DRESSAGE, JUMPING & TRAILS in Santarém

(PORTUGAL)

Tucked away in the beautiful Santarém region of central Portugal, this intimate, family-run equestrian retreat offers riders a rare combination of high-level training and warm hospitality. Just under 1.5 hours from Lisbon, the center is home to expertly trained Lusitanos schooled to Grand Prix level and KWPN horses competing in showjumping up to 115 cm. Owned by Vitor and his daughter Filipa, the facility blends professional-grade instruction in both dressage and jumping with a welcoming, down-to-earth atmosphere. Guests are accommodated in a charming guesthouse or traditional-style cottages, and have access to a swimming pool between their lessons. Regional cuisine is served using fresh, local ingredients, often accompanied by a glass of the area's excellent wine. Trail rides through the picturesque countryside are also available. The center is located near Golegã, renowned for its lively annual horse fair.

Man riding a grey Lusitano horse in an arena in Portugal, doing dressage.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Enjoy a selection of programs from dressage with lusitanos to jumping, working equitation and trail rides.

  • Enjoy riding beautiful and highly trained lusitanos some trained up to Grand Prix level dressage,

  • Jumping lessons with Warmbloods (mostly KWPN and cross breeds) that are capable of jumping courses up to 1m30.

  • Try Portuguese Working Equitation!

  • Hack near the Tagus River, through pine and cork trees, pastures and small Portuguese towns.

  • Relax by the pool after riding!

QUICK GUIDE:

  • Airport: Lisbon International Airport (Humberto Delgado Airport - LIS)

  • Program length: 3 to 7 nights (longer stays also available - please inquire)

  • Price: From €780 per person

  • Riding Level: Beginner to advanced (all levels welcome, programs are tailored to each rider)

  • Who Can Join: Riders, non-riders, children… everyone is welcome!

  • Programs Available: Dressage, Show Jumping, or a combination of both, as well as mixed programs with lessons and trail rides.

  • Availability: Open year-round. Pick your dates!

4 PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • This boutique equestrian center in the Santarém region is home to a carefully selected group of around 20 horses, including Lusitanos (several trained to Grand Prix level in dressage) and Dutch Warmbloods and crossbreeds suited for showjumping up to 1.30 m. With experienced English-speaking instructors, the center caters to a range of riders from beginners to advanced levels in both disciplines.

    Guests can mix dressage and jumping lessons with relaxed trail rides through 10km of surrounding cork forests, farmland and riverbanks. Hacking along the Tagus River or exploring the nearby village offers a peaceful contrast to the focused training sessions.

    Lessons: The lessons are typically private (1-to-1), or max 2 people in busy season

    The center also welcomes children, with a few suitable horses available, and provides flexibility from weekend stays to full weeks, with the option to switch between disciplines or even add working equitation lessons!

  • Accommodation:

    Guests are accommodated across nine comfortable units, including two traditional villas, spread out over three buildings within the estate. The accommodations are approximately 200 meters (650 feet) from the stables, allowing for easy access to the riding center while maintaining a tranquil and private atmosphere.

    -A quiet swimming pool area offers a refreshing escape between lessons, and common spaces include a cozy sitting room with a snooker table and balconies for unwinding at the end of the day.
    -Free WiFi is available throughout the accommodation.
    -Accommodation is available in either double or single rooms, all furnished to a high standard. Guests who prefer a room to themselves may book a single room. If a shared room is requested but no match is available, the single supplement will apply.

    FOOD:

    Meals at the facility are centered around authentic Portuguese home cooking. Dinners typically begin with a soup or salad starter, followed by a hearty fish or meat course, and finish with a traditional dessert. Wine is included with dinner (approximately one bottle for two guests), while other beverages are available to order separately.

    For those opting for a half-board stay, the nearby villages offer excellent dining options, some within walking distance.

  • What’s included:
    The package price includes shared accommodation, full board (all meals), and the riding lessons and hacks listed in your program. Full board is included in the price shown, but half board is also available on request. Please ask for the half board rate if preferred.

    Not included:

    • Single room supplement: 30€ per night

    • Extra lessons: 85€ per lesson

    • Extra meals: 25€ per meal

    • Flights and airport transfers

    • Travel insurance

    • Other activities not part of the package

  • Pricing (€) – 2025

    Note: Prices are based on a 6-night program (7 days, 5 riding days). Please inquire for shorter or longer stays.

