Equestrian Art in Portugal

Equestrian art in Portugal is a classical riding tradition that combines functionality and aesthetics in a harmonious and respectful relationship between rider and horse, achieved without the use of force. On 3 December 2024, during the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Asunción (Paraguay), UNESCO inscribed this practice on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity under reference 02079. It thus became one of the internationally recognised elements of Portugal’s intangible cultural heritage.

A tradition codified in the 18th century

Although equestrianism has deep roots in Portuguese culture, its classical form was consolidated in the second half of the 18th century. D. Pedro de Alcântara de Meneses, 4th Marquis of Marialva and Master of the Horse to D. José I, played a decisive role in refining the Real Picaria, the royal court’s historic equestrian academy. His influence gave rise to the expression “riding à la Marialva”, still used today to describe the Portuguese style. Its principles were codified by Manuel Carlos de Andrade in Luz da Liberal e Nobre Arte da Cavallaria (1790), one of the foundational treatises of European horsemanship.

The practice is distinguished by the rider’s balanced position in the saddle, traditional attire, and distinctive harnesses that differ from other schools. It also includes variants such as monte à amazona (side-saddle riding), performed exclusively by women.

Portuguese equestrian art does not seek to dominate the horse, but to converse with it: obedience stems from communication and collaboration, never coercion.

The Lusitano horse

At the heart of this tradition is the Purebred Lusitano, a native breed prized for its flexibility, docility, and responsiveness to the rider’s aids – qualities essential for haute école movements. The breeding, selection, and care of these animals involves a vast community of breeders, veterinarians, campinos (cattle herders), and artisans who produce saddles, harnesses, and attire, ensuring the practice’s continuity.

Safeguarding and transmission

Knowledge is transmitted through academies, schools, and equestrian centres in Portugal and over twenty other countries, supplemented by treatises, books, and manuals. The Portuguese School of Equestrian Art, based in the gardens of the National Palace of Queluz, is the primary guardian of this heritage and regularly stages public performances. The tradition also features in pilgrimages, fairs, and festivals, notably the National Horse Fair in Golegã.

The nomination process, initiated in 2015, resulted from a partnership between the Portuguese Association of Purebred Lusitano Horse Breeders, Parques de Sintra – Monte da Lua, and Golegã Municipality. In 2021, equestrian art was added to Portugal’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage, a prerequisite for international inscription. Alongside other living traditions like falconry and Alentejo singing, it strengthens Portugal’s presence on UNESCO’s World and Intangible Heritage lists.