Chatting with André Brás

Twenty-six year-old André Brás is a Portuguese dressage rider and trainer, originally from Faro, Algarve, Portugal. He is currently located near Lisbon, where he recently started his own project, receiving horses for training and coaching.

André grew up with horses and explains “I started riding when I was very young. As far back as I can remember, with my father at home. Training horses for various disciplines have always been part of my daily life since I was young, including driving, show riding, working equitation, and dressage.” Later, at university,  André graduated in Equine Science and subsequently began working as a professional rider at the Alter Stud Farm, the oldest stud farm in the world, where he had the opportunity to start competing nationally and internationally, from young horses up to the Grand Prix. Highlights included his participation in two European dressage championships representing Portugal at the Under 25 level.

How did your dressage journey begin?

To talk a little about my background, I started riding at a very young age at home with my father, in a very amateur environment. We had horses mainly for leisure and trail riding, and ever since I can remember, I was always around horses and riding. From the age of twelve, I started taking part in some equestrian shows and fairs, and my first experience in competition was in carriage driving events with my father. Riding horses has always been part of my daily life, and by the age of fourteen I began going to other people’s homes to train their horses. It was still at a very amateur level, but that was when I had the opportunity to compete in my first regional dressage competitions, and from there I continued progressing step by step.

Before going to university, when I started riding and training horses for clients, I realised that even at an amateur level things were going well and that people were genuinely interested in my work. That made me understand that if I dedicated myself professionally to horses, I could achieve much more success. I also realised that I loved working with horses too much not to try to make it my life and career.

Later, while at university, I completed a degree in Equine Studies and started working as a professional rider at Coudelaria de Alter. There, I had the opportunity to ride many different horses, from young horses to Grand Prix horses, and it was also where I began competing more seriously at both national and international level. It was a major step in my career, and later I had the opportunity to compete with several horses at Grand Prix level.

Who have been your mentors?

I have always been quite self-taught, and I did not always have a trainer consistently by my side. When I was younger, I started having lessons with someone who helped me a great deal to follow the path of dressage and to better understand horsemanship. He is still a reference and a friend to me today, a Portuguese rider called Jorge Santos.

Later, at Coudelaria de Alter, I had the opportunity to train with former riders who helped me improve a lot, and I was also fortunate to have several lessons with one of the most internationally recognised trainers in the equestrian world, and someone who is a great reference for me, Kyra Kyrklund. At the moment, I still do not have a trainer working with me on a regular basis, but as my personal project is developing well, I expect to soon have a trainer supporting and guiding me consistently, because I believe it is essential to have someone helping us continue to improve and progress.

What does a typical week look like for you in terms of riding and management?

At the moment, I have around 15 horses in training, mostly young Lusitano horses, although I also have two warmbloods, aged between 4 and 6 years old. Their weekly work is carefully managed to suit young horses, avoiding excessive effort and heavy workloads so they can accept the training smoothly and comfortably, preparing them well for the future. They usually work around four to five days per week, with the workload adapted to each individual horse, alternating between ridden work and lunge work sessions. A typical week for me is focused on organising the horses’ work in the best possible way, ensuring there is steady and progressive improvement week after week, while adapting each horse’s training programme to what suits it best individually.

What do you love about dressage?

One of the things that impresses me most about dressage is when there is a perfect connection between horse and rider, and exercises of extreme difficulty appear easy and natural. As a rider, it is extremely rewarding to feel the way horses, such large and powerful animals, trust us and understand what we ask of them through the art of horsemanship.

Your highlights?

One of the highlights of my career has definitely been representing Portugal at two European Championships in the Under 25 category with the horse Fevereiro AR. The first was in 2023, in Hungary, where our team achieved the best result ever for Portugal, finishing fifth place as a team. I also qualified for the individual final and finished 17th in Europe. In 2024, I represented Portugal again at the European Championship in Austria, also with Fevereiro AR.

At national level, I have participated in several Portuguese Championships. In 2020, as a Young Rider, I finished third with the horse Coronel AR. In 2023, already competing at Under 25 level, I finished fourth, and in 2024 I finished third place in U25 level with Fevereiro AR. In 2025, I competed in my first Senior Grand Prix Championship of Portugal and finished fifth place with the horse Joba II AR.

