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It is always a wonderful treat to visit the source, the place where it all begins, the Coudelaria’s (stud farms) in Portugal, where the Puro Sangue Lusitanos are bred and reared. None more special than the Coudelaria Vila Viçosa, a cutting edge Lusitano Stud, founded in 1995 by husband and wife team, Thomas and Michaela Kleba, who shared and realised a dream to breed top level modern sport Lusitanos.

The stud farm is located in a beautiful estate, 3 miles from the royal town of Vila Viçosa. The property has the perfect conditions for breeding pure bred Lusitano horses, giving them the best start in life. All the young horses and the breeding mares live in herds, close to how it would have been for wild horses more than 5000 years ago. They roam free over large stretches of land, made up of the rolling hills and valleys, characteristic to the area. There’s plenty of forage year round and the cork oak trees provide the vital shelter from the hot sun in the summer and the rain in winter.

This environment gives the horses, the best possible opportunity to grow healthy bodies, stay fit, supple and lean, develop strong limbs, hearts and lungs. In addition the young Lusitanos learn respect and are well socialised through the herd hierarchy, beginning with their mothers, in the mares and foal herds and later when they are separated into their all male and female groups. These young horses really couldn’t have a better start in life.