Classical Riding Tuition in Portugal

Jorge Martins Pereira welcomes riders to visit his training centre in Coruche, near Lisbon to train with him on a one-to-one basis. Jorge was one of the youngest riders ever to ride with the Portuguese school of Equestrian Art, which he did until his early twenties. He has trained with Luis Valenca, David Ribereiro Telles and Dr Guilherme Borba, present director of the School.

The Centre is a privately run concern as opposed to being a riding school and guests are kept to a maximum of two at any one time. Training is intensive and on a one to-one basis with Jorge. Typically, riding takes place twice a day, Monday to Friday and riding is approximately 2 hours per day in a large, airy, purpose-build indoor school.

The horses are all Lusitano stallions and there are between 25 35 horses in work at any one time. Some for there for breaking, some for schooling and some are being produced on behalf of private owners. Included in these are a core of schoolmasters, most of whom work to Grand Prix level and who are used specifically for students. All horses are schooled and worked according to classical principles: they are kept in peak condition and are willing and comfortable to ride. Double bridles and dressage saddles are standard.

Jorge will teach all levels of rider up to and including Grand Prix, providing the commitment to learn is there. However, in order to maximise your visit it is advisable to have a good seat, a sound basic knowledge and be capable of riding a forward-going horse in all three paces. This is not a holiday for someone who only rides occasionally and/or who is looking for beach-riding and relaxation thrown in. Rather it is an intensive week of instruction that will give you sufficient food for thought and areas to work on for several months whilst contemplating how quickly you can return! Typically, the person who most benefits is the thinking rider wishing to expand their learning and who is seeking a greater understanding of how they can work more closely with their horse.

A view of Coruche.

However, if you are a looking for a break whereby you can ride and relax and where the tuition is not so intensive there are places for you too. One, about 30 minutes from Coruche is a riding centre Centro Hipico Lusitano which is run under Jorge s direction. Although not there on a day-to-day basis, Jorge is very satisfied that the main instructor, who has been trained by him, teaches in a manner that mirrors his own. This is a superb place for the lower-level rider who wishes to ride once or twice a day but in a less intensive environment. Once again Lusitano stallions are used for lessons and dressage saddles and double bridles are standard equipment.

Both centres have lovely accommodation either on site on close by. With car hire it is very easy for friends of different levels to ride at the different centres yet stay in the same accommodation.

Finally what will it cost you? At the moment lessons with Jorge are £28.00 each (£280.00 for 10 lessons over 5 days). Accommodation in Coruche in £25.00 for a double room i.e. 2 people would pay £12.50 a night each. Flights from Stansted Airport are £100 return direct from Lisbon. The only other costs would be car hire (optional) and meals, which are very inexpensive. However, this is just a guideline as everything can be tailored for the individual.

For more information or to discuss your riding requirements please feel very welcome to telephone/fax me on the number below:

Sue Giordano on +44 (0) 1939 291450