Voice Over - Gala of the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art

All of the horses of the Scholl are born in the stud farm of Alter and they are male, bay, Lusitanos and their history goes back more than five thousand years.

Agile and of docile character, its ancestral characteristics distinguish it from other races by its physical and psychic balance, versatility and agility.

From the battlefield to the elegance of the Portuguese court, here is where it shows its full splendour.

Coming from Alter, the foals arrive at the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art at the age of four.

After being assigned to the riders by the Master Chief Rider they evolve up to the highest level according to a teaching method in which each horse is always taught by the same rider. When learning the basics, termed Basse-École (Low School), they start off with the core principles and exercises done in a riding ring, with the weight of a rider, the walking, the trotting and the cantering. The end goal and objective is towards achieving the splendour of the equestrian art and the countless presentations that awaits them throughout a career, desired long, and for which they are trained.

Pas de 4: It is after much teaching, training and dedication that horse and rider are ready to perform before the public. And what an important moment this is! Here the past is found again, in a whispered memory; the present in a built affirmation and the future, in a hope projected in the dedicated and attentive generations.

Long Reins: Behold, now, a moment of rare equestrian knowledge and beauty: the long reins.

Airs Above the Ground: Finally, one of the most anticipated moments: the airs above the ground. Here, horses and riders are in perfect sync. Going through exercises such as the piaffe and the passage, through the terre-à-terre we prepare these magnificent animals for other great exercises such as the Pousades, the Levades, the Ballotades and the Caprioles.

We reached the moment of fair demonstration of dexterity. There, the quintain, figure of curious importance. Over there the Medusa, remembering the ancient myths. Further ahead the head and the rings for the training of expertise and aim. Together, they simulate the battle exercises and others that recreate the universe of tournaments, jousts and a riding style very Iberian and Portuguese: the gineta.

And now a challenge to our audience, at this time we are allowed to lose some of our knowledge of being in society, dictated by the treaties of civility, and we can make public our preference for the riders. I ask you to support them and may the best one win! Let the Games begin!

Marquis de Marialva, what a journey! I must say it is good to have you with us teaching equestrian art, in this unique moment of trust and dedication between ridder and horse. Your moment has come: the solo.

Thus invoking the figures of Manoel Carlos d'Andrade and the Marquis of Marialva we bid you farewell with the grand finale of the royal performances of the Renaissance and Baroque periods, the carousel.