Day 1: Meeting and pick up at the airport. Approx. 45min drive to our Quinta dos Pinheiros. After a welcome snack we will get straight onto the horses to enjoy our first ride. By riding through beautiful cork trees and eucalyptus trees you can start to relax and get to know your horse who will be your friendly partner for the week. Back at our Quinta you have time to relax before we have our dinner, during the winter in front of our fireplace, and during the summer months in our garden. Overnight in Quinta dos Pinheiros or a lovely guesthouse nearby. (depending on number of participants).

Day 2: Let the trail begin! For this day we have two beautiful alternatives depending on the number of participants:

A) Our destination of today: a vine yard! Quinta da Ribeirinha. And the beautiful private Estate of a Lusitano horse breeder, Quinta da Boa Vista. On our well trained Lusitano horses we ride from Quinta dos Pinheiros into the direction of Povoa de Santarém. We ride over rolling hills with glorious views before we pass the narrow historical roads of a typical portuguese village. After approximately 2 hours riding we arrive at Quinta da Ribeirinha where we are warmly welcomed with a wine tasting and a delicious lunch. We continue our ride in direction to the Tejo and arrive at the amazing private farm Quinta da Boa Vista, home of a lusitano horse breeder especially successful with their Lusitano horses in carriage driving at international level. Here we stay overnight and enjoy the very special views over the river and get an insight view into this grand Quinta. (Depending on the number of participants and availability). Approx. Riding time 4h.

B) (In case of being less than 4 participants) On our well trained Lusitano horses we ride from Quinta dos Pinheiros in the direction of Alcanoes, passing through this typical Portuguese village. Whilst enjoying glorious views we ride through the green pastures of a bull and horse breeder. Starting in countryside with rolling hills and passing through cork trees, the countryside becomes more open. We arrive in the Tejo valley, with its beautiful vineyards, and where the flat terrain gives us some lovely opportunities for cantering. On the shore of the Tejo River, with fantastic views all around us we stop for our picnic. Well relaxed we continue our ride first through the lovely vine yards and then through mountainous areas enjoying the cork trees and spectacular views to the river before we reach our Quinta dos Pinheiros. Dinner in a traditional restaurant in Santarém or at our Quinta. Overnight Quinta dos Pinheiros or a guesthouse nearby. Approx. Riding time 5,5h.

Day 3: Today we enjoy the Tejo valley and continue to experience the charm of our Ribatejo region. Great opportunities for long trots and canters!! Leaving from Quinta Boa Vista we ride along the Alviela River before we reach the Tejo River again, with its beautiful sandbanks and beaches. Passing by some old farmhouses we arrive at our special picnic place with a peaceful and calm atmosphere where you can rest and enjoy pure nature. In the afternoon our trail leads us through huge corn fields, on winding paths close to the Tagus River until we arrive in Azinhaga. Azinhaga is renowned as one of the most typical Portuguese villages of the Ribatejo. Crossing this village, soon we ride along some fields with grazing mares; Quinta da Brôa, the home of the famous Veiga stud farm is our destination of today.http://www.quintadabroa.com We will be welcomed in this traditional farm which definitely can be called the cradle of the Lusitano known for its long tradition in breeding Lusitano horses. The Veiga family is breeding Lusitano horses since some hundred years. Breathe the atmosphere full of tradition, the farm house and the stunning Lusitano horses! The guesthouses have been renovated and restored in the former workers houses. Have a little rest in your apartment before we will go out for dinner to the ‘capital of the horses’ GOLEGA. Approx. riding time 5h.

Day 4: This morning you can have a little longer breakfast, a little rest before we start our guided tour through the VEIGA studfarm to hear more about this special place. With a bit of luck we see Manuel Veiga (international dressage rider) training one of his beautiful Lusitanos. Often you can
see him training riding one of his stallions in a special workout on the same fields with his breeding mares or having some ‘fun’ riding two horses at the same time. After a little snack and inspired from the morning we get our own horses ready and leave Quinta da Brôa. Our trail takes us through the meadows of the Veiga stud farm, where we can see again the mares with their foals grazing, and we continue along the natural reserve of Boquilobo. Some nice canters are waiting for you. After approximately 3,5 hours of riding we arrive in Golega, the ‚Capital of the Horses‘ where we stay for tonight. Golega has a very long tradition and is famous for his annual horse fair in November. You may like to go for a little walk to discover the little roads and hidden traditional shops or coffebars or you join us to visit our friend and artist Sabine Marciniak: an artist who has dedicated her life to her passion, the painting of Lusitano horses and the equitation art. http://www.lusitanoart.de Later on we enjoy delicious dinner with view over the main square. Approx. Riding time this day 3,5h

Day 5: We prepare our horses for another great riding day. We start our ride, not missing to ride a round on THE MANGA to get a little Golega festival feeling, then leaving the horse town through the small roads and ride back into direction of the Tejo river. In the morning part we pass big corn fields along the Tejo and we understand once more why the region is named ‚Garden of Lisbon‘. Very fertile ground next to the river shows rich fields with tomatoes, potatoes, corn, sunflowers etc. After approximately 2,5 hours you will recognize again the stately beautiful buildings of the Veiga stud farm. For lunch we stop in the restaurant of a small village and while the horses are waiting outside we enjoy a typical Portuguese lunch in an authentic atmosphere. Well rested we continue our ride passing eucalyptus trees and beautiful old cork trees and riding amongst cow herds before we arrive at Quinta Mata Rural where we are staying overnight and a where a nice dinner is waiting for us. Quinta Mata Rural is a charming family run farm producing olive oil and breeding cattle. Do not miss to marvel at the sky full of stars in the night. Approx. riding time 5 to 6h.

Day 6: Today we leave this little paradise and head back into direction of our home farm. Starting over some rolling hills, passing a big cattle farm. Uphill and downhill, the ride takes us through a variety of countryside with corktrees, lovely views and riding through olive trees until we reach our picnic place to have a little rest for us and our horses. Antonio is waiting for us with his well-known picnics. We continue riding through winefields and going around a beautiful little lake where our horses can have a drink. The horses already feel we are coming closer to our stables. Full of new impressions we arrive back home at our Quinta dos Pinheiros. With a delicious dinner we finish our riding week and hope you keep our lusitano horses for a long time in your memories. Riding time approx. 5h

Day 7: After breakfast we have to say goodbye for this time and drive you back to Lisbon airport. If your flight is only later, why not having a riding lesson to discover another side of the capabilities of our wonderful Lusitano horses. (additional costs)

There is a trailer for transporting the luggage.