommodation at a 3* hotel on the basis of a double room
• Half board from dinner on the first day to breakfast on the last day
• Financial guarantee of all money deposited with Caval&go

Not included in the price:

• Flights to Lisbon (upon request, based on currently known prices, according to availability )
• Return transfers for the airport and all transfers during your stay: €130 round trip airport transfer/car up to 4 people
• Luncheons (small restaurants available within walking distance)
• Alcoholic drinks at mealtimes
• Tips, personal expenses, optional visits
• Single room supplement: €230/person
• The rider’s individual travel insurance

* Price rates calculated on the basis of price rates known this day, subjectto availability of departing flights of Paris, limited number of places. For departures of province, we can propose you flights, mostly at the same price. At the time ofyour reservation, if there is not air availability anymore in the basic rate, we shall make for you an alternative proposal, pulling possibly a tariff adjustment. 

Caval&go / expressly reserves the right to increase or reduce its prices depending on exchange rate and transport cost variations applying to the selected trip, or on inflation of local services (such as prices of entry tickets). See general terms and conditions of purchase.

4 equestrian programmes are possible :

• "Full" stay as of 4 participants, available upon request all year long (departures every Sundays): 8 days including 6 days dressage training with 2 visits to Lusitano stud farms, 6-day dressage clinic/training, full board in a highly comfortable Quinta Hotel, all transfers every day, dinner with Fado Music in Lisbon (see progam detail below)
• "Simple" stay as of 1 person, available upon request all year long (departures every Sundays): same dressage clinic as the "Full stay" including only accommodation with half board, in single or double room in 3* Hotel located close to the stables, and the 6-day clinic/training. 
• "Short" stay as of 2 participants, available upon request all year long : day course with 2 ½ days on horseback (see progam detail below)
• Special departures for the famous Golegã Horse Fair : 6 days, 5 nights, 3 days of dressage (see progam detail below)

8 days, 7 nights and 6 days of dressage

Day 1. International flight to Portugal – Night at High End Hotel
Arrival at Lisbon airport. Transfers to your hotel and settle in to your room. Dinner and night at 3* hotel.

Days 2 - 7. 6 days of classic dressage training – Equestrian Centre – Nights at High End Hotels
After a delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel, you will go to the equestrian centre (around 5-10 minutes away) to start the course at 10am.
The horses – stallions – are already saddled and ready. Each horse has very specific tack and the grooms and stable hands will take care of this.
Everyday you will work on 2 tracks in the riding arena, and, depending on each rider’s level of ability, you may be able to work on different classical dressage techniques like piaffé, passage, Spanish walks, pirouettes, etc.
Lunch will be at small restaurants nearby where you can sample the flavours of the local cuisine. You will then get back to the stables at 2pm for a second dressage session. Each session lasts between 1 and 1½ hours.
Dinner at restaurants and nights in a very comfortable room at a high-end hotel.

Over the course of the week, you will learn about the equestrian centre’s philosophy and methods. Two sessions will also allow you to work with the horse on foot (longeing, breaking in, working with aids, using pillars in Portuguese dressage…)

 “Equestrian art begins with perfecting the simple things.” Nuno Oliveira

Visits and special evenings included in the programme:

• You will only have one lesson on the Wednesday, as you will visit the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art in the morning (depending on availability – subject to the School's timetable). You will see the riders’ beautiful presentation, dressed in their costumes on their magnificent horses – piaff, lift, work on foot between pillars, levade… Watch the video here.
• Visit to one or several (depending on time) local saddlers – a great opportunity to buy, for example, beautiful leather and buttoned mini-chaps and to admire the beautiful Portuguese and Spanish saddles, baroque bridals and traditional costumes...
• Evening in Lisbon with a delicious dinner and a concert of traditional Portuguese music, Fado.
• Visit to 2 stud farms, including the largest in the country, with Lusitano horses, stallions, mares and colts.

Day 8. Departure from Portugal – Return Flight
Transfers to Lisbon airport according to your return flight time.

Golegã Horse Fair : 6 days, 5 nights 3 days dressage training

Day 1. International Flight to Portugal – Night at confortable hotel
Arrival at Lisbon Airport. Dinner and night at hotel.

