Quinta Do Fijo

I left the Northern Wilderness Trail in Portugal early because I felt the ride was unsafe. I was disappointed by the experience. I expected challenging trails, not green horses being led by guides on horses that seemed even less prepared. The calm horses shown in the videos did not match what I experienced. My horse was a brave four-year-old, but at a road crossing she nearly got hit by a car while both guides were ahead of the group on green, untrained horses. She spooked. I stayed on, but if I’d fallen I could have ended up under hooves and cars. Later, ATVs spooked her too. She spun and bucked, ran into other horses, and tried to buck me off again on a hill. At a difficult water crossing, several horses jumped and nearly knocked another rider over. My horse was regularly sent to the front to lead past the guides because she was considered the brave one. I got her through scary situations with a lot of encouragement and support, but a less experienced rider would have struggled, especially while leading. There were other incidents too. One rider’s horse panicked during mounting. After at least 10 minutes, the rider got on, and the horse vaulted up a big step, spun, and panicked with her aboard. Another day, loose horses ran through the riders, and one was gone for more than 30 minutes. The chestnut Carlos had been riding broke her bridle. She was ear-shy, so they couldn’t put a halter on her. Carlos walked because he had no tack for another horse, and one of the riders got off and walked the trail instead. The chestnut was bloody and lame, as shown in the attached pictures, tacked up before he left her by the roadside. The second guide was effectively left behind because his horse was spooking and spinning. I raised concerns with Carlos several times, including that Bruno’s horse wasn’t suitable for the excursion. He brushed that off, saying she had worked in working equitation and ridden at bullfighting events, and just needed trail training. She panicked into other horses on steep paved streets through town and in traffic. Carlos suggested I switch from Bela to his chestnut, though that horse wouldn’t go around blind corners and spooked at water, rocks, and trees. That was why I kept being brought to the front to “be brave.” When I said it wasn’t safe, Carlos chose to ride Bela instead of the chestnut. She spun, scrambled, twisted, and moved sideways up a wet paved hill when he mounted. He then suggested I swap with another rider who had asked for the calmest, easiest horse, even though I have much more riding experience than she does. When I talked with Carlos about what was happening, he was patronizing and dismissive. He hadn’t seen the spooks and blamed my nervousness for them. I’m not claiming decades of experience, but I can ride and don’t blame the horse. I spent the day calming her and talking her past things that scared her. Carlos also asked if we wanted to canter while horses were still biting and kicking one another. Several riders said no, and one said she didn’t feel in control enough to consider it. He seemed disappointed and didn’t understand the safety concerns. I think he overbooked the trip and assumed he could get by with green horses. Staying would have meant continuing to condone the unsafe and unethical practices I saw.

I’d never been around horses before visiting Quinta do Fijo with my family, and at first I was excited but also pretty nervous. Carlos welcomed us warmly and introduced us to the horses. His passion for them and the way he tailored the experience helped me connect with them and enjoy a relaxing day in nature. The ride was peaceful, fun, and guided with real skill. I arrived afraid of horses and left completely in love with them. The house is gorgeous, with a pool and tasteful decor, and makes a lovely place to enjoy the Portuguese weather. Carlos’s love of classic cars adds a personal touch. It all made for an authentic, luxurious holiday in the north of Portugal. We’ll definitely be back.

The customer service felt very personal, and the horseback ride was easy to get started with. We were given clear instructions and beginner-friendly trails. I’d highly recommend Quinta do Fijo for both a stay and outdoor activities 😊

We had a lovely riding holiday. The accommodation is brand new, Carlos and Madalena were wonderful hosts, and the horses were real gentlemen. We loved it and recommend it!