The Equine Catalyst

10/07/2025

Postcards from Portugal – Day 4
Bom dia from Portugal✨

Day 4 was all about immersing ourselves in Portugal’s rich culture, history, and equestrian heritage.

We started early, catching the train into Lisbon for a day of exploration. But first – as every good day in Portugal begins – there was a pastel de nata (Portuguese tart) and a quick espresso to fuel the adventure ahead. There’s nothing quite like the creamy sweetness of a pastel de nata paired with strong Portuguese coffee to start your morning right.

At the station, we were met by our private tour guide, Anya. It was such a treat to have a professional guide dedicated just to our group rather than joining a large public tour. Anya shared her deep knowledge and local insights, making the history come alive at every step. She is also a good friend of Nicole Giger, who helped organise this wonderful part of our trip – it’s always special when you get to travel with connections like that, adding a personal touch to the day.

✨ We set off on a four-hour walking tour, nice and early before the sun grew too hot. Anya led us through the winding streets of Lisbon, sharing stories that painted vivid pictures of the city’s past.

We learnt about Lisbon’s devastating earthquake in 1755 and how the city was completely rebuilt under the direction of the visionary Marquês de Pombal, who redesigned it with wide streets and earthquake-resistant structures. It was fascinating to hear how the King of Portugal at the time was too scared to return to Lisbon after the disaster and chose to live outside the city.

We discovered where to go in Lisbon to party, and where to find quiet corners for contemplation, giving us an insider’s map to the city’s moods and rhythms. We enjoyed incredible views across the rooftops, learning how Lisbon is built on seven hills, each with its own castle, churches, and stories reaching back centuries. We even visited the world’s oldest bookstore, a hidden gem tucked among the cobbled streets.

✨ But our day wasn’t done yet.

By 1 o’clock, it was time for the second half of our adventure – a visit to Villa Oeiras, nestled in the charming town of Oeiras just outside Lisbon. Here, our day transformed from cultural discovery to equestrian and enological delight.

We toured a family-run Lusitano stud farm Coudelaria De Oeiras JD, having a home made lunch complete with quiche and cake abd award winning cheese, and a guided tour with Carolina Puga Ratola , meeting their beautifully bred horses raised amid rolling vineyards. The backdrop? Rows of Carcavelos vines, planted over just 20 hectares, making it Portugal’s smallest DOC wine region. Production here is tiny, but the flavour is mighty – Carcavelos is a fortified wine, rich and golden with notes of caramel, dried fruits, and a hint of sea breeze – a style almost lost to urban sprawl but now preserved and celebrated once more. We enjoyed a tour of the wone making facilities and of course the wine tasting was compulsory!

✨ Then came something truly special.

Not only did we learn about the horses they breed here, but we also explored fascinating parts of the farm, including the ancient 17th-century ‘fishing pond’, built for none other than the Marquês de Pombal himself – the same visionary we learnt about that morning who rebuilt Lisbon after the earthquake. This wasn’t just a pond with a statue; it was a magnificent water feature and fountain complex, a hidden architectural treasure tucked away in the middle of the estate.

✨ And on a special note for me personally – I got to see a daughter of Ali Baba and her grandchildren, the great-grandchildren of Ali Baba.
For those who know Lusitano breeding, Ali Baba is a truly classy stallion, and seeing his lineage thriving here was deeply meaningful and emotional.

✨ It felt like a perfect full-circle moment.

Having learnt about the Marquês de Pombal’s impact on Lisbon earlier that day, to then stand on his land, beside this historic pond, surrounded by Lusitano horses – including descendants of Ali Baba – and ancient Carcavelos vines, tied together Portugal’s history, equestrian heritage, and cultural richness in a way words can barely describe.

Stay tuned for Day 5, as we continue our journey deeper into Portugal’s equine heartlands.

09/07/2025

Postcards from Portugal – Day 3
Bom dia from Portugal ✨

After the magic of the Lusitano Festival night show, Day 3 started a little later – a welcome sleep-in before another day of equestrian excellence.

Today’s highlight was watching the Working Equitation speed round. If you’ve never seen this before, imagine dressage-level precision combined with obstacle agility and pure adrenaline. It was absolutely incredible to witness the skill, accuracy, and courage of these riders as they galloped at speed, weaving around poles, jumping hay bales, opening gates, and performing tight turns with split-second timing.

We had extra fun cheering on Perry Nancarrow, an Australian rider now based in Portugal. It was fantastic to have someone from our side of the world competing among the best, and we proudly claimed him as our own. Watching him place second in the speed round – against some of Portugal’s top riders – was inspiring to say the least.

✨ Working Equitation really is a sport that leaves you in awe.

Like every day here, we finished with delicious Portuguese food and wine, dining at different restaurants each night to sample the full spectrum of flavours Portugal has to offer. From fresh seafood to rich meats, crisp Vinho Verde to deep, soulful reds – each meal is a celebration in itself.

