The Portuguese School of Equestrian Art Galas

Attend a demonstration of Portuguese Equestrian Art and take part in a historical re-enactment of a night with the 18th-century Portuguese court.

In this show of a duration of 1h30, the riders wear formal costume, notably the black felt tricorn, long tailcoats in burgundy velvet, with black collars and gold and black galloons, and black leather gaiters.

The horses, of the Lusitano Alter Real breed, wear three-point Portuguese-style braids trimmed with silk ribbons and a Portuguese-style saddle covered in tapir hair or suede. They perform typical Baroque exercises, such as ‘airs above the ground’ and ‘courtly games’, tournaments practised between the 18th and 19th centuries, on festive occasions.

Regarded as National Heritage, and one of the best in the world, the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art is the continuation of the Equestrian Academy created by King João V, in the 18th century, and its shows recreate one of the favourite pastimes of the court of the time: Riding.

Preparation activities for the Gala can be watched in the Nora Patio, also on Calçada da Ajuda in Lisbon, one hour before the show.

*Photographs and videos are allowed in the Nora Patio without the use of flash; they are however not allowed in the Henrique Calado Riding Ring.