Lusitanos needing homes!!

[suer]

The trail-riding holiday company Caminhos do Alentejo is closing this autumn, and most of its horses still need homes!!!

They have a selection of Lusitanos and cross-breds for sale.

I got my mare from them six years ago - best decision I ever made.

Their website is www.cdaportugal.com , and they have a page showing the horses.

Please help find these horses good homes if you can!

Feel free to PM me for more information,

Sue

[gillmcg]

It sounds absolutely wonderful and all the horses look stunning. I hope they find good homes - such a shame they are closing....

[suewhitmore]

There's only one "Lusitano" who's name matches the age. Very odd.

[suer]

Hah - good spot, Sue, but they don't actually follow the usual Portuguese naming convention of 'year letter' at CDA!

For example, Fiesta - who happens to be my mare's foal and who just may be coming to live with me if I don't see sense - was named after a favourite horse of the then owner.

So no worries on that score!

[myself]

Sue
Where are the horses for sale on this link. I may be interested as I am looking for a Luso for myself and do you know roundabout how much it costs to transport back to UK

[suewhitmore]

When I imported Uranio 5 years ago, it cost me about £750. I think you need to budget about £1000. You can be lucky and get a share, but it is a long way, the fuel alone costs a fortune and then there is lairage and the ferry.

[Zuzan]

ooh I had a holiday there and rode Max.. he's so lovely .. fabulous horse and BIG character too.. do hope they all find good homes.. why are they closing.. they seemed to be doing so well and (I can't remember her name, Dutch woman who owned and ran it) had a wonderful way with the horses.. I think she trained with Nuno Oliviera very sad to see this place close as it was a very high quality riding hol place..

[suer]

Hi - most of them still need homes, I think. The attachment giving the 'for sale' list that I asked Ilana from CDA to send me yesterday wouldn't open, so I've asked her to send it again ....

Not sure of the current cost of transport - happy to find out for you - but when John Parker brought my girl over six years ago it cost about £700.

I have ridden several of the horses, and also know other people who have worked there and been out there in the past couple of years who may be able to give 'reviews' of any horses you are interested in ....

Re the prices of the horses, I know that they want about £2,200 for Fiesta.

And further to your point, Sue, I ought to make clear we're not talking graded Lusos here (as far as I know) .... they have generally been used as trail riding horses, although they also taught Classical Riding there, and the horses were schooled regularly. Menina was particularly wonderful .....

[Zuzan]

I think Max was pretty much classically trained.. he certainly has the confirmation to be a very high quality classical school horse.. Think hes was described as a "Charger" type (as in warfare) and certainly gave the impression that he could stand up to the worst Horse Eating Monster EVER.. but beutifully light and responsive ride.. real feeling of controlled power without feeling at all heavy

[suewhitmore]

Hey Sue, most Lusos in this country aren't graded either. It's pointless if you're not going to breed - expensive and occasionally <sigh> depressing. They look lovely and it seems a shame to bring them to this damp and dismal country. At least most of mine have been born to mud!

The price seems very fair, I would have thought that anyone wanting this type of horse would be getting a bargain, even with the cost of transport. It seems even more sad that such a nice sounding place is closing.

[Zuzan]

As I remeber it many of the mares were Luso cross arab or anglo arab so a bit lighter than the full blown charger of Max.. bit speedier too.. but Max grew at least 10 feet when we road past a herd of cows.. serious staring down .. think he was bred for the Portuguese bull ring.. (v dif from Spanish from what we were told)

[suer]

I KNOW Sue - it is a dilemma!! But I was surprised about how well, and how quickly, my mare adapted, although she really can't stay out in prolonged heavy rain without a rug, and she only lives out May to end of October, and is brought in in the summer if the weather's really foul!! She has had a particularly hard life though (before she was rescued by CDA) and is now 19.

It is such a shame - I hate to think of them being sold to an uncertain fate over there ... that's why I've said I'll take Fiesta if a good home doesn't come her way (though secretly I hope it doesn't .... ) Oh, I'm going to be buying lottery tickets all summer - can't afford two horses!

[suewhitmore]

If they don't find good homes - altho I would have thought their visitors would have snapped them up - I could probably take one or both of the older purebred mares.

[chapsi]

Transport costs to the UK are between £700-£800 +VAT, depending whereabouts in the country you live and which company would you use.

I've been there on a course too. The horses are lovely and very well mannered, and they benefited from fantastic handling whilst lliving there.
I recal many of them with positive memories. Real sweet, generous horses. Max was certainly a favourite; a real gentleman... anybody would love him. He is a fine specimen of a Lusitano.
They seemed to have several part-breds and Lusitanos, but I am inclined to think that some of the latter may not be fully registered with the APSL, just as many Lusos in our country aren't.
So, if you are thinking to buy a PSL, I would first check out their Stud Book Entry and Passport. But if that's not a determining factor, then these are no doubt wonderful horses.

[smonebull]

I am looking for a horse like max as we have a space in our medieval reenactment team, I am retiring my friesian stallion...needs to be bombproof, anyone know how much they want for him?