East Anglian based rider Alexandra Downing has ridden and trained Lusitano horses for over twelve years. Alexandra first became associated with the breed whilst riding & training at Pine Lodge School of Classical Equitation. On completion of her BSc degree in Equine Science Alex travelled to Portugal to study under Sr Francisco Bessa de Cavalho, rider with the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art, at his yard near Lisbon.

Since then she has trained at the Lusitano stud farm of Nuno Pontes near Sao Paulo, Brazil, with renowned trainer and dressage rider Ndzinji Pontes, and in Austria with Hans Riegler, rider with the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, one of the oldest riding academies in the world.

On returning to the UK Alex continued training at Pine Lodge School of Classical Equitation under the expert tuition of Sue Barber where she competed successfully on the Lusitano stallion Mafioso (by Florim) and mare Uxaria (by Quito) at both Working Equitation & other Lusitano riding trials. Alex represented Great Britain at the European & World Working Equitation Championships for five years from 2004 at competitions in Italy, Spain, Portugal & the UK.

The objective of classical dressage is to develop an understanding of how the horse naturally moves and apply systematic tailored training to cultivate this under saddle. Having ridden and trained horses in both the UK and abroad, Alex has adopted the methods of some of the most influential classical trainers of our time. 

Alex continues to teach and train within Norfolk and Suffolk where she has an established freelance client base. 

Watch Alex’s demo with Holly Barber ‘An Introduction to Working Equitation’ in Arena 1

Find out more about Alex and how to train with her on her website http://www.alexandradowning.co.uk/