AMONG those who attended the Dublin Horse Show this week was Portuguese dressage rider and coach, Don Tomaz Noronha de Alarcão.

Tomaz, who was accompanied by his wife Antonia, was invited over to Ireland by north Dublin dressage rider and judge, Bernie Foley, with whom they stayed while taking in two days’ coaching and a day at the show.

“Many times when I was training with Tomaz at his farm near Lisbon, he expressed an interest in coming to Ireland and finally did so this week,” explained Foley who booked riders into the clinics on Monday and Tuesday at the Cheval Riding Club grounds.

Visit

“I first met Tomaz when a member of the Portuguese Army Equitation School brought me on a visit to the farm, Quinta do Brejo, about 20 years ago,” explained Foley.

“Near Mafra, it was then the home of the famous classical dressage rider and trainer, Nuno Oliveira. Tomaz was Oliveira’s final pupil and, when he died, Tomaz bought the farm where he continues to train and ride Lusitanos and teach riders from all over the world.

Lessons

“When I first started judging dressage competitions, I went to watch him train and ride and started getting lessons there myself. It was a great opportunity to learn some of the more advanced movements on trained horses. I try to go there once or twice a year and have advised many others to go there as well.”

On Wednesday, Foley escorted Tomaz and Antonio to the Dublin Horse Show. While one would have expected them to show an interest in the dressage demonstration in Simmonscourt, they started the day watching the performance Irish Draught classes and Tomaz was very impressed with our native breed.