Henrique AbecasisStud

Team

Who's who

A small team that follows each horse from backing to the arena.

Management

Directors of the Stud

Tiago, Henrique and Francisco Abecasis beside a grey horse in a pine wood
From left to right: Tiago, Henrique and Francisco Abecasis.
Henrique Abecasis
Co-founder · DirectorHe founded the stud wishing to breed horses he would enjoy riding, particularly out fox hunting and in other country pursuits. He continues to follow all of the stud's activity closely.
Tiago Abecasis in a dressage test, riding a grey horse with the HA brand on the saddle pad

Director of the Stud

Tiago Abecasis

Tiago graduated in Environmental Engineering, but early on chose a career as a rider and as manager of the stud.

He was a pupil of Master João Trigueiros de Aragão, a reference of Portuguese classical equitation and one of the riders who helped found the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art. He went on to study with Master Arthur Kottas-Heldenberg, with whom he shares a close relationship and a common equestrian identity to this day.

He competed in dressage with particular success in young horse classes, with several horses from the stud that later went on to compete internationally.

Although he no longer competes regularly, he also devotes himself to training riders, giving clinics at Quinta do Pilar and abroad.

Francisco Abecasis riding a grey horse in the outdoor arena

Director of the Stud

Francisco Abecasis

Francisco followed in his father's footsteps as a lawyer, but keeps a strong connection to the stud and to equestrian sport, notably through the Portuguese Equestrian Federation, where he served as President of the Judges' Council and as Vice-President of the Board responsible for Dressage. For some time he also served as a Dressage judge.

He is currently President of the Court of Justice of the Portuguese Equestrian Federation, President of the Portuguese Sorraia Horse Association and President of the Luso Warmblood Studbook.

Operations

Stud management

Maria João Abecasis smiling and waving as she walks across a field at Quinta do Pilar

Maria João Abecasis

Stud Manager

Marta Botelho riding side-saddle in traditional Portuguese dress

Marta Botelho

Head of Operations

Family

Also part of the team

Maria de Santiago Abecasis riding a grey horse during a lesson in the arena

Maria de Santiago Abecasis

She holds no formal role in the stud, as she is studying abroad, but she is always an important and active presence.

Training and competition

The riders

Tiago Abecasis, Aarão Coelho and Maria da Graça Abecasis are the stud's riders. They train our horses, from backing through young horse classes to the higher levels of dressage.

Aarão Coelho in a dressage test on a bay horse, with the HA brand on the saddle pad

Aarão Coelho

Training and competition

Trains and competes the stud's horses.

Maria da Graça Abecasis in a dressage test on a grey horse

Maria da Graça Abecasis

Training and competition

Maria da Graça is the stud's competition rider. She has won two national Dressage championship titles, in the Pony and Children categories, and two national runner-up titles, in the Young Riders and U25 categories. She has represented Portugal at three European Youth Championships.

She is an active member of the stud's riding and training team.

Technical adviser

With Master Kottas

Master Arthur Kottas-Heldenberg with the family in the arena at Quinta do Pilar
Master Arthur Kottas-Heldenberg at Quinta do Pilar. Photo: ABR Fotografia
Master Arthur Kottas-Heldenberg
Technical adviserMaster of Equitation and former First Chief Rider of the Spanish Riding School of Vienna. He guides the development of the stud's horses according to the principles of balance, harmony and respect.