Best of Portugal

Equestrian

The south western part of the continent of Europe is occupied by the nation of Portugal which is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean in the south and west and the Spanish in the north and east. Over the years it has been observed that Portugal has developed formidably in terms of economy or society. In the sporting world, Portugal has participated in various categories in the premier world championships and sporting events and has earned acclaim as well. While it is true that football is the most popular sport in Portugal, equestrian is also an extremely favored sporting activity among the Portuguese. In fact it is one of the prevalent means of spending leisure time in Portugal and equestrian has also influenced tourism in the country.

In order to determine the origin of equestrian in Portugal, one can revert back to history and move back to the primitive times when horses and other domestic animals were used for carrying goods and human beings from one place to another. As times progressed, different territories developed and in case of battles and wars, these horses were prominently used and here one can remember the image of the medieval knights in their horses. Portugal possesses three famous breeds namely the Lusitano, the Garrano and the Sorraia. The Lusitano is the most significant among these and the origin of its name can be associated to the name Lusitania by which Portugal was known in 138 BC when it was confiscated within the Roman Empire. In fact, some of the horse saddles and bridles used in Portugal are adapted from the conventional patterns like the Ribatejo saddle, Relvas saddle, Portuguese Equitation, D.Dinis saddle, D.Dominigues saddle and the bridles. The bridles are mostly handmade in Portugal. Equestrian activities are supplemented by specific attires and Portuguese chaps are manufactured from olive leaves. Equestrian is widely loved and practiced in Portugal unlike bullfighting which is prohibited in certain places.