Travel blog: Horse Shopping Holidays

Find your dream Lusitano directly from the best breeders in Portugal!

If you had told me a few years ago that I would now be helping people find their perfect Lusitano, I would probably have laughed and said, "That sounds great, but how?" By now I know better. With now almost monthly trips to Portugal behind me and dozens of Lusitanos seen, ridden and admired, I can say with certainty: this breed is really special.

There is something magical about the Lusitano. They are not only beautiful and versatile, but also brave, sensitive and have a big heart. The kind of horse you instantly feel a click with - and sometimes even love at first sight.

Why a Horse Shopping Holiday?

Horse Shopping Holidays was born out of my love for this special breed as well as my experience in matching horses and people. The idea is simple: you book a horse holiday to Portugal, enjoy a fully organised week, and have the opportunity to find your dream horse - without any obligation.

I arrange everything for you:

• A selection of horses to suit your needs and goals.
• Visits to renowned breeders where you can try horses, while also enjoying guided tours and delicious Portuguese lunches.
• Inspections, transport and all logistics if you decide to take your new Lusitano home.

Whether you travel alone or in a small group, I make sure it feels like a relaxed and personal experience. And even if you decide not to buy a horse, you will have experienced a holiday you won't soon forget.

Why this holiday is different

No stress, no hassle. Everything is arranged for you: flights, hotels, a tight plan to visit breeders, and plenty of space to ride lots of horses especially. My motto? You shop, I take care of the rest.

Together with breeders I now know through and through, we make sure you get a real "VIP tour". Guided tours, great lunches and loads of horses - from foals yet to discover the world to experienced horses ready to impress you. And the best part? Whether you buy a horse or not, you will have an unforgettable holiday anyway.

A journey to remember

Liza, one of my guests, told it so beautifully:

At the end of April, the time had finally come: a week to Portugal with Floor Schoenmakers to visit Lusitano breeders she had already selected and visited. In advance, I had indicated exactly what I was looking for, and this was well taken into account with the horses on offer.

In total, I tried about 20 horses from six different breeders over seven days. I then compiled a top five horses I wanted to try a second time. In the end
were left with two horses that I rode a third time. After much deliberation, I decided to take only Otelo d'Atela, a 6-year-old stallion, to the Netherlands. After a successful inspection, Floor arranged transport for the trip to the Netherlands.

It was a fantastic week! We visited the best Lusitano breeders, enjoyed delicious food and wonderful tours of mares with foals and young horses in the beautiful countryside of Portugal. Floor made sure everything went smoothly; I didn't have to worry about anything and was able to fully enjoy myself. As I often said to Floor, I really felt like a princess: enjoying the beautiful country and the amazing Lusitano horses I completely fell in love with.

"Otje" has been at my stable for a few weeks now and is starting to get the
Dutch horse life more and more. I plan to train him quietly to the highest level and, of course, enjoy him immensely.

For me personally, this is exactly what it's all about: bringing people and horses together in a way that feels natural. You don't have to worry about anything; you focus on riding and enjoying, I take care of the rest.

Shall we find your Lusitano together?

Whether you are looking for that one special horse or just want to enjoy a unique holiday in Portugal, I am happy to help. Let me know what you are looking for and I will make sure your Horse Shopping Holiday is exactly what you need.

Who knows, maybe your dream horse is already waiting on a sun-drenched hill in Portugal.