I have also competed in some Young Horse Portuguese Championships, finishing third place in the four-year-old class in 2023 with the horse Ofensor AR. In 2025 me and the horse Rojão das Lezírias become Vice-Champion of Portugal also in the 4yo class. Another important achievement has been competing for three consecutive years at the Marquês de Marialva Trophy during the Golegã Fair at the GP Freestyle test, one of the most traditional equestrian events in Portugal, with three different horses. I won the Grand Prix Kür in 2022 with a score of 73.71% with Coronel AR, one of my best results, finished second in 2023 with Douro AR, and third in 2024 with Fevereiro AR. So far, I have also had the opportunity to compete with four different horses at Grand Prix level in some national competitions while I was a rider from Alter Real Stud farm.

Has there ever been a time when you considered hanging up your riding boots?

I never really thought about giving up or walking away from the sport, because riding has always been a huge part of my life. When I spend more than a day without riding, I honestly do not feel like myself. However, being a professional rider in Portugal is not always easy. Unless you are connected to an important stud farm or a major training center, it can be very challenging, especially for a young rider who is trying to build their own project and take their first independent steps in the sport.

For many years, I was associated with a well-known stud farm that gave me great opportunities and quality horses to compete with. Now that I am building my own project, I mainly work with clients’ horses for training. Until I reach the same level again and have horses competing consistently at Grand Prix level, it will not be an easy path, but it is something we work towards every single day.

What is important to you in relation to training your horses?

One of the things I consider most important in horse training is not rushing the process in order to achieve goals quickly. For me, taking the necessary time with each horse is absolutely essential, especially with young horses. Trying to move too fast, skipping steps, or pushing for faster results may seem productive in the moment, but in the long term it almost always creates problems that could have been avoided.

That is why one of my biggest priorities in daily work is allowing horses enough time to develop both physically and mentally. Every horse is different, and each one needs its own rhythm, its own progression, and its own time to understand and gain confidence in the work. I strongly believe that when the foundation is built with patience, consistency, and without pressure, everything becomes easier and more sustainable in the future. This is something that owners, buyers, and even riders themselves do not always fully understand, especially in a world where people often want quick results. However, I consider it absolutely essential in order to truly achieve long-term success and bring out the best in each horse.

What do you think it takes to train a horse to Grand Prix?

To reach Grand Prix level, I believe it is most important to truly know and understand your horse. It is essential to find the best way to adapt the training and learning exercises to each individual horse, always taking into account both its physical ability and its mental state. Not every horse can reach Grand Prix level easily, and not all horses learn in the same way. That is why I think it is crucial to be able to evaluate each horse correctly and define the right type of work and progression for that specific horse.

How do you build a strong and trusting relationship with your horses?

Once again, I believe that time is one of the most important things when working with horses. Even to build a trusting relationship, it only comes with time and with the daily hours spent together, whether during training or simply around the stable. That is the only way for us to truly get to know the horses, and for them to get to know us in return. Through that daily connection, we begin to understand and even anticipate their behavior, both at home and in competition environments. I think it is very important for riders to pay attention and try to understand the reasons behind a horse’s reactions instead of simply reacting to them.

Only through consistent daily work and exposing horses to different environments do we start to truly understand their personalities and reactions. At the same time, the horses also begin to trust us, allowing themselves to be guided and shaped when needed. Some horses naturally give their trust more easily, while others have a more sensitive or particular character. That is why I believe it is extremely important for a rider to know how to read and understand each individual horse’s personality and reactions.

Your Top Tip

My best tip is something I remind myself of every day: to be patient and to believe, because often it is through the greatest difficulties and the most challenging cases that we gain the tools to overcome future situations. With horses, we are always constantly learning, so it is important to use every reaction from the most positive to the most negative as an opportunity to learn and to better solve problems in the future.

What is the best piece of advice that you have ever been given?

It wasn’t exactly advice, but something I have been told many times is that if we can achieve a lot with very little, then on the days when everything comes together and conditions are better, we can go very far. I see this as guidance that brings hope for the future and helps maintain belief in the daily work.

It takes a team to do dressage, who is in your support team?

Since I started my own project, I have become a bit more independent. I have been lucky to work with very good teams, but I would definitely highlight my girlfriend, Mariana Rodrigues, also a rider, as the person who works the most to help me be where I am today. She is an essential pillar in my project, and without her it would hardly be possible to achieve the same level of work and results.

However, the team is much broader and very complete, including farriers, veterinarians, and all the people who contribute to any success and make daily work possible. I am also fortunate to have great friends, fellow riders with whom I share many ideas and whose opinions I value greatly, which makes me feel that I have a very large support team. Even if they are not present every day, people I have worked with for many years and who know me well make me feel that I have a strong and reliable team behind me. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved.