EQUITOP | Equestrian Center
The EQUITOP Equestrian Center uses modern equestrian learning systems, adapting the de teaching method to each student, in order to achieve their maximum progression and performance.
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Mr. Camilo Borges, EQUITOP’s technical director states that “The lessons at EQUITOP are focused on sustaining the student’s progress, based on the constant improvement of the teaching methods”
This principles, together with a good relationship between staff and students, creates a strong team spirit, enabling EQUITOP to be one of the main equestrian centres devoted to dressage.
Jaime Homem de Sá, a 23 year old rider who’s just started competing at Grand Prix level, started riding at EQUITOP 15 years ago and shares his experience. “I have great will and determination to progress, because achieving a top level in riding is such a rewarding experience. Many times there are setbacks in our evolution as riders, but the unique way to progress is through work, just work. Working hard, with perseverance and having a good trainer and good horses to ride. These are the main ingredients to my evolution.”
“During this time I and my trainer have developed a relationship based on in true friendship, and that is also very important. Having friends and people who we can trust in the place we train everyday is also a great motivation. If a training place is also a place where people enjoy staying and where we find our friends, this is a great success factor, especially to motivate the younger riders”
Besides the personal commitment and perseverance needed to progress as a Dressage rider, having good schoolmaster horses available for lessons is another requirement for a successful training centre. In recent years there has been a growing interest in Dressage and an extra demand for schoolmasters. Camilo Borges and the EQUITOP technical staff make a constant effort in keeping its schoolmasters well schooled for each level of apprenticeship.
Having a good trainer and good schoolmaster is a fundamental requirement to progress as a rider, but if you want to take it further to competition level, having your own horse with natural ability for the discipline will make all the difference. This is just the starting point for Jaime Homem de Sá, who states “There are many talented students who don’t progress just because they just keep riding school horses, and they never get a chance to ride more advanced and quality horses.” Bearing in mind the difficulties other students have progressing without well trained horses, Jaime is currently loaning two of his top horses so other students have the opportunity to progress and compete.
Currently EQUITOP is preparing its competition team for the 2010 national championships. This preparation started long ago in the regular classes, clinics and internal contests and now it is time to test all the training in a real contest. Dressage Portugal went to the Dressage Poules at Quinta da Marinha Equestrian Center on the 14th and 15th March to watch the debut of 3 EQUITOP riders.
11 year old Miguel Castelo was the first one to enter the arena first thing in the morning with his horse named “For Sale”. He arrived with his mother, Rita Castelo, an example of family support. Rita Castelo tells us that Miguel is a very responsible boy, the reason that they bought him a horse was to help him develop as a person, and since then Miguel has been more confident, responsible and is still a good student.
Before his class, Miguel Castelo is very nervous, but he is surrounded by all his friends; Marian, Rita Sales, Rita Araújo, Margarida, Carlota, Teresa Araújo and José Pedro have all come to help and support him. They all are Equitop students and they are all waiting for their turn to premier. But before that happens, they all come out to help and see how it is, gathering courage and motivation for the two lessons that they have during the week.
There is also another Miguel debuting, Miguel Rico, always very concerned with the preparation of his horse with the help of Vanessa Marques, an older rider but also debuting this year. She reveals that “dressage in particular”, teaches her discipline and rigor. “I think it is very important that we learn these values at a young age and to have responsibility also, because we are taking care of a living being.”
For the older riders, which is the case with Jaime and Vanessa, university students, the task of keeping going with this dream is more difficult, but both admit that “when we wish to do something we love, we have to learn to reconcile it with our studies.”
Jaime also highlights that “School is the most import thing. To ride and have good horses we need money and for that we have to work. Without a diploma that is impossible.”
All these moments are pictured in our gallery Gallery | In Training, where you can see good examples of the empathy and good humour.