Days 2 to 4. 3 days of classical dressage training - Equestrian Centre – Nights at Comfortable Hotel
After a delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel, you will go to the equestrian centre (around 5-10 minutes away) to start the course at 10am.
The horses – stallions – are already saddled and ready. Each horse has very specific tack and the grooms and stable hands will take care of this.
Everyday you will work on 2 tracks in the riding arena, and, depending on each rider’s level of ability, you may be able to work on different classical dressage techniques like piaffé, passage, Spanish walks, pirouettes, etc.
Lunch will be at small restaurants nearby where you can sample the flavours of the local cuisine. You will then get back to the stables at 2pm for a second dressage session. Each session lasts between 1 and 1½ hours.
Dinner at restaurants and nights in a very comfortable room at a high-end hotel.

Over the course of the week, you will learn about the equestrian centre’s philosophy and methods. Two sessions will also allow you to work with the horse on foot (longeing, breaking in, working with aids, using pillars in Portuguese dressage…)

“Equestrian art beginswith perfecting thesimple things.” Nuno Oliveira

Day 5. Golegã Horse Fair – Night at Comfortable Hotel
After breakfast at the hotel, transfers to the famous Golegã Horse Fair* for the day. Free time for meals and return to the hotel in the evening.

*Golegã Horse Fair
Located in the region of Alentejo, Golegã is famous for its Lusitano horses. The welcome sign at the entrance of the village says “Golegã Capital do cavalo” (Golegã, Horse Capital). Since the 18^th century, the little village of Golegã has hosted an agricultural fair every year for the duration of around a week every November, attracting visitors from around the world. The Lusitano horse is at the centre of this fair that today brings together 5000 stallions from all over Portugal and France. In 1972, Golegã’s agricultural fair became the national horse fair of Portugal.

The stallions are presented around the arena. The central arena brings together all the fair’s key players: renowned, unknown and even gypsy riders and breeders who are all a part of the tradition of horse riding in their different ways. Tradition demands that the players, grooms and spectators be dressed in traditional Portuguese riding costume and the horse with the traditional harness. Source: Wikipedia

Day 6. Departure from Portugal – Return Flight
Breakfast. Return to Lisbon airport according to your return flight time.

Short stay : 4 days, 3 nights and 2,5 days of dressage training : available all year round for groups of 2 people or more

Day 1. Thursday. International flight to Portugal – Night at High End Hotel
Arrival at Lisbon Airport. Dinner and night at hotel.

Days 2 and 3. Friday and Saturday. 2 days of classic dressage training - Equestrian Centre – Nights at Confortable Hotels
After a delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel, you will go to the equestrian centre (around 5-10 minutes away) to start the course at 10am.
The horses – stallions – are already saddled and ready. Each horse has very specific tack and the grooms and stable hands will take care of this.
Everyday you will work on 2 tracks in the riding arena, and, depending on each rider’s level of ability, you may be able to work on different classical dressage techniques like piaffe, passage, Spanish walks, pirouettes, etc.
Lunch will be at small restaurants nearby where you can sample the flavours of the local cuisine. You will then get back to the stables at 2pm for a second dressage session. Each session lasts between 1 and 1½ hours.
Dinner at restaurants and nights in a very comfortable room at a high-end hotel.

During your stay you will visit a local saddlers – a great opportunity to buy, for example, beautiful leather and buttoned mini-chaps and to admire the beautiful Portuguese and Spanish saddles, baroque bridals and traditional costumes...

Day 4. Sunday. Riding in the Morning – Departure from Portugal – Return Flight
Breakfast at the hotel. Horse riding lesson (the lesson on day 4 can be changed to the afternoon on day 1, depending on your flight times). Free time for lunch. Transfers to Lisbon Airport according to your return flight time.

HORSES
Thoroughbred Lusitanos, born and bred at the stables by the owners. Riders looking for elegant horse riding with supple and well-balanced horses will appreciate the Lusitano horse. Their plus points – comfort and suppleness – as well as their gentle nature coupled with their energy make the Lusitano horse ideal not only for Haute Ecole riding, in which they excel, but also in sporting equestrianism, horse and cart riding and as a leisure horse for horse riding holidays. These characteristics have led to the Lusitano horse finding success outside of Portugal – in Asia, South America, California and, above all, in Europe where there is a growing demand for the Lusitano horse.

