MOST POPULAR DESTINATIONS

Portugal - Alcainca Classical Dressage
Alcainca Classical Dressage Training on beautiful, highly trained Lusitano horses.

BOOK HOLIDAYS

We GUARANTEE you won't find the same horse riding holiday at a lower price through any other source... and if you do, we promise to refund the difference!

from £515 or €585

Horse Riding Holidays Portugal – Alcainca Classical Dressage

Alcainca Classical Dressage: Prices 2023

GBP, £ EUR, € USD, $
Choose your currency

DISCOUNTS 2023
20% discount January & February
10% discount November & December
20% discount on 10 nights
Groups of 7 plus, one rider goes free of charge, minimum stay of 5 nights

  • Standard 3 nights / 3 Lessons 
    $623
    • GBP: 515
    • EUR: 594
    per person sharing
  • Intensive 3 nights / 6 Lessons 
    $755
    • GBP: 625
    • EUR: 720
    per person sharing
  • Standard 5 nights / 5 Lessons 
    $1,040
    • GBP: 860
    • EUR: 992
    per person sharing
  • Intensive 5 nights / 10 Lessons 
    $1,257
    • GBP: 1,040
    • EUR: 1,199
    per person sharing
  • Standard 7 nights / 7 Lessons
    $1,451
    • GBP: 1,200
    • EUR: 1,384
    per person sharing
  • Intensive 7 nights / 14 Lessons
    $1,759
    • GBP: 1,455
    • EUR: 1,678
    per person sharing
  • Single Supplement / $36
    • GBP: 30
    • EUR: 34
    per night
  • Non Rider / $103
    • GBP: 85
    • EUR: 98
    per night

Above are just some of our most popular examples, but we can also tailor make and do any length of stay just ask.

Note: Rates are subject to daily exchange rate fluctuations, please refer to our ‘Terms & Conditions’ for full details.

Golega Festival November 2023
Each year in November in the small town of Golega, the most magical celebration of the Lusitano Horse takes place. Riders, breeders, buyers and locals from all over Portugal and beyond, gather in the town to showcase their animals, watch and socialise, it has a unique carnival atmosphere which is to be experienced if you have a special interest in the Lusitano breed.

We can easily add this into your package and include some days riding either side.

Included – All your riding, full board accommodation, soft drinks with all meals and wine with lunch and dinner.

Excluded – Flights, transfers, alcohol outside mealtimes & tips.

Getting There
International flights to Lisbon airport.

Transfer
You can hire a car, or we can arrange to pick you up at Lisbon airport, €106 per car return. It’s a 45-minute transfer.

Alcainca Classical Dressage: Dates 2023

Open all year.

NOTE – There are no riding lessons on Sundays, there are sightseeing alternatives.

Remember our Horse Riding Holidays GUARANTEE. You won’t find these Horse Riding Holidays (or any of our Horse Riding Holidays) at a lower price through any other source… and if you do we will refund the difference.

SUMMARY OF THE TRIP top

Alcainça is a family run dressage yard with a selection of pure and part bred Lusitano schoolmasters suitable for leisure, amateurs and experienced riders. It all started with Antonio Assunção Duarte, when he discovered horses and the pure-bred Lusitano. He started riding and training in Portuguese classical equitation relatively late in life in his forties with Luis Valença, Mestre-Picador of the Portuguese School of Equestrian Arts.
It was Antonio who originally built the Quinta in the 1970’s as a retreat for the family to spend weekends and holidays riding together. Meanwhile, Antonio’s growing passion for Lusitanos and classical dressage saw the Quinta develop into an equestrian centre focused on training high-quality Lusitano horses in the classical Iberian principles, as well as for trail rides in the untouched mountains and along the beaches of the Atlantic coast.

Salette, Antonio’s daughter, then took over the management of Escola the Equitação de Alcainça. She continued to enhance the facility and developed the business by welcoming international guests, keen to try the famous Lusitanos and ride in a traditional Portuguese environment.

