Welcome to Equus Ourique
This is a new Equestrian Centre or Centro Hipico providing Classical Rider training. Based in the beautiful Baixo Alentejo Area of Portugal with superb horse facilities and miles of tracks and countryside to ride out in. The farm of 16 ha (45 acres) is set in rolling, largely unfenced countryside with sheep, black pig & cows wandering about and miles of fabulous tracks to ride along through woods, over streams and to nearby villages. The centre was newly built in 2007/8 to high specifications and standards.
Pru Clayton-Mead is the chief instructor and trained in the UK, where she competed and had her own riding school and livery yards, before moving to Portugal in 2004.
Our newly built facilities consist of:
Barn stabling for 15 horses in large stables 3.6m x 3.6m (12´
x 12´)
70m x 50m competition outdoor arena
40m x 20m covered arena
18m enclosed round pen
Feed room and tack room
Rest and relaxation facilities including kitchen & covered terrace
Large adjoining paddocks and separate stallion paddocks
Why come to Portugal to ride?
The Lusitano horse originates from Portugal and is said to be the oldest saddle horse in the world. They are courageous, robust and agile working horses with natural collection. Their movement is comfortable to ride and combined with a kind nature. Once you have ridden one I am sure you will fall in love with them as we have.
What is it like in the Alentejo?
It is beautiful, with open land; miles of riding off road; hills; Monchique in the distance; cork oak and holme oak trees to give shade in the summer; streams and beautiful fields of wild flowers in the spring. The Alentejo is the area immediately to the North of the Algarve (Southern Portugal) and it reaches from Lisbon to the Algarve and right across Portugal from the western coast to Spain. The Baixo (lower) Alentejo is the part adjoining the Algarve where we are. The weather is seasonal and the best times here are March to June and September to Christmas.
Why train at Equus Ourique?
Nearly all the teaching is done by Pru, who has been involved with horses since the age of 3! She is a BHSII regd Instructor and an Enlightened Equitation level 2 teacher. She specialises in teaching the biomechanics of riding along classical principles. BIOMECHANICS deals with energy systems and how one movement affects another. In riding terms it relates to small movements of the rider (I.e. the aids) affecting the horse’s way of going. This teaching is predominantly about obtaining an independent seat, quiet hands and legs, and a forward going, supple horse. Pru specialises in teaching riders who want to improve their horse’s way of going by developing their own riding position and, with this understanding, so being a more effective rider and creating better harmony with the horse. All of this in a calm, considerate and natural way.
What level of rider should I be?
We welcome and teach all types of rider from Beginner to Advanced in Classical Dressage and Beginner to Improver in Show Jumping. Specialist show jumping training can be arranged for Advanced riders.
Our ethos is to help both horse and rider and we will work with you in a very calm and easy manner.