✨ Day 3 was a wrap-up of the festival, but the memories of the speed, skill, and sheer horsemanship of Working Equitation will stay with all of us forever.

Stay tuned for Day 4, as we venture beyond the festival to explore even more of Portugal’s equestrian heart and cultural gems.

08/07/2025

🌟 Postcards from Portugal – Day 2
Bom dia from Portugal 🌊

Every morning here starts the same way for me – with a swim in the Atlantic Ocean.

At 7am in Cascais, the beaches are almost empty, just a few other diehards braving the crisp water. It’s the perfect way to reset, ground myself, and prepare for another day of horses, culture, and discovery. By midday these beaches are packed with sunbathers and families, but at dawn, it feels like the entire ocean is mine.

✨ There’s something about starting your day with the Atlantic that makes you feel alive and ready for anything.

After the swim it was business time for me as the President of the Australasian Lusitano Association. I attended the annual meeting of all the sister organisations from around the world. It’s always such an honour to be the voice for the Australasian region, discussing our connection with the APSL here in Portugal, what’s happened during the year, and what we hope to improve going forward.

We were treated to a wonderful lunch by the APSL, overlooking the showgrounds, with the chance to catch up with the heads of other associations from France, USA, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, and beyond. It’s always inspiring to connect with people equally passionate about preserving and promoting this incredible breed.

✨ Meanwhile, while I was busy in meetings, the tour group was treated to a spectacle – watching some of the best Working Equitation riders in the world ride their ease-of-handling rounds. It was extra special to see current World Champion Gilberto Filipe competing on three different horses – an absolute masterclass in technique and partnership.

But the true highlight of Day 2 was the Lusitano Festival night show.

It’s hard to describe just how magical it is to watch mares presented in groups of three with their foals running free, right beside the audience. With nothing more than a dressage arena fence – barely 30 centimeters high – separating the foals from the huge crowd, it felt like you could reach out and touch living history in motion. Seeing these spirited babies gallop so close, completely trusting their environment and their mummas, is always a moment that takes your breath away.

The evening continued with breathtaking performances:

✨ The Valença Academy presented several stunning shows, showcasing classical Portuguese horsemanship at its finest.
✨ The Portuguese School of Equestrian Art brought out some of their best horses, performing piaffe, passage, and the airs above the ground they’re so famous for – pure equestrian art in motion.
✨ A side saddle demonstration, elegant and timeless.
✨ Young bullfighting boys, aged around 10 years old, rode their horses with incredible skill and confidence, giving a presentation with the toirinha (fake bull) – an impressive glimpse into Portugal’s traditional equestrian culture.
✨ And perhaps the most mesmerising of all – a carousel performance by 12 of Portugal’s top Working Equitation riders. Sitting ringside, so close we could almost touch the horses, we watched as they wove patterns of pure precision and partnership. It was two hours of eye-watering magic that words can barely describe.

✨ Portugal continues to weave its spell – every day a tapestry of tradition, skill, and unforgettable moments.

Stay tuned for Day 3, as our journey through this equestrian paradise continues.

07/07/2025

Postcards from Portugal – Day 1
Bom dia from Portugal✨

The tour got underway on the Thursday night with a welcome dinner at the vegetarian restaurant "House of Wonders"– where the menu isn’t just printed, it’s put on display right in front of your eyes – our adventure had officially begun! The restaurant was a recommendation of my friend Nicole who helped so much in getting this tour off the ground with her local knowledge and her good friends Anya and Filipa who were our expert tour guides on this journey.

Day 1 took us straight into the heart of what we came for: horses, history, and inspiration.

We spent the morning at the Lusitano Festival, immersed in dressage classes showcasing everything from talented young horses to breathtaking Grand Prix performances. Watching these elegant Lusitanos move with such power and grace is always a reminder of the centuries of careful breeding and dedication behind them.

Then it was time to hit the road, travelling towards the centre of Portugal to the town of Coruche. There, we experienced something truly special – a guided tour with Filipa, an ethologist with a PhD on Sorraia horses, and one of the world’s leading experts on this rare and endangered breed.

We learned about the discovery of Sorraia horses by Ruy Andrade, the famous zoologist who, a hundred years ago, found these unique horses living wild along the banks of the Sorraia River. Standing there, just kilometres from where he first documented and preserved them in his own herd, was a powerful moment of connection to history.

To top off an already incredible day, we watched a Sorraia stallion being ridden – a rare sight indeed – and some of our tour group even got to sit on him for a short ride, an unforgettable experience with this living piece of equine history.

✨ Portugal never fails to remind me why I love what I do.

Stay tuned for Day 2, when we delve deeper into these ancient horse lines and discover even more equestrian wonders.

