Tiago Alves is a Portuguese dressage and Working Equitation rider, trainer and educator. In 2022, Tiago had one of the defining moments of his career, becoming World Champion in Working Equitation both as part of the Portuguese team and individually in the Speed trial. Achievements like this are not only incredibly meaningful, but they are also a reflection of years of work and consistency. He says “Horses have never been just a career for me, they are the foundation of how I understand discipline, partnership and personal growth.”
Through the Tiago Alves Equestrian Academy, his work focuses on developing both horses and riders in a sustainable, long-term way. Today, Tiago’s career takes him internationally, teaching clinics and training combinations across Europe and Australia, but his philosophy remains unchanged: “Performance should never come at the expense of harmony. For me, success is measured not only in results, but in understanding.”
How did horses come into your life?
My connection with horses started very early but it actually began in a very simple and unexpected way. When I was five years old, I went on holiday with my family to the north of Portugal, to a place called Gerês. There, they offer mountain rides on Garranos, the native horses of that region. I remember being completely fascinated during that experience. Something just clicked. That moment stayed with me. Later that year, at Christmas, my parents offered me my first riding helmet and a pack of ten riding lessons. They had no idea what those two small gifts would turn into.
What makes it even more special is that I don’t come from a horse background, neither of my parents rode nor had any connection to horses. This passion was something that grew entirely on its own and stayed with me ever since. What started as excitement quickly became commitment. Horses shaped my character long before they shaped my career. They taught me patience, resilience and responsibility, lessons that go far beyond sport.
Over time, dressage became my language within horsemanship. I became fascinated by the idea that communication could become almost invisible, that strength and sensitivity could coexist in balance. And that is still what drives me today.
Who have been your most influential mentors?
I’ve been fortunate to learn from many outstanding trainers and riders throughout my career, each of them contributing different pieces to my development, whether technical knowledge, discipline, or a deeper understanding of the horse.
My time working within high-performance environments, particularly alongside top professionals, played a key role in shaping my system and refining my attention to detail. Being surrounded by that level of consistency and expectation teaches you what it really takes to perform at the top. However, some of my greatest mentors have always been the horses themselves. The difficult ones, the sensitive ones, the exceptionally talented ones, each horse challenges you in a different way. They force you to question your approach, to adapt, and to become more aware of your timing, your energy, and your communication. Horses don’t respond to titles or ambition; they respond to feel. And in that sense, they constantly remind you that true horsemanship is an ongoing process of humility, patience and self-awareness.
Who do you train with?
I don’t currently have one fixed trainer that I work with on a regular basis. Instead, I’ve been training through clinics and sessions with different riders, trainers and judges, which has allowed me to be exposed to a variety of perspectives and systems. That diversity has been very valuable for my development, as it helped me build my own understanding rather than simply follow one method. However, this is something I am consciously looking to evolve.
With the new projects I am starting, I believe it’s important to build a stronger and more consistent structure around me, a solid team that can support both my development and my competitive goals. At a higher level, consistency and alignment within a team become key for achieving results. So, while I’ve learned a lot from different influences, the next step for me is to channel that into a more structured and focused approach.
What do you love about dressage?
Dressage represents, for me, the pursuit of true harmony between horse and rider. At its highest level, it is not about control, it is about trust. It’s about reaching a point where the horse doesn’t just respond to your aids, but understands them so clearly that it moves willingly, in balance, and in true connection with the rider. Those are the moments that are difficult to describe, but impossible to forget. When everything feels effortless, when communication becomes almost invisible, and when you feel that the horse is with you, not just working for you.
What fascinates me the most is that dressage is never finished. There is always something to refine, a transition that can be smoother, a contact that can be lighter, a movement that can be more expressive without losing relaxation. It’s a constant search for balance, physically, but also mentally. And that’s what keeps me motivated every day. Not perfection, but the process of getting closer to it.
Your proudest moments?
Competition achievements and championships are important milestones and becoming World Champion in Working Equitation in 2022, both as part of the Portuguese team and individually in the Speed trial, was undoubtedly one of the defining moments of my career. It represents years of dedication, consistency and belief in a process, especially coming from a background without a traditional equestrian pathway. However, my proudest moments are often much quieter. Developing young horses into confident, balanced athletes. Helping riders rediscover belief in themselves and their abilities. Watching partnerships evolve into something based on trust rather than control. Those are the moments that stay with you. Because for me, success is not only measured in results, but in progress, both physical and mental and in the quality of the connection we build with the horse over time.
What is your training philosophy?
My training philosophy is built on clarity, biomechanics and mental wellbeing because without clarity, there is no true communication. For me, the horse must always understand what is being asked. Not guess, not react out of pressure but understand. When the aids are clear and consistent, the horse gains confidence, and confidence is what allows correct development.
