Rider

Abdalla Atieh Hammad Abu Hassan

Abdalla Atieh Hammad Abu Hassan - Jordan

Specialised trail riding adventures along Portugal`s South West Coast,One of the most remote and beautiful areas of coastal Europe.Welcome to our website!

The Horses:

Named after the Roman name for Portugal, the Lusitano horse is an ancient breed from this area. It is thought to be one of the first horses ever to be ridden. It was improved through careful breeding during the glory days of Portugal, and was their secret weapon in the development of the empire. We use well-schooled pure or crossbreds, carefully selected and trained for trail riding. They are between 15 and 16 hands (1.50 -1.70m), are sure footed and very good natured. We ride with English style endurance saddles, snaffle bridles and provide saddle bags. Some guests like to tack up their own horses and this is encouraged. All the highest European horse care standards are maintained. We select routes to give a good variety of landscapes and plenty of opportunities for long trots and canters.

The Location:

The rides are through the coastal Alentejo province north of the Algarve. You`ve probably not heard of this area, because it forms part of the largest nature reserve in Portugal and is protected from the tourist development that has become associated with Southern Europe.....Very few people live here. It is a paradise for horseback riding. The riding routes are chosen from hundreds of miles of sandy trails that connect the villages. The landscape varies dramatically over short distances - the coast is made up of long deserted beaches backing onto sand dunes, and the coastal plain is interrupted by headlands, cliffs and dramatic coves. The inland plain has oak, pine and eucalyptus forests set on rolling hills with lush green valleys fed by spring water, which gives them jungle like vegetation. Wild flowers and succulent cacti form part of the 750 species of plants found here. Included in the parklands protected list are: golden eagles, osprey, black storks and otters. From Porto Covo to Sagres (to about 10km inland) is a protected parkland area - one of the newest and largest in Southern Europe: take a ride through it with us to find out why!

The Weather:

The deep Atlantic ocean keeps a constant water temperature all year, which results in cool sea breezes in the summer and warm breezes in winter, giving this area one of the most pleasant climates in Europe. Summer day-time temperature is usually 24 - 28C and winter daily highs are 16 - 20C. 275 days of sunshine is the yearly average.

"Deep in unspoilt Portugal is a wonderful horse adventure centre. Populated by Lusitano horses and run by a classical riding expert. It is the perfect place for riding all year round. The coastline here is magnificent, sandy beaches with clear unpolluted water and high cliffs with waves lashing. The ancient towns and villages are fascinating and the surrounding countryside marvelously varied. "



Abdalla Atieh Hammad Abu Hassan