Renowned for his captivating videos, Manuel Veiga fearlessly takes on the equestrian world, riding without bridle or saddle, and even sitting backwards, executing tempi changes with unparalleled elegance. But beyond these impressive feats, it was his artistry as a dressage rider that truly captivated our hearts, inspiring us to journey to Portugal to witness him in action. An experience that left us filled with tranquility and thoughtfulness.
Text Teresa Burton. Edited by Therese Alhaug. Photo Lena Saugen.
Manuel Veiga’s skills have taken him to Olympia Horse Show in London, where piaffe pirouettes bridleless thrilled the audience. He has also represented Portugal on several occasions in International dressage, riding the white homebred Lusitano stallion Ben Hur.
Behind all the fabulous video images, is a quiet artist, and a serious family man with a sense of deep modesty in his work. A man that is at the forefront of his huge family lineage and equestrian heritage dating back 200 years.
I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have the privilege of riding horses daily. They are true artists in their own right. My horses inspire me, improve me, challenge me to open up to new ways of seeing. Each horse is a partner that seeks to dance in the lightest, most effortless way with me. For me this is ART.
THE VEIGA BLOODLINE
Just a short distance from the Lusitano capital Golegã, in Portugal, is the charming little village of Azinhaga, the home of Quinta da Brôa, a spectacular estate founded by Rafael José da Cunha in 1817 who chose the rich rural Ribatejo region to realise his dream – rearing cattle, horses and growing cereals.
Arriving at the entrance of this centenary palace, you find yourself in front of a gate with two massive pillars. Each has a modest tile block: on the right, the name of the estate, “Quinta da Broa“, and on the left, the emblematic Veiga brand.
The gates are welcomingly open, offering a huge courtyard filled with ancient trees, blooming gardens and beautiful heritage buildings. There is a grand manor house, accompanied by a family chapel, picadeiro, stables, and barns. But that’s not all; a captivating museum awaits, housing a treasure trove of equestrian heritage, showcasing an array of carriages, saddlery, trophies, cars, and even boats! The place is an enchanting haven, a true celebration of history and tradition, where every step taken is a journey through time and the rich tapestry of equestrian legacy.
THE STABLES
As we approach one of the buildings, a delicate bead curtain beckons, serving as the entrance to the stables where horses stand patiently. Manuel’s greets us, and with the assistance of his groom, he prepares a bay horse, gently brushing and wiping the tack, ensuring every detail is perfect. A stable dog is mirroring his master’s every footstep.
The stable interior is elegant and softly dark, with massive metal pillars, a dark wood ceiling and a cobbled stone floor. Even the water sink is a work of art. Amidst this enchanting setting, a seamless union of art and equestrianism comes to life.
THE BREEDING LINE
Introducing Manuel would be incomplete without acknowledging the rich family heritage of The Veiga bloodline, which has existed for over 200 years and is one of the four main lineages of the Lusitano breed.
Initially, the horses were selected and bred for their fine qualities to work on the farm and to create top bullfighting horses. Consequently, they looked for Lusitanos, which embodied bravery, agility, intelligence, and a genuine eagerness to perform in perfect harmony with their riders.
To this day, the Veiga horses have provided and excelled in adding many genetic landmarks for the Lusitano breed. Even in show jumping, there was Novilheiro, who started his career bullfighting and later became an international show jumper, ridden by the Olympic rider John Whittaker. Indeed the Veiga line has been proven many times over to have a great capacity to pass on their undeniable qualities.
“We are very conscious of ensuring an evolution in the Veiga horses. Consequently, we focus on looking for horses with good morphological traits, according to the breed’s standards, and good character. They must also have quality gaits to compete in dressage,” Manuel says as we dive into the breeding history.
Renowned for their sensitivity, the Lusitano horses challenge riders to master the art of finesse.
“We are proud we can maintain the sensitivity of the Lusitano horses – which must be present but cannot be excessive. Our horses need to use their energy to help the rider, and they must have a great temperament,” Manuel explains.
For me, riding emanates from the heart. The sport aspect is probably the most demanding for me. This arena requires adhering to accepted techniques and styles, which are more accepted and expected in the competition environment. But my true longing is to convey the unique connection with my horses, to reveal the harmony we share – a dance of lightness and authentic expression.
At the heart of the breeding selection process stands Manuel’s father, Manuel Tarves, a masterful visionary with an uncanny ability to foresee a horse’s potential.
“When my father senses a particular foal will become a great horse, he gives them a name of one of the important horses in the history of our stud farm. Many of those foals have become really outstanding! I am constantly amazed how he can tell if it is going to be a breeding stallion, a horse for bullfighting or dressage. Time and time again, he gets it right,”
Manuel muses, reflecting on his father’s gift. He proudly shares an example from one of his finest dressage horses, Ben-Hur, with whom he has competed internationally, a living testament to his father’s unerring intuition.
“Dad just knew he would be a great horse.”
As a rider, my pursuit is to dwell in passion and improve daily.
BEING PRESENT
Once the brown 4 year old bay is well-saddled and prepared, Manuel sets his course towards the indoor arena. His dog follows faithfully, eventually finding a spot at the center of the arena. The air is filled with classical music creating an atmosphere of serenity in the old majestic building.
As they glide through the arena, Manuel and the young bay seem absorbed in each other’s presence, as if the world around them fades away, leaving only the intimate bond between rider and horse. It’s evident that for this moment, nothing else matters.
“As a rider, my pursuit is to dwell in passion and improve daily. Keep my feet on the ground. I say this because I believe it is imperative to remain fully balanced as a person both mentally and physically. Always move forward with dignity.”
