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PORTUGAL (by Jean Llewellyn) For the first time since BN introduced the stallion rankings, two Lusitanos appeared on the dressage list in our last issue (April 2007): Galopin de la Font and Raio. Today, although Lusitano breeders retain an awareness of the breed’s bullfighting origins, the same qualities are equally important in the world of international dressage.
Of the above mentioned horses, Galopin de la Font (Espanto [Bailador] - Pezuda Oco x Zorro Fri) is descended from the maternal line of the legendary Novilheiro (through
Bailador) – a name that needs no introduction to the world of Lusitano breeding following his success on the international stage. Ironically, his was a showjumping – achieving top Grand Prix level under the saddle of John Whitaker – rather than a dressage talent, dispelling many myths that the Seville, close to Serpa. More precisely, the Herdade das Coelheiras, home base for the Pedro Ferraz da Costa stud farm, is between Aldeia Nova de São Bento and Vila Verde Ficalho, on the road to the Spanish border. The stud farm had one false start in 1982 when it was first founded with four mares without proof of origin. It was a period of political unrest, however, and impossible to register any horses born on the farm. Five years later, the decision was taken to sell the entire herd and acquire a new group of registered Lusitano mares with a strong Veiga/Nuncio and Veiga/Andrade (Opus 72 and Novilheiro) influence. In 2005, at the WBFSH World Championships for Young Dressage Horses in Verden (Germany), the fiveyear- old Talisco (Xaquiro - Noz) and six-year-old Sigonha (Esquivo - Doris) both came from the Ferraz da Costa stud farm.
Q How many horses do you currently have?
A I have 25 mares and four stallions. (As well as a herd of cows of a local breed.)
Q When you started your stud farm in 1987, why did you choose horses from the particular bloodlines?
A I had the idea that horses are a very plastic material and that you must have from the beginning an objective that you wish to achieve with a breeding programme. I wanted horses that had enough nervous influence and I also wanted, not in the first phase but in the second phase, to have horses that would be able to compete in dressage........