Lusitano · 16 years
Fadista
Our senior schoolmaster. Piaffe, passage and tempi changes, with endless patience for riders feeling them for the first time.
Equestrian centre near Almancil
Ride the Algarve the way it should be ridden
Classical dressage on Lusitano schoolmasters, quiet hacks through the umbrella pines and canters along the tide line at first light.
Hats and body protectors provided
Beach rides timed with the tides
Twenty four stables and turnout paddocks
60 × 20 m dressage arena with mirrors
What we offer
Three ways to spend time with horses
i.
Lessons
Private and small group lessons from first steps to collected work. Lunge lessons to build an independent seat.
Discover
ii.
Beach rides
Hacks through the pine forest to the dunes at Praia do Garrão and along the sand towards Ancão.
Discover
iii.
Livery
Full, part and grass livery for owners who want their horse cared for by people who notice the details.
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Our horses
Lusitanos, bred for this
The Lusitano was bred in Portugal for the bullring and the battlefield, which is why it is brave, light in the hand and naturally gifted in collection. Our schoolmasters know their piaffe and their flying changes, and they are patient enough to teach a nervous beginner how to sit a trot.
For the beach we ride sure footed Lusitano crosses and a couple of steady cobs, chosen for calm temperaments and good sense in the surf.
Meet the herd
Signature ride
Sunset on the sand
Two and a half hours through the Ludo pine woods, onto the beach for a long canter on firm sand and back as the light goes gold over the Ria Formosa. Small groups, experienced riders, unforgettable.
About
A yard run by horse people
Herdade Equestre sits on twelve hectares of sandy soil between Almancil and the coast, with stables, a covered arena and direct access to the pine forest bridleways.
Horse first, always
Every horse here has daily turnout, ad lib hay and a work programme that suits its age and body. Our riding horses work a maximum of two sessions a day and have at least one full day off each week.
Classical training
We teach in the Portuguese classical tradition: a balanced, quiet seat, soft contact and a horse that moves forward from the leg. Whether you ride once a year or compete at Medium level, the principles are the same.
Qualified instructors
Our instructors are certified by the Portuguese Equestrian Federation and teach in English, Portuguese and Dutch. Children from age six are welcome in lessons on our ponies.
The herd
Some of our schoolmasters
Lusitano · 12 years
Saudade
A grey with a soft mouth and a lovely canter. Perfect for improving riders working on lateral work.
Lusitano cross · 10 years
Ria
Our beach leader. Unbothered by waves, dogs or kite surfers, and happy to set a steady pace for the group.
Cob · 14 years
Tostão
Sturdy, kind and very forgiving. The horse we choose for first time riders and nervous adults.
Lessons
Better riding, one stride at a time
All lessons take place in our 60 × 20 m arena with a fibre and sand surface, or the covered school in summer heat and winter rain.
Private dressage lesson
€6545 minOne to one coaching on a schoolmaster or your own horse. From correct basics to shoulder in, half pass and changes.
Lunge seat lesson
€5530 minNo reins, no stirrups if you are ready. The instructor controls the horse so you can focus purely on posture, balance and feel.
Small group lesson
€4060 minMaximum four riders of similar level. Flatwork, poles and arena figures in a relaxed, social setting.
Schoolmaster experience
€9545 minFeel collected work on Fadista: piaffe in hand, passage and tempi changes. For confident riders who already ride a balanced canter.
Pony club
€3045 minSaturday mornings for children from six. Grooming, tacking up and a riding lesson on our ponies.
Beach rides
Pines, dunes and open sand
Our hacks leave straight from the yard into the pine forest and reach the beach in around twenty minutes. Beach access follows local rules: early mornings and evenings in summer, all day from October to May.
Pine forest hack
€501 hA gentle walk and trot through the umbrella pines. Perfect for beginners and families with children over ten.
Beach ride
€952 hThrough the forest to Praia do Garrão, walk and trot along the shoreline and a canter for those who want one.
Sunset beach ride
€1102.5 hOur signature ride with long canters on firm sand at low tide, finishing as the sun drops over the Ria Formosa.
Private beach ride
€1502 hJust you, or you and a partner, with your own guide. Pace and route entirely your choice.
Rider weight limit 95 kg. Long trousers and closed shoes with a small heel required. We supply hats, body protectors and half chaps.
Livery
A second home for your horse
Spacious 4 × 4 m stables bedded on shavings, sand and grass paddocks, a horse walker, wash bay with hot water and a heated tack room.
Grass livery
€290 / month
For retired horses, youngsters and good doers who thrive living out.
- Shared paddock with field shelter
- Hay twice daily in summer
- Daily health and water check
Part livery
€450 / month
You ride and enjoy, we handle the daily routine.
- Stable, bedding, hay and hard feed
- Mucking out and daily turnout
- Rugging and fly masks as needed
- Full use of arena and bridleways
Full livery
€690 / month
Complete care, including exercise when you are away.
- Everything in part livery
- Exercise up to five days a week, schooling or hacking
- Holding for farrier, vet and dentist
- Tack cleaning and a weekly update with photos
Feeding plans are tailored to each horse, with forage analysed hay and supplements on request. Worming by faecal egg count. A minimum stay of one month applies.
Gallery
Life at the herdade
Journal
From the yard
Why every rider should take a lunge lesson
Without the reins to hold on to, your body tells the truth about your balance.
On the lunge you hand control of the horse to the instructor and work only on yourself: a deep heel, a long leg, a hip that follows the movement and hands that stay still. Ten minutes of sitting trot without stirrups will do more for your seat than weeks of riding in the arena alone. Even our most advanced riders book a lunge lesson every month.
Riding on the beach: what to expect
Sand, salt and surf are new to many horses and riders. Here is how we keep it safe and fun.
We plan every beach ride around the tide table, aiming for the firm sand that appears on a falling tide. Groups ride in single file through the dunes to protect the vegetation, then spread out along the shore. Canters happen only when the beach is clear and every rider is ready. Afterwards, horses are hosed down with fresh water and their legs checked before they go back to the paddock.
Keeping horses cool in an Algarve summer
From July to September we change the whole rhythm of the yard. This is what that looks like.
Horses are turned out at night and stabled in the shade during the hottest hours. Lessons start at seven in the morning and resume after six in the evening. We add electrolytes to feeds, soak hay for horses prone to dust allergies, and keep fly rugs and masks on in the paddocks. Every horse is hosed off after work, and water troughs are scrubbed daily.
Book online
Book a ride or lesson
Choose your activity, date and time. We match each rider to the right horse and confirm by email.
Contact
Come and meet the horses
Herdade Equestre
Caminho do Ludo, 8135 Almancil
Caminho do Ludo, 8135 Almancil
+351 900 000 000
hello@herdadeequestre.pt
WhatsApp
Yard hours
Tuesday to Sunday08:00 · 19:00
July to September07:00 · 11:00, 17:30 · 20:30
MondayRest day for the horses