Biography
I started riding at a very early age on horses bred by my father at our farm in Valada near Lisbon, in Portugal. The farm is in a superb location on the banks of the Riber Tejo and much of my childhood was spent riding bareback and swimming the horses in the river. This, I think, gave me a great feel for the way the horse thinks and reacts.
I travelled to the Junior European Championships aged 17 not having a clue what to expect and of course was duly eliminated! Returning more determined than ever I decided eventing was how I wanted to spend my life and I proceeded to take the sport more seriously. I made it to the Senior Europeans at Blenheim but within shouting distance of the cross country finish, my horse burst a blood vessel and I had to retire.
Undeterred, I learned more about fitness and horse conditioning and preparation in general, and entered more events albeit mainly in Portugal and the odd trip to neighbouring Spain and France. In 2006 I met Carol Gee from Fernhill Sport Horses in Ireland. After riding an occassional horse for her on the Winter Tour in Portugal, we realised we both had a great passion for the sport, for perfection, and to produce horses to the very best standards, and so a partnership began.
In March of 2008, I made what seemed like a daunting move and relocated to Fernhill in Ireland. Career wise, this was a great move for me as I got the chance to ride some super horses and compete outside of the comfort zone of Portugal. I spent two seasons in Ireland during which I won at 2* and 3* international and had much national success.
This year, my horse Braveheart was qualified for Badminton, so the decision was taken to spend the preceding couple of months in England to up our game. I based my horses with good friends of Carol’s, the Honeys, in Lambourn. They converted the outhouse into a bedsit, shuffled around field shelters and accommodated me and my team of horses.
Having had a great run at Badminton, I am now aiming for WEG in Kentucky this autumn. I am very lucky to have two horses qualified, Braveheart, my Badminton horse, and Fernhill Gloster Rebel, who was successful at 2* and 3* last year but at only 9 years old has not made his 4* debut yet. Fernhill Gloster Rebel and I have just finished third at the prestigious Express Eventing at the Royal Festival of the Horse, which was a great result. Pammy Hutton is now helping me with my dressage, her humour and patience is invaluable and helps me overcome the language barrier that could otherwise be a problem.
Catherine Will, who together with Carol owns Fernhill Pimms, my prospect for Le Lion D'Angers this year, funds my training which is a great help and takes a lot of pressure off Carol and me. I also now have a sponsor who provide me with saddles and accessories for my top horses which again is a great help.
Other than that my eventing career is funded from the horses I produce and sell under the Fernhill banner. It’s always sad to let the good ones go but with Carol’s contacts, it’s never long before another takes its place!!