Portuguese international Grand Prix dressage rider Roberto Brasil has come a long way since a rainy day stopped a planned day out on the beach so a friend took him for his first horse riding experience at a local barn instead. He became hooked immediately. Roberto established himself as a young dressage professional in the U.S.A., working there as a rider and trainer until 2019.
He made his international debut in 2017 in the medium tour and showed from young horse to Grand Prix at national level, earning his USDF Gold Medal. Roberto achieved 11 victories in a row in one year riding Furstin P with scores over 80%.
In 2019 he returned to Portugal and with the help of dressage judge and trainer Carlos Lopes he began riding for Brazilian-Portuguese Lusitano stud farm Coudelaria Vila de Sagres. This partnership yielded five productive years of training, learning, and producing exciting young horses up the levels as well as competing successfully at international dressage shows in Portugal, Spain and north Europe.
He represented Portugal with the 4-year old Van Sagres and 7-year old Westfalian Victory Prime at the 2023 World Championships for young dressage horses in Ermelo (Netherlands).
After five years working for Coudelaria Vila de Sagres, Roberto decided to set up a new business at the brand new facility, Equiminho, in Barcelos, Portugal. He is joined in this project by aspiring young Portugese rider Tiago Andre Ferreira who is a full partner in the new venture. We wish them every success in what is certain to be a very successful future for them both.
It was a rainy day and me and a friend were supposed to go to the beach but it was raining so she convinced me to go to the barn, I didn’t want to I was very much of a city boy but she convinced me and twenty three years later I’m still going to the barn every day.
Horses are without a doubt my best friends and my entire world 24/7 it’s the only way to do it.
I have had several coaches over the years, but I always try to keep an open mind about it, everyone has something to teach but in order to create my own method I take little pieces from all of them. Kyra was without a doubt the one that impacted me the most, I learned a lot from her.
The peace and the connection we talk with one another without having to say a word. And honestly when I’m on a horse the rest of the world disappears and that’s the best feeling someone can have.
Tiago is my rock; he is my business partner and my best friend we fight a lot but in the end I couldn’t do it without him. Cortney (revo’s owner) with the years she has become also one of the most important people of my life I would kill for her and I’m sure she would do the same for me. And of course, Andreas because I know he will always have my back.
I just focus on the horse, and I always tell myself enjoy the ride it’s about you and the horse and if your best is enough to win great if not that’s ok if it is the best you can do.
Focus on yourself, the worst we can do is to focus on what other people are doing it’s good to be aware of it but in the end of the day the only thing that matters is your life and what you have to do to get to where you want to be. Life is too short, better to take the best of it.
How did horses come into your life?
It was a rainy day and me and a friend were supposed to go to the beach but it was raining so she convinced me to go to the barn, I didn’t want to I was very much of a city boy but she convinced me and twenty three years later I’m still going to the barn every day.
Horses are without a doubt my best friends and my entire world 24/7 it’s the only way to do it.
When and where do you ride?
We ride Monday to Friday in our barn in Equiminho Saturday it’s an easy day for the horses and Sunday is off.Who do you train with?
I have had several coaches over the years, but I always try to keep an open mind about it, everyone has something to teach but in order to create my own method I take little pieces from all of them. Kyra was without a doubt the one that impacted me the most, I learned a lot from her.
What are you and your horses currently working on?
Always on getting them better physically and above all mentally as I consider that it’s much more important for my horse to want to do Grand Prix then to me to force it on him, I will never be that type of rider.What do you love about riding?
The peace and the connection we talk with one another without having to say a word. And honestly when I’m on a horse the rest of the world disappears and that’s the best feeling someone can have.
What would you like to be doing in the future, and do you have any goals?
A person without goals it’s like a car with no wheels. You have to have goals in order to move forward. In the future I would very much like to see my business grow, to see Tiago become an International Grand Prix rider and hopefully one day to make a team for the Olympics myself that would be my ultimate goal.It takes a team to do dressage, who is in your support team?
Tiago is my rock; he is my business partner and my best friend we fight a lot but in the end I couldn’t do it without him. Cortney (revo’s owner) with the years she has become also one of the most important people of my life I would kill for her and I’m sure she would do the same for me. And of course, Andreas because I know he will always have my back.
Have you ever had to deal with nerves in riding?
Not really, I mean I have been nervous once or twice in more important competitions like the World Championships last year or this year In the World Cup in Samorin but I’m normally very calm when I’m riding or competing.How do you deal with them?
I just focus on the horse, and I always tell myself enjoy the ride it’s about you and the horse and if your best is enough to win great if not that’s ok if it is the best you can do.
Do you have any rituals before competing?
I always see Andreas and Matine at the WEG in Aachen in 2006, I don’t even look at the video anymore I know it by heart but just listening to it gives me goosebumps, that was the moment I decided I wanted to be a professional rider and for me is still the best test I’ve seen in my life, the mare was absolutely on fire and she was loving every moment of it.Your Top Tip
Focus on yourself, the worst we can do is to focus on what other people are doing it’s good to be aware of it but in the end of the day the only thing that matters is your life and what you have to do to get to where you want to be. Life is too short, better to take the best of it.
