Learning to ride is not something that happens in a single afternoon. It is a relationship that builds slowly, between you and the horse, between you and the space, between you and your own body. This 4-class beginner dressage pack in Vale de Santarém was created for anyone who wants to experience that properly, without rushing. Led by José Carvalho Neto, 2015 National Open Dressage Champion and founder of José Carvalho Neto Dressage in the heart of the Ribatejo, each one-hour session builds on the last with constant accompaniment, working on balance, posture and the foundations of dressage as a discipline. No prior experience needed, all equipment included and the horse is part of the package.
The four sessions follow a natural arc of discovery and development. The first is about arriving, getting comfortable with the horse, the space and the feeling of being in the saddle. The sessions that follow deepen that familiarity, introducing the technical elements of dressage communication progressively and giving your body the time it needs to begin understanding what the horse is responding to. By the fourth session, the difference from where you started will be something you feel rather than just notice. Dates and times are agreed directly with José after booking, based on his availability and the weather conditions on each day. On very hot days sessions take place early in the morning or late afternoon for the wellbeing of both horse and rider.
What you’ll learn
🐴 How to approach, handle and develop trust with a horse from the first session
🐴 Balance, posture and correct body position in the saddle
🐴 The foundations of dressage communication between horse and rider
🐴 How to feel and respond to the horse’s movement with growing awareness
🐴 The progressive technical elements of dressage across four structured sessions
What’s included
🏇 Four one-hour dressage sessions with constant accompaniment from José Carvalho Neto
🏇 All riding equipment
🏇 The horse for all four sessions
🏇 Dates agreed directly with José after booking
What to bring
Closed shoes are required. Comfortable clothing recommended.
What you leave with
Four hours of genuine dressage learning, a relationship with a horse that built itself session by session, and a foundation to keep developing if this becomes something you want to continue.
I am José Carvalho Neto, an animal production engineer, equestrian trainer and 2015 National Open Dressage Champion. My career has been dedicated to managing equestrian centres and training sport horses, with podium finishes in prestigious competitions including the Taça de Portugal and a Grand Prix debut in 2017. I train regularly with Olympic rider Gonçalo Carvalho and bring that same commitment to excellence and continuous evolution to every student I work with, from their very first session to wherever their riding takes them.
Dates and times agreed directly with José after booking. Closed shoes required. Schedule may be adjusted based on weather and temperature conditions.
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