Technical Visit to the Equestrian Centre – Vale de Ferreiros

The 6th edition of the Advanced Programme in Rural Tourism holds its second technical visit at the Vale de Ferreiros Equestrian Centre On 13 December, the students of the 6th edition of the Advanced Programme in Rural Tourism took part in the course's second technical visit, held in the afternoon and lasting roughly four hours. The group was accompanied by the coordinators Sofia Bacelar and Manuel de Sousa, in a session centred on observing and understanding how a project is managed in a real setting. The visit took place at Vale de Ferreiros, in Pego (Abrantes), a rural tourism venue that includes an equestrian centre and horse-related experiences, positioning itself as a distinctive offer within the region.

A welcome at the equestrian centre The group was received by José Pereira and his daughter Filipa Pereira, the owners of Vale de Ferreiros, who opened the session by setting out the history of the place. This introduction made it possible to understand how the project has developed and how the venue works, before moving on to visit the different areas.

The riding arena and the space for companions The visit to the riding arena was one of the highlights of the afternoon, not with the aim of "learning to ride", but of understanding how the equestrian centre operates. At this point it was also possible to watch someone riding and to see the adjoining area set aside for family and friends, designed for watching training sessions and activities in comfort.

Stables and animal welfare Next came the visit to the stables, where the students came into contact with part of the daily reality of an equestrian venue, including the logistics of housing and caring for the animals. The visit also took in a more open outdoor area, where the horses have space to move around more freely, underlining the importance of animal welfare as an essential factor in the quality and credibility of equestrian tourism.

Accommodation and building a tourism product Turning to the rural tourism side, the group visited the existing rooms and accommodation, allowing the students to see how the stay component fits together with the equestrian offer. Over the course of the visit, they learned about the lessons and sporting activities on offer, as well as the possibility of stabling clients' own horses, and about packages combining accommodation with activities, a common approach in projects built around a complete experience.

Conversations that add value Among the topics shared, the conversation about the Lusitano horse and the challenges of positioning it against other breeds stood out, bringing into the discussion the importance of communicating value, differentiation and fit with the customer profile. This kind of reflection brought the visit closer to the sector's strategic themes, connecting heritage, market and tourism product.

Closing with refreshments and thanks The visit ended with refreshments offered by Vale de Ferreiros, a sociable moment that extended the exchange of ideas in an informal and welcoming setting. The organisers thank Vale de Ferreiros for their availability and for the way they welcomed the group, contributing to a hands-on experience aligned with the programme's objectives.