06/07/2025

✈️ Postcards from Portugal – Day Zero

Bom dia from beautiful Portugal ☕ 🐴

Over the next week or, I’ll be sharing my daily diary of this incredible journey I have just finished - My first ever time planning an Equestrian Tour to Portugal – the horses, the history, the coffee, the culture… all the magic that makes Portugal one of my favourite places on earth.

This is more than a trip; it’s a chance to walk amongst Lusitanos, watch world-class training, immerse in tradition, and come away changed.

Stay tuned each day as I take you behind the scenes – and if these glimpses awaken something in you, maybe next year, you’ll join me here too.

🌟 Tomorrow: Day 1 – let the adventure begin!

05/07/2025

Sunday Musings – Tastes of Portugal

There’s something about this tiny cup of Portuguese espresso that feels like a whole world contained in one sip.

Here I am, sitting in a café in the incredibly old and beautiful town of Azeitao, listening to the clatter of cups behind the bar, the low hum of conversation in a language I’m only just learning to understand. The coffee is strong and dark, almost syrupy, and somehow it feels like it captures the entire essence of Portugal in its tiny porcelain frame.

Rich. Warm. Unapologetically bold.
A little bitter, a lot beautiful.

It makes me think about how important it is to taste life fully – to step out of routine, to travel, to learn from other cultures, and to keep curiosity alive.

Here in Portugal, the Lusitano horses tell their own story. They are small in numbers yet powerful in body and mind, understated yet magnificent, just like this coffee. They carry centuries of tradition in their veins. Watching them, working with them, tasting their country’s food and coffee, I’m reminded that learning never ends. The best riders, trainers, and humans I know are the ones who remain curious about everything – from how to ride a perfect circle to how to order coffee with the locals.

Today, as I sip this espresso, I’m grateful for the chance to keep exploring new flavours, new ideas, and new ways of being in this world.

Because, in the end, life – just like a good coffee – is meant to be tasted deeply, savoured, not rushed.

☕ What are you tasting in your life right now that reminds you to slow down and savour?

04/07/2025

Can't wait to get to Colorado to catch up with my mentor Dr Andrew McLean....will be a great conference ... that Im sure of.

Don’t miss this thought-provoking plenary at ISES 2025: From Prejudice to Principles: The Promise of a First Principles Approach in Equitation Science

Join Dr. Andrew McLean as he challenges entrenched beliefs and champions a science-driven approach to equitation.

Get your online or in-person tickets here: https://www.equitationscience.com/csu-2025

28/06/2025

✨ Sunday Musings from Portugal (with an espresso coffee, of course):
I’ve been thinking a lot about horse sport lately — and what we allow to happen in warm-up rings, in yards, and behind the stables.

I’ve come up with something I’m calling Operation Orange Card — a way to gently but firmly raise the bar in our sport without handing out bans or starting a witch hunt.

We already have yellow cards, but let’s be honest… the threshold is sky high.
You can scream at your horse, smack it for standing on your foot, or melt down at a steward — and probably no one says a word.

My idea?
A quiet reporting system. A single steward in charge. And a private phone call to say:

“Hey — someone saw this. Let’s do better.”

No fines. No shaming.
Just a nudge — and if needed, a little education before re-entry.

I think it could change the culture of our sport in six months.
Not punishment — just a reset.
Because our horses try hard for us, and we owe them more than excuses and stress.

Would love your thoughts.
🧡 Would you support a trial like this in NZ horse sport?
Drop a comment. Let’s talk.

👉 Full blog (with all the nitty-gritty) is here: https://go.hartstoneequestrian.com/post/operation-orange-card-equestrian-sport

28/06/2025

Course walk for the Working Equitation Masters Ease of Handling in Cascais this morning. World Champion Gilberto Phillipe leading the way...

27/06/2025

Beautiful skies over Cascais tonight....

25/06/2025

🌟 DAY 10 – The Principle of Self-Carriage 🌟

Ever been told to "keep the horse between your hand and leg"?
Or to "ride with more inside leg to outside rein"?
🙋‍♀️ That was me for YEARS.

I thought self-carriage was this mythical thing that might happen when you finally made it to Grand Prix.
But now I know better.
Self-carriage isn’t something magical that happens later.
It should start right from the very beginning—even with a freshly broken-in horse.

✅ Self-carriage of speed and stride length
✅ Self-carriage of direction
✅ Self-carriage of posture and contact

The goal? A horse that maintains everything you’ve asked for—without you having to hold it all together every single second.
No more nagging legs.
No more see-sawing reins.
No more horse-wrestling.

It’s not about forcing the horse into a shape—it’s about training him to stay there on his own, then letting go and checking.

Like training a parrot to sit on your arm... you’ve got to let go of the wings to prove he’s really trained to be there 🦜

Want to read the full breakdown of how I teach self-carriage (and how you can check for it in your own horse)?
💡 Just comment PDF below and I’ll send you the free download.