The classical dream Corrine Wilson

Paulo working one of the resident school horses

The classical dream

by Corrine Wilson

Learning the art of classical dressage under a great master has always been a dream of mine. This dream finally came true early in January when I flew to Portugal, to study and ride the magnificent Lusitano stallions at the Classical School of Alcainca.

Classical dressage evolved in Italy during the Renaissance period and later developed in the French Court, from where it continued to spread across the continent.

The riding master of Alcainca, Georges Malleroni, originally from France, studied under the great Portuguese masters, Nuno Oliveira and José Athayde. Inspired by the great masters of the ’Haute Ecole’ and the Lusitano horses, he took over the technical direction of Escola de Equitaçao de Alcainça, 27 years ago.

Alcainca is located 25 km northwest of Lisbon, 15 km from the Atlantic Coast and 5 km from the famous cloister of Mafra. The school has seventeen horses, mainly Lusitano stallions. I was immediately struck by how gentle and sensitive these beautiful horses seemed.