Testimonials

Good day,

I just wanted to share with you the wonderful memories I have of my classical dressage trip at Hippikos equestrian center in Portugal (October 28th - November 3rd, 2007)

Right from the beginning, when I was picked up at Porto airport by Antonio Soares, I had the most enjoyable experience, far beyond anything I expected. My host, Antonio, is a true horse lover. Antonio's warm hospitality and kindness, ensuring that everything I could need was taken care of, are just amazing. He even took me on a guided tour of Porto city. He is a very knowledgeable tourist guide! As a matter of fact, everyone at Hippikos is very friendly and welcoming.

The accommodations are modern, comfortable and very cleaned. The view from my room, looking over the garden and onto the old church, is very calming. The tennis court and indoor swimming pool are nice to have.

Meals are not just an activity, they are a wonderful social gathering. The quality, variety and freshness of  foods are remarkable, and quantity is never an issue! I miss Maria, our Chef.  Tasting local wines and other products directly from the farm was great.

As for riding, everything is top-notch! The horses are well trained and in top performance condition. Stables are large, clean and bright. Tack and equipments are of good quality. The riding facilities, either for dressage in the covered arena or for jumping in the outdoor ring, are new and well taken care of.

Cendrine Baldrey, the dressage riding instructor, who is a graduate from Cadre Noir de Saumur, is a truly passionate instructor. She rides every strides with you. She wants you to learn and improve.  She gives you the right balance of challenges and rewards. She is well qualified and very knowledgeable. It was a pleasure to ride under her guidance. She also took us for cart driving into the countryside.

Wow! More than just a riding trip, this was a lifetime experience of meeting very nice people, that in addition, are true horse lovers!

I highly recommend Hippikos as a top quality riding vacation destination.  I can't wait to go back...

Line Charette

Morin Heights, Québec
Canada