Sintra Queluz Riding School

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The Portuguese School of the Art of Riding is the natural sequence of what was the Portuguese Royal Riding Academy, extinguished in the last century. Even so, that horsemanship and tradition survived and they had a great influence on the way of riding in Portugal. On the other hand and due to the continued practice of bullfighting on horseback, the same kind of horse, the same horsemanship. harness and costumes used in the 18th century have been kept up till nowadays. All this represents a unique cultural equestrian patrimony in the world. The stallions used by the School (EPAE) are Lusitanian horses from the ancient Royal Stud at Alter, founded by King João V in 1748.

"Alter-Real" Horses in Hauté École Work on the hand: CORVETA, PIAFFER, CAPRIOLE. lt is used for the training of exercises performed above the ground.The preparatory movement is the PIAFFER, trotting on the spot with elevation and marked cadence. LEVADE  The classic posture of many equestrian statues, the horse rears its hindquarters deeply bent. CORVETA  The horse jumps on its hindquarters from the position of the LEVADE. The term CORVETA is from the Latin corvus as this leap is similar to the hop if this bird. CAPRIOLE  The horse leaps high into the air, striking out horizontally with its hoofs, gliding momentarily in the air like a winged horse. PIAFFER AT THE PILLARS The old riding masters used the pillars to reinforce the concentration of their horses. Long-reins work: Through long and patient training the horse becomes docile and acquires a slow enough cadence to be guided on foot. With reins alone, the horse will perform some of the most exacting movements of Haute École: shoulder-in, half-pass, counter- changes of hand, flying changes, pirouettes, piaffer and levade. Exercises performed above the ground: Corveta Levade, Capriole. The horses perform the same movements we saw on the hand, but this time mounted by their riders. These movements represented in every sense the high point of baroque horsemanship. We see the piaffer as a preparatory exercise, and also the levada and the capriole. Solo: Demonstration by a single rider of the several movements of Haute École and figures of the riding-hall. Pas-de-trois: Three riders demonstrate several Haute École movements and figures. Carrousel: A group of eight riders present the School's quadrille rather like an equestrian ballet.

The Lusitanian Horse The south of the Iberian peninsula ls the cradle of a breed of horse whose origins can be traced back to prehistoric. Cave paintings lin the area prove that the first saddle-horse appeared in this part of the world. The breed,  still exists to this day, takes on different names according to where it is reared: Andalusian in Spain, Lusitanian in Portugal. For some thousands of years Iberian cavalry rode à  gineta, using very short stirrups, which enabled the rider great mobility and efficiency in combat. The battles won by the Spaniards against the French during the Italian wars of the XV th and XVI th centuries resulted in the foundation In Naples of the first modern riding Academy, here, a new style developed with the fusion of the Iberian with the French and Italian styles of  riding. It then spread all over Europe, being known In Vienna, appropriately, as the Spanish Riding School. The brilliant Portuguese tradition, developed by numerous authorities and celebrated horsemen, received a great impulse when, with the encouragement of the Queen Maria Anna of Austria and the Prlnce (later king) D. José, King João V founded in 1748 the Royal Stud at Alter. The stud which continues at the same place, was given new life in 1942 when the rebuilding began of the Alter-Real breed - a variant of Lusitanian. To house the Royal Riding School, King D. José, for his part, built the Royal Manège at Belém, now the home of the National Coach Museum.

Situated 15 km from Old Quarter Lg. do Palácio Nacional 2745-191 Queluz Access: IC 19 (Sintra-Lisbon), turn-off to Queluz Shows of the Portuguese Cavalry School at 11:00 every Wednesday between May and October (except in August). Tickets: 9€ for adults, 50% for over 65's, children under 8 free when accompanied by an adult. Queluz Palace: Opening Hours: 9.30 - 17.00 Last entry at 16.00 The gardens are open from 9:00 till 18.00. Pousada

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	Queluz Riding School Sintra