There are times when I find myself simply shivering in the purity of the moment. This is being present, so very present.
LIGHTNESS, BALANCE AND HARMONY
Balance and harmony is something Lusitanos have naturally in abundance. However, as Manuel shares, this delicate equilibrium can be shattered if not approached with care and understanding by the rider. A training strategy lacking sensitivity can swiftly transform the picture of beauty into one of strain and heaviness, he expains and tells us that the unique level of sensitivity the Lusitanos have is an excellent quality to be cherished.
“To ride in a good way, to be creative and sympathetic to the sensitivity of the horse is to open the door to lightness and harmony. The aim is to maintain and develop their natural expression and a relaxed way of going while ridden. It is a matter of having personal awareness to know how to tap into it. To be in the moment. To not block your horse, but to invite full expression of a united performance, a perfectly synchronised dance,” he explains.
To ride in a good way, to be creative and sympathetic to the sensitivity of the horse is to open the door to lightness and harmony. The aim is to maintain and develop their natural expression and a relaxed way of going while ridden.
ABOUT TALENT
Manuel seems to maintain a synchronised flow while riding, guiding the horse with such grace that it seems to barely touch the ground. As he glides past the gleaming golden mirrors, executing movements with seamless elegance, the flow remains unrestricted as performing a beautifully choreographed dance.
When asked about his extraordinary talent, Manuel humbly replies, “I am simply a man that loves what I do. It is a true passion.”
Others may comment that he is lucky to have such fine horses to ride; indeed, he has the pick of crop. But having the access is simply the first step to achieving all he has achieved so far. There is much more to it.
“It is the passion and desire to improve every day and the dedication to each individual horse to find his absolute best way of going. It’s of importance to understand how every horse is different. This is fundamental to understanding in training horses. Some have a greater ability for certain exercises than others. We need to ride with awareness of their their talents and difficulties, ” he says.
The Veiga horses are generally attentive and willing, and Manuel’s goal is to reach the same standard to achieve a certain degree of homogeneity in their response to the rider’s aids.
“I want other riders to be able to ride and enjoy them too.”
Sometimes, we need to put a little magic, art, and sensitivity so that the act of riding assumes a special color.
A VISION
Manuel passionately shares that he always holds a vision of a beautiful lesson, with incredible moments.
“For me, riding emanates from the heart. There is technique but also a lot of feeling and spontaneity involved. My way of riding relies a lot on feeling the horse and on striving to do more and better. Nowadays, knowledge of how to ride is more available. People who want to learn to can easily learn the “how’s” and “why’s “: techniques can now be considered a commodity. However, there’s more to riding than just mastering techniques; it’s about understanding and feeling the horse – just bending a few extra millimeters can be enough to make a difference. Riding is not only a technique; it also involves some art full of inexplicable things.
In the horses we breed, I believe this ideal is perfectly embodied. Sometimes, we need to put a little magic, art, and sensitivity so that the act of riding assumes a special color. I ride with feeling, making my decisions moment by moment. Always with the mindset to remain entirely focused on the horse I am riding.”
There’s more to riding than just mastering techniques; it’s about understanding and feeling the horse.
ALWAYS SOMETHING TO LEARN
Who inspires you?
“I am inspired by Carl Hester – Paulo Barreiros Mota, Júlio Borba, Francisco Cancela De Abreu. I have been privileged to ride and train alongside great trainers like Paulo Caetano, Daniel Pinto, Miguel Ralao, Mariette Withages, Kyra Kyrklund and Jen Bemelmans.”
“But I am a simple person. I love what I do and I live to do better and better for the horses. I don’t read many books but I am an avid viewer of videos. There is always something to learn from others. But my family are my greatest inspiration and rock. They are the basis for everything in my life.”
COMPETITIONS
Manuel has represented Portugal in dressage with the white Lusitano Ben Hur on several occasions. Most notable was the WEG in France in 2014. Since bidding farewell to Ben Hur, Manuel has devoted his time to training young horses, seeking out the next dressage superstar. Among them, Marvilva da Broa stands out as a magnificent horse, exuding an undeniable potential for the grand international stage. Manuel plans to show him in Grand Prix next year.
“I believe it’s important to have goals; they motivate me. Currently, my most significant goal has no final destination. It revolves around my unwavering commitment to constant improvement in everything I do. I want to develop my techniques both as an artist and as a sportsman. Maybe one day I will be in the Olympics, that is another goal.
“I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have the privilege of riding horses daily. They are true artists in their own right. My horses inspire me, improve me, challenge me to open up to new ways of seeing. Each horse is a partner that seeks to dance in the lightest, most effortless way with me. For me this is ART.”
MY OWN WAY
Manuel’s journey of pursuing both art and sport is truly captivating, but it’s not without challenges.
“The sport aspect is probably the most demanding for me,” he confesses. This arena requires adhering to accepted techniques and styles, which are more accepted and expected in the competition environment. But my true longing is to convey the unique connection with my horses, to reveal the harmony we share – a dance of lightness and authentic expression.
The Portuguese rider yearns for the judges to witness the enchanting magic he feels.
“I am a special rider,” Manuel affirms, “in that I look to my own style and my ways to achieve the magical union with the horse. I am always exploring the whole principle of equitation to know more.
There are times when I find myself simply shivering in the purity of the moment. This is being present, so very present. It is what moves me every day and the feeling I constantly reach for and ride for.”
In this pursuit of grace and unity, Manuel Borba Veiga paints his own canvas upon the equestrian landscape, a master of artistry and a beacon of devotion to the magic that lies within the unspoken language between rider and horse.
