Tipton Sport Lusitanos

04/24/2025

🇵🇹Novo episódio a caminho!
No próximo dia 2 de Maio, será lançado o segundo episódio do podcast Cavalo Lusitano.

Entretanto, caso ainda não tenha tido oportunidade de ver ou ouvir, o primeiro episódio já se encontra disponível, com legendas em várias línguas.

Obrigado a todos pelo vosso apoio a esta iniciativa!

🇬🇧 New episode on the way!
On May 2nd, the second episode of the Cavalo Lusitano podcast will be released.

In the meantime, if you haven’t had the chance to watch or listen to the first episode, it’s already available — with subtitles in several languages.

Thank you all for your support of this initiative!

04/04/2025

We have broodmares in our breeding program going back to Donnerhall and we are so pleased with how they are crossing to produce Sport Lusitanos! 🥰

There is no other stallion who has had such an impact on dressage breeding as Donnerhall. He was a colossus towering over the development of the modern dressage horse, siring great competitors but more importantly wonderful sires who themselves sired competitors and sires, and grandsons who were great sires…https://www.horsemagazine.com/thm/2023/05/a-tribute-to-donnerhall-dressage-supremo/

04/03/2025

Thought provoking wouldn’t you agree 🧐

04/03/2025

More neat wolf teeth!

04/03/2025

Great read!

03/26/2025

Dressage is a long journey of patience, precision, and trust. It’s about refining the details, seeking balance, and listening to your horse, until, one day, everything just falls into place.

A moment when your horse lifts through their back, the contact feels like silk, and the power flows effortlessly beneath you. A moment when all the training, all the hours, all the setbacks suddenly make sense.

This is why we do it.

Not for the ribbons. Not for the scores. But for that moment of harmony where horse and rider move as one.

And once you’ve felt it, you’ll chase it forever.

If you know this feeling, you understand why we pour our hearts into every detail—down to the tack that connects us to our horses.

Because in dressage, feel is everything.

03/24/2025

Foaling season is coming quickly!

Neonatal maladjustment syndrome (NMS), often referred to as “dummy foal” syndrome, presents a significant challenge in equine veterinary medicine. Characterized by neurological abnormalities in newborn foals, NMS can severely impact a foal’s ability to thrive. However, the development of the Madigan Squeeze technique has revolutionized the approach to treating this condition.

𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆:
• NMS is thought to arise from a disruption in the normal transition from the intrauterine environment to extrauterine life.
• It’s believed the physical pressure exerted during a normal birth triggers a biochemical switch, signaling the foal to become alert. When this transition fails, foals exhibit neurological deficits.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗲𝘇𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲:
• Developed by Dr. John Madigan at the University of California, Davis, this technique aims to replicate the pressure experienced during natural birth.
• By applying gentle, consistent pressure around the foal’s thorax, the technique seeks to stimulate the neurological pathways involved in the transition to consciousness.
• The procedure involves the careful application of a rope harness, allowing for controlled and monitored pressure.

𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲:
• The Madigan Squeeze has demonstrated significant success in improving the prognosis for foals with NMS.
• By addressing the underlying neurological dysfunction, this technique can expedite recovery and reduce the need for extensive supportive care.
• It’s important to note that results can vary, and careful monitoring is always needed. You shouldn’t attempt this technique without guidance from your veterinarian. Proper training and expertise are essential when administering the Madigan Squeeze.

03/22/2025

Setbacks in dressage aren’t failures—they’re lessons. Every great rider has faced tough moments, but what sets them apart is their mindset. Instead of seeing mistakes as defeats, view them as valuable information. Your horse isn’t resisting to be difficult; there’s always a reason. Approach challenges with curiosity, not frustration.

You can’t always control the outcome, but you can control your attitude, preparation, and response. Focus on improving what’s within your power—your position, timing, and feel. One bad day doesn’t define your riding; progress isn’t linear. Dressage is a journey of refinement and patience.

Trust the process and remember why you started—the connection, the elegance, the harmony. Those moments will come again. The best riders aren’t the ones who never struggle; they’re the ones who refuse to quit. Keep going—your breakthrough is coming.

03/17/2025

https://www.horsemagazine.com/thm/2021/10/contact-what-is-good-contact/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2Koq6-5fOhBwegQ9x4fVV6mN7vw4nnxkcqUp5YmCkz6xQo8VvaLAn9t80_aem_WzRiV4cx90mjF_F7Fw7qpw

Contact – What is good contact? Posted on October 12, 2021August 24, 2023 by thm admin A judge’s view: “Correct contact is difficult to define because it is an ever-changing feeling. When a horse is well balanced and in self-carriage, contact with the mouth is so light it is nearly nothing. It...

03/15/2025

Great post on something we focus on daily here!

Raising the base of the neck.

If you don’t know where the base of your horse’s neck is, you’re not alone. The easiest way to find it is to stand in front of your horse and run your hands down either side of their neck to feel for the widest and hardest part, just in front of their chest. It’s the bottom curve of their neck, which then continues behind the scapula, rising up again to form the thoracic spine.

The horses head and neck are their balancing pole. The hindquarters are their engine. And the base of the neck has a huge impact on how balance and power relate to each other. It is a very important ‘juntion’ in your horses body. When it’s blocked and locked the horse will always be compromised. When it’s released and available, your horse can show you all their magnificence.

One of the main reasons horses get into trouble is because the rider has never been shown how to note what is going on with regards to this relationship in the body.

