H I P P I K O S - Horse Riding Vacations Portugal

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CLASSICAL DRESSAGE and SHOW JUMPING training vacation in PORTUGAL - throughout the year

Vila Verde - Braga (45 minutes from Porto)

Our equestrian centre prides itself on both the quality of the professional instruction available and the quality of the horses.

Hippikos is home to 22 horses, many of which are trained to Grand Prix level and whose welfare and care are paramount.

Our horses are all carefully selected for their excellent bloodlines, temperament and ability, and are all skilfully trained to perform flying changes (up to one tempi), lateral work (half pass, leg yield, shoulder-in), extended trot, canter pirouettes, passage and piaffe.

During the lessons you will have the opportunity to ride excellent horses and our remarkable Lusitanos – “Trifólio” (Stallion), “Nodoso” (Stallion), “Mavioso” (Stallion), “Utuaba” (Stallion), “Uzifor” (Stallion), “Ronaldo” (Stallion), “Venturoso” (Stallion), “Zebruno” (Stallion) and “Rehedição” (Male).

From learning or improving your seat and position on the lunge, to learning and performing one tempi changes, Hippikos offers a warm welcome to guests of all ages and abilities, from beginner to Grand Prix.

We also accept horses for training (from beginner to Grand Prix), where we provide full livery, intensive training and lessons (where required) in both Dressage and Show jumping.

We are a member (FEP 4140) of the Portuguese Equestrian Federation FEP.

António Soares – Owner / Manager. (1986)

Antonio has ridden (for leisure) and has owned horses his entire life. He is passionate about horses since 1962.

João Silva – Showjumping/Eventing rider – Certificated horse riding Instructor.

Denis Pereira – Dressage rider – Certificated horse riding Monitor.

António Portela Carneiro – Professional Show Jumper.

Certificated horse riding Instructor

As a rider he competes at the highest level both in national and international competitions.

Portuguese Show Jumping Championships:

2005 – Champion of Portugal

2006 – Champion of Portugal

2007 – Bronze Medal

Other Show Jumping Championships:

World Championship – 2006 Aachen

European Championship – 2007 Mannheim.

As an instructor he trained:

the 2008 Junior Champion of Portugal

the 2009 Junior Champion of Portugal

the 2009 Junior Vice Champion of Portugal

the 2010 Junior Champion of Portugal

the 2011 Silver Medal in the Portuguese Campionship

Francisco Cancella de Abreu – International Dressage Clinics.

International Level 3 instructor and dressage trainer holding passport nº 272, issued by IGQTHR.

Started to give clinics ever since 1977, visiting Great Britain, USA, Spain and more recently Brazil.

Introduced Working Equitation into Portugal, the star discipline of the Lusitano horse and since then they are consistent winners at all the European and World Championships.

Trained the Portuguese team until 2003.

Organized national and international competitions, among them Open European Championships of Paradressage and several International Eventing Competitions.

Was the first Director of the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art

Collaborated on the beginning of the Real Escuela Andaluza D’Arte Equestre (Spain).

Chef d’Equipe of the Portuguese Dressage Team.

FEI International 3* Dressage Judge.

FEI team of technical officials at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

National Judge for Eventing and Driving.

Director-in-chief of the magazine “Equitação” since 1982.

Worked with:

Dr Guilherme Borba – one of Master Nuno Oliveira’s oldest students. He later became the first director of the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art. Also an exemplary breeder and because of his criteria for selecting top stallions, he is responsible for the success of the modern Lusitano.

D. Jose Athayde – head trainer of the National Stud of Alter Real.

Manuel Veiga – the most famous Portuguese stud farm. Names such as Novilheiro, Nilo, Neptuno .... absolute top horses that made Francisco Cancela a very demanding man, regarding the level of quality in the Lusitano.

Alvaro Domecq – Francisco helped him with his new school and show. He had the opportunity to meet Domecq’s special guests, such as Dr Reiner Klimke of the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, which Francisco watched and followed attentively and tried to imitate. Also met Herbert Rehbein (with whom became friend and remained so until his death) having the chance of riding his top horses, like Pik Bube, learning the correct intensity and tuning needed to make horses more effective in competition.

Mr Sommer d´Ándrade’s – with him he opened a training centre at his farm in Agolada. This centre was a great success due to the amount of young horses trained and sold with record prizes.

With a great pleasure Francisco follows his students and sees them wining national championships, international grand prix and a bronze medal at the young riders’ World Cup. In 2010 he had 2 dressage students on the Portuguese team for the World Equestrian Games.

But the day is not all lessons and work. J

Accommodations are at a beautiful guesthouse inside a farm (Quinta do Pico) placed in the HIPPIKOS Equestrian Centre or in a reserved wonderful Portuguese traditional country stone house, 50/100 meters close to Hippikos, with views of the surrounding valley and mountains, pleasant gardens and a big yard where cars can be parked. Accommodations include comfortable rooms, indoor swimming pool with a massage corner, tennis court, views of the surrounding valley and is only thirty five minutes way off the seashore and twenty minutes way off a marvellous 18-hole golf course for a par 71 of 6005 meters, located on the rural area of Ponte de Lima.

The farm is located in the border of the National Park Peneda-Gerês, where animal species like the wild Iberian wolf, the “Garrano” (wild north Portuguese mountain horse), and many others local species are preserved from extinction. During the trail ridings one has the opportunity to meet lots of gentle Garranos.

HIPPIKOS Equestrian Centre is 45 minutes from Porto, 35 minutes from Esposende and Ofir (beaches), 30 minutes from Guimarães, 25 minutes from Ponte de Lima, 20 minutes from Ponte da Barca and 15 minutes from Braga.

