Submitted by Courtney Secor: My beautiful girl Rosalina Do Vale Sousa when she was 3 at the beach.
This month on YourDressage we are highlighting the Lavish Lusitano!
We recently asked our social media followers to share a photo of their favorite Lusitano or Lusitano cross, and tell us a little about them, for a chance to be featured in an upcoming gallery or to share a story about their partnership with the YourDressage community.
This is DEM Mielada, known at home as Mia. She is my beautiful 2013 grulla dun Lusitano cross mare and is currently schooling Second Level. Mia is smart, expressive, sensitive, and full of heart. I love the partnership we are building together, and she reminds me every ride why Lusitanos and Lusitano crosses are so special. I feel very lucky to have her in my life. 💜🦄 – Jaqi A.Notavel, Lusitano from Portugal, best brain and heart, that true connection you want with your horse ❤️🐴❤️ – Diane R.DEM Luna is a 2013 Lusitano, and she is the kindest, most hard working queen of the ring, owned by Amanda Martyn of ACM Dressage. Bought as an unbroken 3 year old, we have struggled since the beginning with energy, and she was diagnosed in 2023 with MIM (formerly PSSM2). After diet and exercise changes, we made it to the Grand Prix and earned our USDF Gold Medal in March of this year! Go Luna! – ACM DressageLua Cheia SOTW is a wonderful partner who has helped me to sharpen my riding skills after multiple joint replacements. Personality and performance wrapped up in a lovely Lusitano package! – Carol H.Gianni, currently competing 4th level dressage and level 6 Working Equitation. Just pinned 1st at HITS dressage in May, Hudson Valley, NY. Unbelievable horse, kind, talented, good in the ring or on a relaxed trail ride. The best. – BR SporthorsesQuebec – APSL Stallion Recently imported from Portugal and being developed for dressage by Bridget Hay. Quebec is an excellent example of his breed – noble, kind and workmanlike. – Connor T.I bought my lusitano hackney cross Venetia Star “Vivi” after my brain injury from a car accident. The current horse I was riding was too spooky. Vivi was the perfect lunge lesson horse and then eventually I was able to ride her on my own. If it wasnt for Vivi I would not have been brave enough to continue riding. Vivi is opinionated and just the right amount of spice. She is brave and beautiful. – Darcey J. Read Darcey and Vivi’s story, “Venetia Star: A Guiding Light To Recovery”Owl’s Nest Farm foundation sire father of dozens of successful Lusitanos in dressage and sighted in WE, jumping, fox hunting and working cattle! We lost him years ago but left us with our most treasured heart horse stallion Bossanova CDP and our up and coming mare Orquestra CDP! – Cheryl P.Hipolito SPA, back in the show ring doing what he loves after spending some down time focusing on his health and strength this winter. He’s exemplified the work ethic and drive of the Lusitano throughout the entire process, coming back stronger and more willing than ever! B. Cataldo photo – Caitlyn N.Riker (show name Make It So) 🖖 is a coming 5 year old Lusitano x Andalusian gelding that I purchased as a weanling and hopes to be a dressage and working equitation super star. Brooke Louise photo – Colleen W.Zabrinha, a lovely Lusitano mare, as smart and kind as they come. She traveled on a long journey under unfortunate circumstance. All the way from Carpe Diem farm on the west coast, to Florida, to Michigan, to New York. Carpe Diem was said to hold the largest Lusitano herd in the US. She was lovely in the dressage arena but her favorite place was the ocean where she tried harder to be in the waves than on the sandy beach! A beautiful buckskin, she always attracted much attention from admiring onlookers. Her dam was Sobrinha Kari CD, sired by Rossini(Alem). 07.05.04 to 04.11.25. Forever in my heart. – Kate C.London do Vouga 2025 US Grand Prix National Champ 🤩 – Lusitano stallion imported from Brazil in 2022 as a 2nd level amateur horse (i did not need another horse🤣 but he stole my heart 😍) He helped me get my silver medal and went all the way to GP under the excellent hand of Jorge Arauz Dressage. At the ‘25 Finals they won the Nat’l Champ Open GP class with 14 entries, against some beautiful warmbloods! He is always adaptable and fun to ride, reminds me why i love this sport and breed ! A truly special Lusitano. – Dulce B.Here is my partner my soul! Imperio do Castanheiro (Quadro do Top x Bazuca do Top- Dardo II, Afiançado de Flandes). He is a Lusitano stallion that I imported from Brazil when he was 5. We have climbed the levels together. We have earned our Bronze, Silver, and Musical Freestyle Silver bar! Last year we were Adequan/USDF All-Breeds Award (USLA) Prix St Georges AA, Prix St Georges Vintage Cup AA, 4th Level Musical Freestyle, 4th Level Musical Freestyle Award, CHAMPIONS. We were also Prix St. George Open RESERVE CHAMPION. In the same year, I earned my Silver Medal, and my Silver Freestyle Bar. We brought home 5 USDF All-Breeds medals. We placed at number 33 out of 124 Adult Amateurs nationally. He is the horse of a lifetime! – Tania R.Batistuta V.O. Grand Prix boy, who made my dreams come true♥️ SusanJStickle Photography – Leslie d.Submitted by Chelsea A.Here are the three Lusitanos I’ve had the honor of loving: Artilheiro do Vouga (Arty), Xairel do Mito (Shy-Shy), and Beth Interagro (Bella), all bred in Brazil. These horses and this breed changed the way I see, feel, and interact with horses so profoundly I wrote a book about one of them. It’s called The Brat and the Bullfighter, and half of it is told from Arty’s perspective. It comes out July 28. – Erin O.Niquel CAP CAE Dressage – Amina B. Note, USDF strongly recommends all riders wear protective headgear when mounted.Bug, just turned 10 this month; sweet, versatile, talented and just plain fun inside or outside the dressage court. Fourth level debut Oct 2024, PSG debut June 2025, Extreme Trail Challenge 11-2025. (Earned my Silver Medal, Fourth Level Master rider and FEI Master rider awards in eight months.) We also threw in several playdays and rail class shows just to mix it up. Love ❤️ my Lusitanos! – Kim J.-N. Note, USDF strongly recommends all riders wear protective headgear when mounted.Bravo🩷 my most special boy! May he rest in peace – Mac G.Meant To Be was a Lusitano TB cross that I showed thru PSG. He was a kind horse and I’ll always be grateful to have had the opportunity to ride and train him. Ree Photographics image – Leslie M.My partner for 6 years now, Litri JAP, a 2015 Lusitano. He is a sweet, in your pocket type horse that is extremely smart and always willing to give his best effort. – Angela F.Juarez (Jaz) Interagro! Such personality, charisma and an incredibly strong partner in one special guy! – Jade G.Icaro DC. After riding warmbloods my entire life, Icaro is my first experience with a Lusitano! I am now a huge fan of the breed! With the kind, willing, attitude and comfortable gaits for my aging body, I am so glad that I discovered this wonderful breed!! Photo credit Celia Jansen. – Annie C.Raina Aurea Love my trainers handsome and talented Lusitano stallion, RL Dardo, so crossed him with my beautiful and athletic Irish Draught Sport mare, Anamachara Temair, and got the greatest gift ever! This filly is sweet, sassy and super! Excited to take her out this year! – AnnMarie B.EGOISTA S/P Lusitano/Andalusian Stallion. He’s my best friend and a dream all wrapped into one. He is like a 17hh Labrador puppy and a T-Rex combined. He’s a dream to ride that exemplifies everything that this wonderful breed has to offer. His size makes him a super competitor and the Lusitano work ethic makes his an amazing partner! – Jill H.