Questions a rider can ask themselves include;

How is the horse using their balancing pole (their head and neck)and why?

What are they doing with the base of their neck, what does it tell you about their balance, freedom of movement and emotional state? How might I be influencing that?

And, how do these things relate to their ability to use their hindquarters and hind legs?

This is an inventory we should all understand when we sit on a horse. We can also learn a lot by observing them without a rider on board too.

If we take away the horses ability to use their balancing pole by blocking their movement with low hands, or pulling backwards - even a little - this impacts on their capacity to raise the base of their neck. In order to ‘lift’ this lower curve in their cervical spine they have to be both physically able and emotionally available. According to most movement specialists a horse must be able to access a sling of muscles which sit under the base of the neck (Longus Colli and Scalenus) to lift this lower curve and lengthen their spine. This doesn’t happen in isolation of course - the thoracic sling, and the rest of the body are involved- but it CANNOT happen if the horse is blocked in their mouth and poll. Or if they feel they have to defend themselves from the bit.

It is only when the horse can raise the base of their neck that they can lift their thoracic sling and rib cage. This enables them to access and manage the power of their hind end.

In this school we pay attention to the horses ability to harmonise these things and understand that it is the base of the neck that we’re actually trying to ‘speak’ to - rather than our horses head. Our hands are a tool to communicate, not dominate.

03/12/2025

Uma exposição imperdível 😍

De 14 de março a 14 de setembro, visite o Museu Nacional dos Coches e descubra muitas curiosidades sobre a Arte Equestre em Portugal. Mais informações aqui: https://bit.ly/3FnAkeg

03/11/2025

We have been collecting some neat information on the bloodlines of our warmblood broodmares we are crossing with our Lusitano stallion D’Ultimo de Massa like the legendary
DONNERHALL

thank you High Offley Stud for posting such great content!

Donnerhall: A Dressage Legend and Breeding Icon

Few names in the world of dressage command as much respect as Donnerhall. Renowned for his extraordinary talent, impeccable work ethic, and immense influence as a sire, he remains one of the most celebrated stallions in equestrian history.

The Pedigree of Excellence

Born in 1981, Donnerhall was sired by Donnerwetter, a stallion known for producing talented dressage horses, and out of Ninette, a mare with proven Oldenburg lineage. His pedigree combined athleticism, rideability, and the ability to pass on exceptional movement and trainability to his offspring.

A Legendary Dressage Career

Under the guidance of his rider, Karin Rehbein, Donnerhall dominated the international dressage scene. Some of his most remarkable achievements include:

Team Gold Medal at the 1994 World Equestrian Games in The Hague.

Individual Bronze Medal at the same event, proving his excellence at the highest level.

Multiple German Championship titles, showcasing his consistent brilliance.

Success in World Cup competitions and international Grand Prix circuits.

His expressive piaffe, extended trot, and effortless passage made him a standout in competition, while his willingness to perform and incredible presence endeared him to fans worldwide.

A Legacy in Breeding

Beyond his competition success, Donnerhall became one of the most influential dressage sires of all time. His offspring have inherited his talent, work ethic, and elegance, dominating international dressage. Some of his most notable progeny include:

De Niro – One of the leading sires in modern dressage, producing countless Grand Prix horses.

Don Schufro – A top competitor and an exceptional sire in his own right.

Donnperignon – An Olympic-level dressage horse with multiple championship appearances.

His bloodlines continue to shape dressage breeding programs, with his descendants maintaining his legacy in top-level sport.

Recognition and Influence

Donnerhall’s impact on the dressage world remains unparalleled. His genetics are found in many of today’s top dressage horses, and his ability to pass on movement, intelligence, and rideability has made him a foundation stallion for modern sport horse breeding.

Although Donnerhall passed away in 2002, his legacy endures through his exceptional offspring and lasting influence in dressage breeding. He remains a symbol of excellence, proving that true greatness extends beyond the competition arena and into generations of elite dressage horses.

03/11/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DE2Q67BbB/?mibextid=wwXIfr

03/10/2025

Another great post from Solo Equine!
Thanks Stephen Forbes we are loving these! 🥰

The arena awaits you.

Those white rails aren't boundaries – they're the stage for your greatness. When you salute that judge, you're not asking for approval – you're announcing your arrival!

Every collected trot, every extended canter, every subtle shift of weight tells your story. The story of countless dawns spent in silent communication with your partner.

Of falls and frustrations transformed into wisdom. Of the quiet victories only you and your mount have witnessed.

That rectangle of perfect footing isn't just sand and fiber – it's the canvas where your artistry comes alive. Where discipline meets passion. Where preparation meets opportunity.

You enter not as a competitor seeking validation, but as a performer claiming your rightful place. The judge's box is merely a witness to the excellence you've already achieved in those early mornings when no one was watching.

So gather your reins, center your soul, and ride with the confidence of someone who knows exactly why they're here.

This is your moment. Your arena. Your announcement to the world.

Ride like you own it. Because today, you do.

03/07/2025

Remembering Jonny Hilberath, pictured here in a piaffe pirouette at Bremen Show. Jonny told us:
"You see these open mouths/ tight necks. What’s the basic missing?
“The correct moving of the back – the contact forward from the hand. It is the wrong pressure in the horse; the wrong tension in the horse also mental tension in the horse because the mouth is like a mirror to the brain. That is something that definitely has to be fixed”.
https://www.horsemagazine.com/thm/2021/03/top-tip-from-jonny-hilberath-german-coach/