About QPA
Family-run, established in 1992, and home to over 20 horses in the heart of the Algarve.
QPA Horse Riding Centre has been an established riding school and trekking centre since 1992. Now under the management of Sue Wilson, what was once a bare field is now home to more than 20 horses, as well as a few dogs and cats.
With 30 years of equitation experience, Sue has worked at Quinta Paraíso Alto for 23 years and runs the centre as a family-run business.
QPA has a variety of horses from the trustworthy school ponies to competition horses to suit everyone's standards and abilities. We offer a variety of rides and lessons as well as Saturday Pony Club for our younger riders.
At QPA, safety is of the utmost importance. Hats will be supplied with ABRS standard requirements, even boots and chaps if required. The centre has comprehensive insurance for all riders.
Our guides and helpers are multilingual: Portuguese and English spoken.
Horse Welfare
Our horses are at the heart of everything we do. Cared for by the same family that has run QPA since 1992, their wellbeing comes before anything else, from daily routines to which horse is paired with each rider. Some of our horses are rescues who now have a permanent, caring home here.
- Matched to your ability Beginners ride our calmest school horses; experienced riders are paired with horses suited to their level. We never put a rider on a horse that is wrong for them.
- Rest and sensible workloads Horses have regular rest days and are never overworked. Small groups (a maximum of four riders per guide) keep each horse's day manageable.
- Health and hoof care Regular veterinary check-ups, farrier visits, and routine dental care keep our horses healthy and comfortable in the saddle.
- Turnout and daily comfort Horses spend time in the paddock every day with clean water, and a balanced diet suited to their needs.
- Approved riding centre QPA is an approved riding centre, working to recognised safety and welfare standards for both riders and horses.
What QPA Can Offer
- A variety of quality rides and competition horses
- Lessons from qualified instructors
- Breathtaking views from horseback
- See wild flowers and rare birds in the Algarve countryside
- Rides to suit all standards, individually or in small groups
- Cool summer evening rides
- Horses taken for livery and for training
- Riding for the disabled: riding4disabled.com