Porto (Oporto) – Unesco World Heritage – the North's most important city lent its name to the famous wine and to Portugal. The city was formerly called Cale and later Portucale, from which the name Portugal was derived. The origins of the urban centre date back to the Late Bronze Age, 8th century BC approximately. One must stroll around its typical quarters (especially the area on the waterside the "zona ribeirinha" – Ribeira) and its bustling downtown. The town of Oporto, with its six stunning bridges, is a quaint paradise for all intrepid navigators… especially given the town’s historic connection to the 15th Century maritime explorer Henry the Navigator! From the town’s historic center, you can venture out to the Sé Catedral, featuring a Gothic cloister and gorgeous 18th Century tiles, the Church of Cedofeita (Romanesque), the Clérigos Tower (Oporto's ex-libris) and Church; the Church of São Francisco, of Romanesque origin and with its gilded carvings, and the Church of Carmo, with its tiled façades. Then, head down the hill to the grand Dom Luis I Bridge, built by an Eiffel disciple. From the bridge, you can get a lovely view of the entire town, including remnants of its original medieval fortifications. The town does have steep hills, so be sure to pack a good pair of walking shoes … and fortify your energy with some delicious pastries (and coffee!) at the grand Art Nouveau Café Majestic. One should not miss a visit to the wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia and free tasting of the famous Port Wine (it has been produced by traditional landholders in the Alto Douro Wine Region – Unesco World Heritage – for some 2,000 years.

The creation of Guimarães city – Unesco World Heritage – goes back to times previous to the foundation of the nationality, and it is much more than the simple birth of a city. It precedes and prepares the foundation of Portugal, is the cradle where not only its prince but also the Kingdom would be born. In Guimarães, the visitor finds in one of the towers of the old wall of the city the registration "Here was born Portugal". This registration refers to the events that took place here and that lead to the foundation of the Portuguese nationality, events that began with the S. Mamede's battle, on the 24th June of 1128, and that culminated with the recognition of D. Afonso Henriques as the 1st king of Portugal.

If Portugal is in itself a tourist destiny, Guimarães city is an obligatory reference for all visitors. Its history, the monumental, artistic and museum wealth, conjugated with the variety of colours that nature offers us, they constitute an unique opportunity for an unforgettable trip. It has several splendid churches, particularly the Nossa Senhora da Oliveira, and a notable old castle.

Ponte de Lima is located in the southern bank of the Lima, a small river with sources in Spain.

One of the oldest towns in Portugal (1125), it was historically significant as a Roman settlement in the road from Braga to Compostela and Lugo, and the first place in Portugal getting a municipal chart. Every second Monday it holds one of the largest country markets in Portugal. The attractive rural area around has the largest concentration of baroque manors in Portugal (Bertiandos, Brandara, Calheiros and Pomarchao are among the best known).

Ponte da Barca is a beautiful village from the North region, situated in an area blessed by nature, with th green luxuriant vegetation and the relaxing colours of the Lima river.

Ponta da Barca’s history dates back to pre-roman times, and from the roman occupation period there are several testimonies, with a special reference for the “Pedra dos Namorados, a bas-relief representing a man and a woman, in exhibition on the Ermida locality Museum.

The symbol of the city that also named it, is its bridge, a construction of the 15th century that helped the development of this village throughout the centuries.

Ponte da Barca was, as well, an important point for the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimages, the Way of St. James.

Ponte da Barca is integrated in the Demarcated Region of the “Vinho Verde“ (a typical Portuguese wine, a mixture of red, white and a bit of rose) and the economic importance of this wine industry is quite visible through the many manor houses of the region.

The Ponte da Barca’s historical centre is beautiful, and many monuments enrich it, like the 18th century Mother Church and the Misericórdia Church from the 16th century, and the Nossa Senhora da Lapa (17th c.) , Santo António (17th and 18th c.) and São Bartolomeu Chapels.

In front of the very central pillory is located one of the most emblematic monuments in the village: the former market (“Mercado”) from the 18th century.

The Ponte da Barca region is partially situated in the wonderful Peneda-Gerês National Park, with idyllic landscapes, worth to be known.

In the heart of the green and fertile province of Minho, the district of Braga stretches from the sea inland, with a wooded scenery that undulates in gentle hills and valleys. The city of Braga, perhaps Portugal’s main religious centre, is known for its baroque churches, splendid 18th century houses and elaborate gardens and parks. The old city is solemn and antique, but industry and commerce have brought to it a lively style of life, with its universities, modern neighborhoods, bars and restaurants.

The city is known as the "Portuguese Rome" for its concentration of religious architecture In Portugal. Braga is one of the most beautiful cities in Portugal.

The City Walls, built by order of King D. Dinis, were finished during the reign of King Fernando, in 1373. Only the Keep, the Gate, the Tower of Saint James, the Tower of St. Sebastian and the Tower of the New Gate, have survived.

Situated in the North of Portugal, the Esposende region has a 14km beautiful coast and some of the best beaches in the north of Portugal, located in the Protected Landscape of the Esposende Seaside Area.

With a strong agricultural influence, Esposende region has some industries and a Tourist industry in quick developing stage.

The Esposende city is situated in a privileged place, surrounded by pine trees forest, on the mouth of the Cávado River, and has beautiful historical buildings, such as the Misericordia Church, from the 16th century and the Bom Jesus Church, the Ruins of the São João Baptista Castle or the Senhor dos Mareantes Chapel.

Apúlia and Ofir Beaches are example of the beautiful natural landscape of this region.

The Gastronomy of this region is also quite rich and tasty, with a great Sea influence, mainly on seafood and shellfish, along with the famous Vinho Verde (a sparkling wine) produced in this region.