From warfare to dressage

From warfare to dressage

Advertisement

A horseman rests in the stables during the 25th Lusitano Horse Festival, held in the Portuguese town of Cascais.

The festival was dedicated to showcasing Lusitano horses, highly valued in the Classical world, and still one of Portugal’s most prestigious breeds. Long prized as hunting and combat animals, the agility and sweet temperament of Lusitanos make them popular for bullfighting, dressage and all sorts of other sports.

1 / 10

Slideshow

A horse looks out of a stable on the last day of the four-day summer festival.
. Cascais, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

A horse looks out of a stable on the last day of the four-day summer festival.

A horseman perfects a plaited mane.
. Cascais, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

A horseman perfects a plaited mane.

A woman tends to one of the animals.
. Cascais, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

A woman tends to one of the animals.

A girl sporting bright boots kisses a horse.
. Cascais, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

A girl sporting bright boots kisses a horse.

Horsemen show off their animals during the festival.
. Cascais, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

Horsemen show off their animals during the festival.

A horse bearing a rider rears up.
. Cascais, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

A horse bearing a rider rears up.

A mother and her children watch a line of riders go by.
. Cascais, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

A mother and her children watch a line of riders go by.

A horse is hosed down.
. Cascais, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

A horse is hosed down.

A Lusitano walks up a ramp into a trailer.
. Cascais, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

A Lusitano walks up a ramp into a trailer.

A horse looks out from the window of a trailer at the end of the festival.
. Cascais, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

A horse looks out from the window of a trailer at the end of the festival.