Has anyone done a riding holiday in Portugal, specifically at https://www.portugalequestrian.com ?
I’m considering doing a 5 day jumping course there (2 jump lessons a day) and looking for reviews or feedback?
thanks!
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Ohhh. How cool! I have no experience or feedback.
Last year my husband and I were in the Azores on Sao Miguel island in Ponta Delgada, the main city. I went for a 3 hour ride with Equiturs. Lara was great. It was off season for them, so was just her and I. She recommended a place called Patio Ecolodge on Faial Island. We stayed there and i did an allday ride. Bit pricey but worth it. Probably not what you have in mind, but enjoy whatever you do.
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I know nothing about that facility. But, looking at the web site, I could find no information about the instructors of the horses. That may be just a marketing issue, but I’d be more confident if there were more information about the instructors and the horses.
By contrast, and this is Dressage, not Jumping, MANY years ago I took the riding programs at Escola de Equitação de Alcainça (north west of Lisbon). I did it twice, learned a lot, and had a good time. Their web site, https://www.eealcainca.pt/index.php/home.html includes detailed descriptions of at least the main trainers https://www.eealcainca.pt/index.php/about/articles/meet-the-team.html
and the lessons https://www.eealcainca.pt/index.php/dressage.html
Again, I would strongly recommend a Portuguese riding holiday, but that web site just doesn’t give me enough information.
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I did manage to find a little instructor info here https://www.portugalequestrian.com/pt/10-about-us/2-team/
And their instagram has a bit more info if you search thru to the individual instructors accounts
https://www.instagram.com/portugal_equestrian?igsh=NTYzOWQzNmJjMA==
Portugal is brilliant for a riding holiday. They have a deep horse culture, the Lusitano horses are my favorite breed, the weather is good nearly all year round, the food isn’t as good as the Spanish in my opinion but is based on fresh ingredients and they have great deserts, the people are lovely and the culture is rich.
Looking at the website you are interested in, it doesn’t appear to be very up to date? And it isn’t very user-friendly so I couldn’t read anything about the teachers. That does give me pause…
I have done several trips to Portugal using both Unicorn Trails www.unicorntrails.com and In The Saddle www.inthesaddle.com
Both specialist agencies have several options in Portugal, both companies pride themselves on knowing the rides personally, as they send staff to ride there. Perhaps contact them for some more update information?
Riding a trained Lusitano is a magical thing.
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Well, having now spoken to the ride operators I’m fairly confident in this facility now. However, they don’t have availability for jump training in July after all - fully booked except for 4 one week long sessions in 2024!
So that puts paid to the idea of an intensive jumping course while the hubby surfs in Portugal 
I wonder if anyone knows of other facilities near the coast of Portugal that offer jumping? Not interested in other countries right now for various reasons.
I think going through a specialist agency is a good idea if you are not already familiar with the equestrian centres. For example I know someone who recently wanted to book at Alcainca, mentioned in this thread, and were told the main instructor has left and they are in the process of winding down the business so the agency didn’t recommend it as they wouldn’t feel confident about the experience being what it used to be.
I very much enjoyed my intensive dressage holiday in Portugal, riding well trained Lusitanos was a fantastic experience.
Ask either of the agencies I listed. I have used both for many years.