Horse breeding is a tradition in Portugal and the traditional long-term view of the breeders has led to the Lusitano breed being preserved with a very high value put on its thoroughbred credentials. During your stay, you will visit 2 large Lusitano stud farms, with their colts that are famous for the traditional bells they wear around their neck. You will learn how to tell the different Lusitano families apart – Alter (found notably at the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art), Vega and Andrade.

RIDING ABILITY & PACE
In order to be able to fully enjoy this dressage course, it is essential that you already have a basic knowledge of dressage and riding with a bridal. A minimum level of Galop 5 is necessary in order to be at the required level of ability for the lessons.
Maximum weight of rider: 95kg

TACK
English dressage saddles.

HORSE RIDING GUIDE & SUPERVISION
A former pupil of Nuno Oliveira and the former manager of the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art, your French-speaking instructor will, alongside his daughters who are trained in dressage too, be delighted to share his knowledge and help you advance and learn more, or simply let yourself be charmed by the lightness and the knowledge of these beautiful horses.

COUNTRY
PORTUGAL

TRIP LENGTH
The length of this trip varies depending on which option you choose:

• 8 days/7 nights/6 days dressage training
• 6 days/5 nights/3 days dressage training for the programme including Golegã Horse Fair
• 4 days/3 nights/2 ½ days dressage training for the "short" stay

REQUIREMENTS
Passport or French ID Card valid for 3 months after your return date.  

HEALTH
You should be up to date with your vaccines (DTP)

GROUP SIZE
4-8 riders

AIRPORT
Lisbon

LANGUAGES
French/English/Portuguese

MEALS & ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation at a high-end hotel with a park and a swimming pool. The hotel is located 10 minutes away from the stables by car transfer. For the "simple" and the "short" stay, because  transfers are not available, we are pleased to be able to offer accommodation at a nice 3* hotel located just a few minutes walk from the stables.

There is a breakfast buffet at the hotel in the morning.
For lunches you can chose from various restaurants and cafeterias next to the equestrian centre.
Dinners are at the hotel. For the "Full" stay, you will enjoy a special dinner in Lisbon with a Fado concert.

SUPERVISION
A former pupil of Nuno Oliveira and the former manager of the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art, your French-speaking instructor will, alongside his daughters who are trained in dressage too, be delighted to share his knowledge and help you advance and learn more, or simply let yourself be charmed by the lightness and the knowledge of these beautiful horses.

WEATHER
The Atlantic Ocean brings mild and humid temperatures to the country all year round. Temperatures do not fall below 5°C even in the middle of winter. In summer, the ocean breeze cools down the town where temperatures can reach up to 30°C. Water temperature is on average 15°C on the west coast (it is practically impossible to swim between Porto and Lisbon) and 21°C in the Algarve on the Mediterranean coast.

In the South, a reasonable amount of rainfall occurs between April and May. Bring a waterproof jacket and some warm clothes.

EQUIPMENT
Bring the following items for this horse riding holiday:

• Jodhpurs
• Riding boots or boots and mini-chaps
• Simple or fixed spurs to be used gently to encourage the precise execution of the steps (available at the stables)
• Riding hat (not obligatory, but recommended)
• Riding gloves
• Sun cream
• Comfortable shoes for walking at the end of the day or visiting Lisbon

Before or after your dressage training course, you can extend your stay by one or more days to discover Lisbon or other regions in Portugal:

Lisbon, nicknamed “The White City”, has many interesting sites to visit:

• St George’s Castle and the Cathedral in the Alfama neighbourhood, the oldest neighbourhood in the city  
• La Praça do Comercio, in Baixa
• The Santa Catarina Watchtower in the busy and trendy neighbourhood of Bairro Alto, with a panoramic view over Lisbon
• The magnificent Belém Tower built on the mouth of the Tagus River at the old port in Lisbon – a prominent example of Portuguese Manueline architecture and classed as a UNESCO world heritage site

We can create a personalised programme for you – Contact us !