    Season Dates

    • Low Season: 5 Jan – 22 Feb & 10 Nov – 20 Dec

    • Mid Season: 23 Feb – 29 Mar, 6 Jul – 30 Aug & 21 Dec – 4 Jan (2026)

    • High Season: 30 Mar – 5 Jul & 31 Aug – 9 Nov

    Program Prices (per person, sharing)

    • Non-Rider

      • Low Season: €900

      • Mid & High Season: €1200

    • Regular Programme

      • Low Season: €1230

      • Mid Season: €1305

      • High Season: €1380

    • Intensive Programme

      • Low Season: €1670

      • Mid Season: €1745

      • High Season: €1820

  • The property has quiet spots by the river where guests can enjoy Yoga or Reiki sessions with an instructor. These can be arranged in advance, depending on availability.

    Guests can also take part in local tours, such as wine tasting at nearby wineries, visits to a traditional olive oil mill, or a cork workshop. It's also possible to visit the 12th-century castles of Abrantes, Belver, and Almourol (which sits on a small island in the river). Charming towns like Sardoal, Constância, and Abrantes are also worth a visit.

    Outdoor activities are available in the area, including canoeing on the Tagus River, swimming, wakeboarding, and water skiing at Castelo de Bode Lake. There are also options for karting and cycling nearby.

    For those who want to capture memories on horseback, photo sessions are available:

    • 1 ride + 1 hour of photos: 50 EUR per person

    • 2 rides + 2 hours of photos: 80 EUR per person

    • 5 rides + 5 hours of photos over 2.5 days: 200 EUR per person

    Please request photo sessions at the time of booking.

  • Our partners’ facilities are located just 30km from Golega.
    Every year, the team at the riding center organizes trips to the Golegã Lusitano Horse Fair, which runs from the first weekend to the end of the second weekend in November. They arrange transfers, meals, horses to ride in the arenas, and access to the daily events at the fair.

    There is also another event at Golegã called Expoégua, held on the third weekend of May, where some of the best Lusitano mares and foals are shown and judged.

    Please inquire for details and pricing.

  • Getting There: Fly into Lisbon International Airport (LIS)

    Private Transfers:
    Private transfers from Lisbon Airport can be arranged upon request.

    • A standard car (up to 3 passengers with luggage) costs 185 EUR one way

    • A larger vehicle (up to 5 passengers with luggage) is 250 EUR one way
      The drive takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

    By Train:
    Traveling by train is a scenic and increasingly popular alternative. The route follows the Tagus River and takes under 2 hours. From the airport, take the metro to Oriente Station (3 stops, approx. 6 minutes), where you can catch a direct train to Abrantes Railway Station. The riding center is located just 5 minutes from the station, and local pickup can be arranged for €15-20 (paid locally)

    Train tickets cost around 15 EUR and can be purchased at the station or online at www.cp.pt.

    Car Rental:
    Renting a car is also a practical option, especially for those who wish to explore the region between lessons. The drive from Lisbon is around 145 kilometers, mostly via motorway, with only the last 7 km on a national road. Car rental in Portugal is generally affordable.

DRESSAGE PROGRAM

A lady is riding a bay lusitano horse in an arena in Portugal, during her dressage class.
  • 3 to 6 nights stay – Full board

  • From €650 to €1230 per person

  • Open to all levels

A fantastic program for those wanting to improve their dressage skills with the stunning, highly trained Lusitano horses. During lessons, you will ride one of the centre’s beautiful schoolmaster horses, many of which are pure-bred Lusitanos. These horses vary in training level, all the way up to Grand Prix.

You’ll start with basics like lateral work and straightness, then progress to collection and extending the horse’s movement. The focus is on building a balanced, flexible, and relaxed partnership between rider and horse. Training is adapted to your experience and goals, usually covering seat work and lateral exercises such as shoulder-in, travers, and leg yielding. If ready, you may advance to moves like pirouettes and flying changes.

Depending on whether you choose the standard or intensive option, you can have one or two lessons per day. Arrival and departure are flexible, any day of the week, subject to availability. Lessons can often be swapped for a relaxed trail ride to explore the countryside. Private lessons are preferred, but in some cases, two riders of similar level may share a lesson.

