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From 12-16th september 2022, I went for a trip to  Portugal. And the first few days I was a guest at Monte Veljo. Monte Velho prides itself on being a working breeding farm with a hotel, not a hotel that happens to be on a breeding farm. In the spring and summer, the mares foal out in the field. The horses are weaned, started and trained by the same trainers who also teach the lessons in an open environment, where the hotel guests can observe. Some of the horses that they breed go to competitions, or get trained to be sold, while others become schoolmasters for the hotel.

The pride off the farm was their Olympic dressage stallion Equador MVL. Together with his longtime best friend and rider João Torrão they wrote history for Portugal and the Lusitano breed. Unfortunately their Olympic hero Equador MVL passed away last may.

In this episode i'll talk to Diogo Lima Mayer JR, the man who runs the incredible dressage facility and ofcourse also the mainrider of the horses with an incredible story, the wonderfull João Torrão. About this fabulous place, their Lusitano horses and ofcourse their legacy - Equador MVL in an very open and again emotional conversation.

> Want to know more about about Monte Velho Equo Resort
Please visit the website Paardenpas for all the information and bookings.

> HorseHeroes is an production of EHS communications, a marketing & communications office, based in The Netherlands.