Portuguese School of Equestrian Art - The age-old dance of the Portuguese soul
Time seems to slow down in the gardens of the National Palace of Queluz and in the historic Henrique Calado Riding Arena in Belém. The pounding of hooves, the gleam of harnesses and the elegance of costumes whisk us off to the splendour of the 18th-century Portuguese court. This is home to the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art, the guardian of the tradition and beauty that unite man and horse in an age-old dance – the ultimate expression of the Portuguese soul.
A direct successor to the former Real Picaria (Royal Riding School) founded by King João V, the school preserves the discipline, aesthetics and harmony of Baroque horsemanship, reviving the legendary Ares Altos and other classic figures that elevate horsemanship to an art form. The rider’s movements are measured, the eye of the horse is alert – and, for a few moments, the riding arena is transformed into a stage where the past is brought to life.
The pounding of hooves, the gleam of harnesses and the elegance of costumes whisk us off to the splendour of the 18th-century Portuguese court.
Under the management of Parques de Sintra, the school has embarked on a new era. The space has been refurbished, the stables improved, and the Henrique Calado Riding Arena has reopened to the public, allowing this art to return to its origins: Belém. Today, the performances at the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art are more than just shows – they are celebrations of elegance, discipline and emotion, where every step reveals centuries of cultural heritage.
The star performers are, quite naturally, the Alter Real thoroughbred Lusitano horses, reared at the historic Coudelaria de Alter stud farm, also founded by King João V. It is there, in the Alentejo region, that these animals are born, reared and carefully trained. Each one is the result of generations of careful selection, patience and love – horses of the rarest intelligence, capable of understanding the touch, silence and thoughts of their rider.
When they arrive at the school, already fully grown, they are handed over to their picador (horse trainer), who guides them through a learning process based on harmony and respect. In the ‘lower school’, they are taught precision of movement; later, in the ‘upper school’, they are brought to perfection – performing aerial movements that defy gravity and enchant those who watch. The idea is never to overpower the horse, but to have a dialogue with it, in a communion that reveals the essence of Portuguese horsemanship.
Today, the performances at the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art are more than just shows – they are celebrations of elegance, discipline and emotion […]
To develop and preserve this knowledge, the D. Diogo de Bragança Equestrian Art Library, located in Queluz, holds a collection of rare beauty: around 1,500 works dedicated to equestrian art, including manuscripts and precious editions spanning centuries of history. This is a tribute to the Marquis of Marialva and to all those who have dedicated their lives to understanding this silent language between man and animal.
UNESCO recently recognised Portuguese Equestrian Art as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, a historic milestone that enshrines the universal value of this tradition. In fact, attending a show at the school is like witnessing an age-old dialogue. Between the brilliance of the Lusitano horse and the bearing of the rider, there is something quintessentially Portuguese – a fusion of strength and serenity, pride and subtlety. With every step, every bow, the history of a country that has succeeded in transforming movement into art and tradition into emotion is rekindled.
Because, at the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art, horses are not just ridden – they are understood. And from this understanding comes the purest form of beauty.
[…]Between the brilliance of the Lusitano horse and the bearing of the rider, there is something quintessentially Portuguese […]
Text: Carla Martins
Photos: Pedro Yglesias/Rita Fernandes