Equestrian art in Portugal
Inscribed in 2024 (19.COM) on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
© APSL, 2022 Equestrian art in Portugal is a combination of functionality and aesthetics. It is characterized by the rider’s position on the saddle, as well as by the traditional attire and harnesses used. Equestrian art in Portugal establishes a sense of harmony and deep respect between rider and horse, with the rider communicating with the horse to encourage its willing collaboration, without the use of force. The practice is therefore based on respect for the animal and its well-being. It requires a horse that is flexible, manageable and ready to follow the rider’s instructions, such as the purebred Lusitano. Practitioners include women and men of all ages. For instance, a group of exclusively women riders practice the ‘monte à amazona’, riding on one side of the saddle. Equestrian art in Portugal is transmitted through academies, riding schools and equestrian centres in Portugal and abroad. Cattle handlers, breeders, veterinarians and craftspeople also play a fundamental role in the preservation and promotion of the practice in Portugal and abroad, and the ongoing production of related treatises, books and manuals further contribute to its transmission and knowledge. A source of collective identity, the practice is featured in pilgrimages, annual fairs and other social events.
