For over 40 years, Escola de Equitação de Alcainça has welcomed riders from all over the world offering top-level classical dressage tuition.
By focusing on the key pillars of classical dressage, our students gradually work the horse to perfection in straightness, contact, suppleness, collection and impulsion. Taking a gradual approach and with the correct preparatory work, the school horses are able to perform some of the most difficult classical movements such as pirouette, passage and flying changes.
Dressage Lessons
An interest in dressage is important on this holiday; you will need to be willing to learn from the experienced instructors to get the most out of your riding vacation.
Riders should be balanced and independent at walk, trot and canter, and it is an advantage to know the basic lateral movements such as shoulder-in and half-pass.
Following an assessment, riders are divided into groups of 1-3 according to their riding ability and experience, in order to ensure every student receives proper individual attention from the instructor.
Our instructors are multilingual and teach in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.
The lessons take as long as the rider needs to achieve the particular goal for the lesson. In general, the lessons are in average approx 50 minutes long.
This format of intensive interaction between riders and instructors delivers productive and valuable learning.
Our guests can choose from different levels of training intensity:
Intensive riding program (A):
By choosing this option you have two riding lessons per day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. In between the lessons you have time to relax by the pool or enjoy quiet time around the horses.
Moderate riding program (B):
You have one riding lesson per day in the morning or in the afternoon, allowing you the time to discover and enjoy the surrounding Portuguese nature and culture on offer. A trip to Lisbon or the beach from Escola de Equitaçao de Alcainça only takes 30 minutes…
Non-rider program
For the accompanying non-riders or if you want to take a day off riding.
Non-riders are also welcome and day trips can be organised to various places such as Lisbon, Sintra and the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art.
The three options can be mixed as desired, but they have to be pre-booked.
You can arrive and depart on any day and stay for as long as you like. However, for a more fulfilling experience, we do recommend a stay of at least three nights.
Safety is paramount
Although our school horses are all very well trained, gentle and safe, it is mandatory to wear a hard hat/helmet at all times when riding for your own security. Riders must have compulsory personal accident cover.
You are welcome to assist in grooming, tacking up and untacking the horses although there are grooms to prepare and assist if you are unfamiliar with the process.