T R AV E L
hungry menagerie doing their bit to dispose of leftovers and enrich the soil. With seven dogs, four cats, and a plethora of free roaming chickens, ducks and ducklings, this is an easy task. Native wildlife abounds in the verdant countryside and the nightingale’s song can be heard day and night from April to June. The wide variety of native plant, bird, reptile, amphibian and insect species will delight nature lovers, and enhance riding through the lush glades and valleys. Three main horse riding holiday The leafy serenity of the Rio dos Cavalos River.
packages are on offer for visitors,
BELOW: João and Fly in the lead, followed by Lusia and Quo Vadis with two guests.
The standard experience includes
catering to all levels of expertise. arrival in the afternoon to meet and feed the horses in the evening. After breakfast, guests gather to groom the horses they are to ride to the historic
being used. The farm is a registered
appliances have an energy efficiency
COVID-safe establishment and
rating of A or A+ and light bulbs are
stringent about the regulations
either LED or energy savers. The
around guest comfort and safety.
buildings have all been constructed with
Caramulo mountains. The afternoon
locally sourced materials, and decorated
is spent grooming and preparing the
using lime paint and natural pigments.
horses for a one hour sunset ride on
Riding lessons are available to anyone four years of age or older, and are oriented to Liesje and João’s philosophy
Most of the furniture is recycled, and
of teaching without a bridle. This
the wood stoves used for heating are
natural way of learning results in a more
fed with wood trimmed from the trees.
comfortable and intuitive ride for both
No food is ever discarded, with the
horse and rider. “We focus on feeling, balance, timing and synchronisation,” Liesje says. “You learn using your body and weight and it doesn’t take long to be confident, without or with a bridle.” All lessons from basic to an advanced level include the language of horses, feel, intuition, groundwork, and ridden work. The farm is managed with the aim of maintaining the lightest possible environmental footprint and as such is classified as a Tripadvisor Greenleader. It is operated within circular sustainability principles, incorporating recycling, composting, and ecologically friendly cleaning products. Linen is dried by the sun, wind, or the warmth of a wood burner fire during winter. All electrical 52 | H O R S E V I B E S J A N / F E B 2 0 2 1
village of Casal da Senhora and the stunning views of the Estrella-Açor and
the property, after which the horses are fed and guests are then free to spend the evening as they wish. The weekend winds up with a farm