Note: The 3-night and 6-night stays are examples to give an idea. Stays of 4, 5, or more than 6 nights are available on request.

  • Pricing (varies by season):
    3 nights / 4 days (3 to 5 lessons depending on package, full board): from €650
    6 nights / 7 days (5 to 10 lessons depending on package, full board): from €1230

Longer stays (7 nights or more) are also available. Please inquire for an exact quote based on your preferred dates.

SHOWJUMPING PROGRAM

A man is jumping over an oxer with a bay Lusitano horse during his showjumping class in an arena in Portugal.
  • 3 to 6 nights stay – Full board

  • From €650 to €1230 per person

  • Open to all levels

This program is ideal for riders wanting to improve their show jumping skills through a personalised training plan tailored to your experience and goals. Training includes flatwork with low jumps, gradually increasing in difficulty with more obstacles, varied distances, and combinations. The session usually finishes with jumping a course at a suitable height. Groups can have up to 4 riders.

During the showjumping lessons, you will have the chance to ride a selection of lovely warmblood horses from jumping backgrounds, including Dutch KWPN, Selle Francais, and German Oldenburg breeds.

Depending on whether you choose the standard or intensive option, you can have either one or two lessons per day. Arrival and departure are flexible and can be scheduled for any day of the week, subject to availability. Lessons can often be swapped for a relaxed trail ride if you wish to explore the countryside.

Note: The 3-night and 6-night stays are examples to give you an idea. Stays of 4, 5 or more than 6 nights are also available on request.

  • Pricing (varies by season):
    3 nights / 4 days (includes 3 to 5 lessons depending on package, full board): from €650
    6 nights / 7 days (includes 5 to 10 lessons depending on package, full board): from €1230

Longer stays (7 nights or more) are also available. Please inquire for an exact quote based on your preferred dates.

COMBINATION (DRESSAGE & JUMPING) PROGRAM

A lady riding a bay Lusitano horse in an arena during her working equitation class in Portugal.
  • 3 to 6 nights stay – Full board

  • Dressage, Working Equitation and Jumping lessons

  • From €650 to €1230 per person

  • Open to all levels

This option is perfect for riders looking to combine different disciplines. Guests can mix and match dressage, traditional Portuguese working equitation, and jumping lessons. You'll benefit from either one-to-one lessons or in a small group setting depending on your level and the time of year.

Depending on whether you choose the standard or intensive option, you can have either one or two lessons per day. Arrival and departure are flexible and can be scheduled for any day of the week, subject to availability. Lessons can often be swapped for a relaxed trail ride if you wish to explore the countryside.

Note: The 3-night and 6-night stays are examples to give you an idea. Stays of 4, 5 or more than 6 nights are also available on request.

  • Pricing (varies by season):
    3 nights / 4 days (includes 3 to 5 lessons depending on package, full board): from €650
    6 nights / 7 days (includes 5 to 10 lessons depending on package, full board): from €1230

Longer stays (7 nights or more) are also available. Please inquire for an exact quote based on your preferred dates.

LESSONS & TRAILS PROGRAM

A man riding a white Lusitano horse, along with a lady riding a bay Lusitano horse, are trail riding on a path in the forest in Portugal.
  • 3 to 6 nights stay – Full board

  • Lessons and trail rides

  • From €780 to €1580 per person

  • Open to all levels

This option is ideal for riders looking to combine lessons with relaxed countryside hacking. You’ll enjoy a mix of lessons (dressage, jumping or a combination of both), and short trail rides through the beautiful landscape surrounding the equestrian centre.

The 3-night stay includes 3 lessons (up to 1 hour each) and 2 trail rides (up to 1.5 hours each).
The 6-night stay includes 6 lessons and 4 hacks. Guests can arrive and depart on any day of the week, subject to availability.

Note: The 3-night and 6-night packages are examples. Stays of 4, 5 or more than 6 nights are also available on request.

Private 1-on-1 lessons is standard, though occasionally two riders of a similar level may share a lesson. Trail rides are gentle and mostly at a walking pace.

  • Pricing (varies depending on season):
    3 nights / 4 days (includes 3 lessons and 2 trail rides, full board): from €780
    6 nights / 7 days (includes 6 lessons and 4 trail rides, full board): from €1580

Longer stays (7 nights or more) are also available. Please inquire for an exact quote based on your preferred dates.