ALTER REAL Stud Farm | AR
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art, we went to visit the stud where their horses are born. Horses that excel both in the airs above the ground and in the dressage arena.
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The Alter Stud Farm is located in the 800 hectares of the Tapada do Arneiro (Tapada is the Portuguese word for Country Estate, historically belonging to royal family or the noble families), close to the village of Alter do Chão in the heart of the Alentejo, one of the most traditional horse breeding regions in Portugal. It has been located here since its foundation in 1748. Currently, the Alter Stud Farm shares its space with the Coudelaria Nacional (National Stud Farm), the Alter do Chão Professional School of Rural Development and the Unit of Breeding of the Serviço Nacional Coudélico (National horse registry service).
The extend fields of the Tapada aren’t only for Alter Real Lusitano horses. There are Portuguese Sorraia horses, Lusitanos, Arabs, Anglo-Arabs, and Sport Portuguese horses, all belonging to Coudelaria Nacional (National Stud Farm).
The stud was created in 1748 during the realm of D. João V. In 1911 it was integrated in the War Ministry as a Military Stud Farm until 1942, when it passed to the Economy Ministry. In 2007 it came under the direction of Alter Real Foundation, created by the Decree Nº 48/2007 of February 27th. Its purposes are “the maintenance and development of the genetic patrimony of the Lusitano, Sorraia and Garrano breeds, the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art, and the Molecular Genetics Laboratory, without being affected by these functions.”
Currently the Alter Real herd of mares is composed of 60 animals, whose life in the Stud Farm follows seasonal routines, varying throughout the year associated with the horse breeding season, from insemination, gestation, to the birth and selection of the foals and later their backing.
Our visit to the Alter Real Stud Farm started on the patio D. João VI, where the selection and backing unit, and clinics are located. “This is the heart of the Stud Farms . Here is where the colts and fillies are tested, between 3 and 4 years”, states Mr. Francisco Beja (Alter Real Foundation Coordinator for the Stud Farms), who was kind enough to accompany us throughout our very complete visit.
The foals are weaned at 8 months old. The colts are sent to the Potril of Azambuja (Potril is the Portuguese name given to the place where colts live since they are weaned until the age of being backed), situated in one of the Tagus River islands, whilst the fillies stay in the Tapada.
During their stay at the Potril, the colts are checked and fed daily. This is the only human contact that the colts have besides necessary veterinary treatment. No other socialization process takes place.
When they return to the Stud Farm, “the colts arrive completely untouched”. It’s an interesting moment to watch their behavior and see how certain blood lines influence the temperament of their offspring.
Francisco Beja says “usually the stronger ones are the best; we just have to convince them to use their strength to do what we want.” He also says that he has already received three herds of 60 colts and didn’t have any kind of problem.”
The Alter Real success rate on the yearling foals is one of the highest in Portugal. But their progression as stallions and sport horses not only depends on genetics, but also on their handling and feeding and training regime.
For example, Francisco Beja mentions the stallion Rubi, who was handed for training to the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art (PSEA) rider Gonçalo Carvalho who “has succeeded to take this horse up to the highest level of Portuguese competition, and we also hope international”.
In the last 30 years the PSEA has had a fundamental role in the selection and trial of the Alter Real horses. Every year those horses that are no longer suitable for their task leave the school for auction. By this continuous selection the overall quality of the PSEA horses is maintained.
Together with the international recognition of the Alter Real horses have through the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art, they also have been proving themselves in sport, mainly in the discipline of dressage, including the Olympic competitor Guizo. Guizo was a direct descendent of Alter Real horses and was owned by the Eugénio de Almeida Foundation Stud Farm and ridden by Spanish rider Juan António Jiménez. Also in the Driving discipline, Quijote and Altivo, driven by the Belgian Felix Brasseur have won two world titles. In Portugal, we highlight the horse Rubi, already mentioned, and more recently the horses Viheste and Aljustrel who started showing in 2009, ridden by the rider Duarte Nogueira, with very good results.
The success in sport is only one of the ramifications of the Stud Farm. Mr. Vitor Barros (Alter Real Foundation President) makes a very positive review of the two years of existence of the Foundation. The Stud Farm restructuring started with the personnel, with the optimization of the existing resources and selection of the more skilled people for each job. Simultaneously it was necessary to find founders interested in investing to make this project real. At this moment, says Vitor Barros “we don’t have any unbacked five year old colts and the Molecular Genetics Laboratory that is fundamental for the functioning of the Lusitano breed registration can now present results in just three weeks, when previously the waiting time was of 9 months.”
Horse breeding is the most important task of the Stud Farm, though the other activities bring in investments to recuperate the Tapada do Arneiro complex, increase the number of visitors and to broaden the income streams.
As Vitor Barros said, “in the medium term several interventions are expected”. As for sport, the Stud Farm intends to encourage competition in the format of National Equestrian Games including all disciplines. As for tourism and leisure, new facilities are planned so that the Tapada can be enjoyed, like reforesting, walking and bicycle trails, as well as a Hotel unit. A betting system connected to horse racing is also planned.
In the short term, another great investment planned by the Foundation is the new facilities for the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art in Lisbon, planned for the Belém area. This project will be without doubt a superb shop-window for the Alter Real horses and allow the necessary conditions to their study and for the development both of the horses and the equestrian art.
The Alter Real Stud Farm, besides its natural beauty, has an exclusive treasure: the Alter Real horse. It is without any doubt a place that should be visited. There is an guided tour program that not only includes the equestrian sector but also a demonstration of falconry – another interesting activity of this Stud Farm, and also a visit to the facilities where we can visit the ancient building of Casas Altas, the Horse Museum and the Coaches House.
Events not to be missed when you visit the Alter Real stud, moments of rare beauty for horse lovers: the mares’ herd arrival from their field and their return in the late afternoon. The presence and homogeny of the Alter Real mares turn this moment into an emotional experience of great aesthetic beauty.
We also suggest a visit during the Annual Auction on April 24th (see the news), as a buyer or just a spectator. No doubt it will be an opportunity of getting to know the Alter Real horse up close and experience one of the most important equestrian events of the Stud Farm.
Find out more about the Alter Real Stud Farm here and visit our gallery!