Now, the third generation, Salette’s son and Antonio’s grandson, Pedro Rodrigues and his wife Sandra, continue the Escola de Equitação de Alcainça tradition of enabling riders from all four corners of the world to discover the magic of the Lusitano horse and its gift for classical equitation in a family-run Quinta.

This is most definitely the place to visit if you are a Classical Dressage enthusiast, no prior knowledge of this way of teaching is needed as the teachers are sympathetic and aim to inspire and improve technique and feel.

It’s also a lovely place to take a non-riding partner especially in the summer months, when they can relax by the pool, watch some of your training or disappear on day trips to fishing villages, the beach or nearby towns.

THE RIDING top

Alcainca Classical Dressage Horses – Mostly schoolmaster part and pure-bred Lusitanos. All are trained in the lateral movements, and the more advanced horses offer piaffe and passage.

Level of Riding & Pace -Novice to advanced.

Tack – Mostly double bridles & dressage saddles.

Weight Restriction – 90kg / 198lbs / 14.2 stone.

Group Size – Maximum 18 (2-4 in a group lesson)

ACCOMMODATION top

You will stay either at the riding centre which has 3 twin and 2 double rooms or across the road which has 3 twin room. The indoor school is a short walk from the accommodation.

The rooms are clean, comfortable and simple. There is also a bar, games room and large unheated outdoor pool.

The food is delicious, well thought out and in the most part, Portuguese style.

      • Breakfast – A hearty light breakfast, tea, coffee, orange juice, cereals, yoghurts, three types of bread, ham, cheese, fresh fruit & a selection of hot dishes, usually eggs and bacon.
      • Lunch – A proper lunch, but lighter than dinner. Some fish or meat with potatoes or pasta, lots of fresh vegetables from their own garden and fruit.
      • Dinner – Always 3 courses, homemade soup followed by meat and potatoes or a pasta dish, again with lots of fresh vegetables. Desert is a cake or ice cream, always homemade.
      • Snacks – If you are hungry in the late afternoon, you are welcome to ask for something and usually you will be served some Portuguese bread and cheese.

Horse Riding Holidays like our Classical Dressage holiday are part of the Zara’s Planet collection of Horse Riding Holidays Portugal.

Please Ask About

There are lots of sightseeing choices and here are a few suggestions within an hour of the farmhouse.

      • Obidos – A centuries old well-preserved medieval town with castle, cobbled streets and annual festivals.
      • Nazaré – A traditional fishing town with a spectacular view of the beach.
      • Lisbon – The capital city on the banks of the river Tejo, plenty to do and see here day or night.
      • Golegã – A small, picturesque town, probably most famous for the annual horse fair in early November.

SAMPLE ITINERARY top

Lessons have a maximum of 4 people but often only and stay very focussed. You are welcome to watch and film from the gallery to learn as much as possible during your stay.

You can choose from Classical Dressage, Work-in-Hand or Lunge lessons in any combination you wish, taken indoors or outdoors.

The usual 7-night riding holiday is available most weeks of the year and shorter and longer breaks are available on request.

6 days riding, 7 nights, full board and accommodation

      • Sunday
        Arrive early evening, about 6pm in time to settle in and be ready for dinner at 8pm.
      • Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
        Ride twice a day, mornings and afternoons, lessons.
      • Sunday
        morning of sightseeing before departing for an afternoon flight home.

DESTINATION MAP top

Zara’s Planet Horse Riding Holidays Guarantee:

All our horse riding holidays hold a price guarantee. We believe in your piece of mind on price when you book one of our horse riding holidays and will refund the difference should you find the same horse riding holiday elsewhere at a lower price.

If you are having trouble finding exactly the right horse riding holiday for you from our horse riding holidays collection, please contact us directly using the form below and tell us in your own words what you would like to do and we will use our extensive knowledge to make sure we find that perfect horse riding holiday.

CHECK AVAILABILITY top

    Please use the message box below to provide additional and any other relevant information like your riding experience and for how many people.

    Also, if the above Holiday describes few different options for your Horse Riding Holiday in the area - please add a note on which choice you are referring to. Thank you.