Our Horses are family

Horses are more like us than we imagine. They are endowed with a sensitivity that teaches us a lot about our own emotions when we are with them. They have an associative memory and so they prefer that we be true and pure, in gestures and intentions, so that they can read us clearly with no margin for a second interpretation.

These characteristics make them the perfect companion for rides, leisure moments or self-knowledge transformational experiences.

Herdade da Matinha currently has 10 horses of Puro Sangue Lusitano, Cruzado Portugês and Halflinger breeds. For us they are family and are treated as such.

Corleone

Corleone arrived at Matinha in 2016. At first he didn´t get along with the other horses. He stole their food and became the imposed leader of the group, which gave rise to his curious name. He was frightened of humans and did not let anyone touch him. We decided that during the summer we would not ask him anything, so he could get used to the new house and rest. In September we trained for a few days and we were trying to socialize at his own pace. Today it is one of the Homestead's most affable and easy-riding horses. He is an excellent friend and fellow traveler.

Mimosa e Miki

Mimosa and Miki are brothers and arrived in 2009. They are inseparable and are always together in the Homestead. They look like ponies but they are actually from an Austrian breed called Halflinger. Children love them and they are the most requested horses in workshops and outings with the little ones. Miki is the "cool", always relaxed and soft-trotting. Mimosa is vey calm and attentive with kids. Loves to trot on the descents and to be ahead of the group. Second to her is humiliation!

Óscar e Viriata

Oscar and Viriata arrived in 2010. They are the two Pure Blood Lusitano. Before coming here Viriata was trained for cross country. She is for clients with riding experience. She is a very active horse, it seems she is always dancing. Viriata and Txilli are the horses that guide the walks by the Homestead.
Oscar is the oldest, the grandfather of the group. He suffers from stress, caused by his "previous life." He seems to be always serious. Curiously, as he is afraid, when being ridden by someone who has fears too, he feels more confident and helps people overcome fear.

Txilli e Serra

In 2011 they arrived at the Estate. They were both pregnant and nobody knew. Guapo was born first, in May, two months later Galileo was born. Guapo is the son of Txilli and Galileo is the son of the Sierra. Txilli has always been hard to ride because she was very uncertain and only wanted to gallop.
At the time, Viriata was a little thin and we felt that it was urgent to let her rest and recover. We started working with Txilli during this hiatus. After two days of "silent" talk, Txilli proved to be a great companion. A fast-moving mare, full of energy. Their resistance is due to having a bit of Arabian blood. It is one of a kind because it has a lot of personality. When it is not mounted she is very docile and affable.

Guapo e Galileu

Guapo and Galileo were hard to be mounted but with care, attention and loads of trainning they are totally confortable with visitors. They are both very generous and have very different personalities. Galileo is slow, serene, confident and mature. Guapo is a boy, he likes to play, he is shorter, thinner and faster and has more difficulty in concentrating. A teenager who loves to play and does not take himself too seriously. He loves to run after Miki and Mimosa just for fun.

Elle

Elle was born in Matinha. Her mother is Viriata, the father is Guapo and Txilli is her grandmother (mother of the Guapo). As Viriata rejected her at birthplace, she was adopted by a mare who is no longer in the Estate, Francesca. Our staff helped a lot too: we gave her bottle milk every half hour and we came to sleep with her. Even though was Francesca that managed to love her and be her real mother. Elle is a force of nature and is also a little spoiled. She complains when she has to train, tries to escape and only does what she wants to do. She is jealous and a little introverted with strangers. She knows she's special.

Corleone

Mimosa e Miki

Óscar e Viriata

Txilli e Serra

Guapo e Galileu

Elle