I place a strong emphasis on gymnastic work, developing the horse’s body in a way that supports balance, longevity and ease of movement. But physical training alone is not enough. The mental state of the horse is just as important. A tense or confused horse cannot truly learn. That’s why I believe in creating an environment where the horse feels safe, relaxed and willing to try. When the horse is mentally available, everything becomes easier, the body follows the mind.
Outside the arena, management plays a crucial role in performance. Turnout, routine, comfort and overall wellbeing are not extras. They are part of the training system. At the end of the day, I don’t train movements, I train understanding. Because when the horse understands, the result is not only better performance, but a partnership that is consistent, sustainable and honest.
Can you explain what Working Equitation is, and how it benefits your dressage?
Working Equitation reflects the practical origins of classical riding. where the horse was not only trained for the arena, but for real-life situations that required precision, control and adaptability. It combines dressage, obstacle work, cattle handling and speed phases, demanding a horse that is not only technically correct, but also mentally sharp and responsive.
The crossover with dressage is very strong. Balance, collection, straightness and responsiveness to the aids are fundamental in both disciplines. In fact, without correct dressage, it is very difficult to perform Working Equitation at a high level. However, what Working Equitation brings to dressage is something extremely valuable, purpose and variation.
In dressage, we often repeat exercises in a controlled environment. In Working Equitation, the horse has to apply the same principles in more dynamic and sometimes unpredictable situations, opening gates, navigating obstacles, adjusting stride and balance in real time. This develops a different kind of understanding. The horse becomes more attentive, more reactive to the rider’s aids, and more confident in solving situations without tension. It also improves rideability, because the horse learns to stay with the rider in different contexts, not just within a fixed pattern. From a training perspective, it helps prevent mental fatigue. Horses stay more engaged, more motivated, and often more willing in their daily work.
For me, the biggest value is that it creates a more complete horse, one that is not only technically correct, but also adaptable, focused and mentally present. And ultimately, that benefits dressage in a very direct way.
How do you approach your role as a teacher and mentor?
Teaching has become one of the most meaningful parts of my career not just because of the horses, but because of the people behind them. My goal is not simply to improve riders technically, but to help them truly understand why things work. Because without understanding, there is no consistency and without consistency, there is no real progress.
I see many riders trying to do the right things, but without clarity. They repeat exercises, but they don’t always know what they are trying to achieve, or how the horse should feel. That’s where I believe my role really is. I try to simplify things. Not by making them easier, but by making them clearer.
One of the core principles I work with is that every aid should have a clear meaning, and every reaction from the horse should be understood, what I often describe as “one aid, one response.” When this becomes consistent, everything starts to fall into place: the horse relaxes, the rider gains confidence, and communication becomes much more honest. I also place a lot of importance on feel. It’s something that cannot be forced, but it can be developed and once a rider starts to feel correctly, even small improvements become very powerful.
For me, the most rewarding moments are not when a rider executes something perfectly, but when they suddenly understand. When something clicks and from that point forward, they are no longer dependent on someone telling them what to do. That’s when real learning happens. Because good training improves performance. But understanding creates independence. And that, for me, is what truly matters.
Future aspirations?
My ambition is to continue competing internationally while expanding the Tiago Alves Equestrian Academy as a global educational platform. Looking ahead, I want to place an even stronger focus on the competitive side of my career, pushing for higher level performance, developing horses to their full potential, and consistently competing on the international stage.
At the same time, I see the academy growing alongside that journey. Not separately, but as an extension of it, where the experience gained in competition feeds directly into the way I teach and develop riders. I aim to contribute to the evolution of rider education by combining classical horsemanship with modern performance training, helping riders build sustainable and effective partnerships with their horses.
Ultimately, I want to create impact in both areas, in the arena through performance, and outside it through education.
Your Top Tip
Master the basics. Every advanced movement is simply correct basics performed with greater balance and understanding.
Best piece of advice that you have ever been given?
“Listen to the horse more than your ambition.”
It takes a team to do dressage, who is in your support team?
Dressage is truly a team sport. Owners, grooms, veterinarians, farriers, physiotherapists, trainers, students and family all play vital roles in making everything work. Behind every successful partnership, there is a team working consistently, often quietly, every single day.
I would also like to make a special mention to Pammy Suphakamol Vuntanadit, who has played a key role in my journey, especially in this new phase of my career. Her support, organisation and belief in the project have made a significant difference, and without her, many of the steps I am taking now would be much more difficult. Having the right people around you, people who understand your vision and support it, is essential at this level. Because no matter how individual the sport may look, the reality is that none of it happens alone.