For international dressage rider Pedro Ferreira and his wife Abigail Brooks Smith, horses are not just a profession \u2013 they are the foundation of their life together. Through their business PDF Sport Horses, the couple focuses on training, breeding and advising clients around the world. Over the years, the Figueiras bloodlines have become an important part of their breeding strategy.<\/p>\n
Pedro competes at international Grand Prix level and has spent his entire life in the equestrian sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cI started riding when I was fifteen and competed through many levels. I qualified for the European Championships for Young Riders and later moved fully into dressage. Normally I produce horses from the Saint\u2011Georges level up to Grand Prix.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014 Pedro Ferreira<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Abigail manages the communication and commercial side of their business.<\/p>\n
\u201cI handle communications, sales and client outreach for PDF Sport Horses. Together we run a training, breeding and consulting operation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014 Abigail Brooks Smith<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The couple has been working together in the horse industry for about seven years, combining Pedro\u2019s competition experience with Abigail\u2019s strategic and business approach.<\/p>\n
Discovering the Figueiras horses
\nPedro\u2019s connection with the Figueiras bloodlines originally came from a different discipline: driving.<\/p>\n\u201cBecause of Pedro\u2019s history in driving and competition, he really saw the potential of the Figueiras horses. Their cool heads and agility stood out immediately.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Through that background Pedro first encountered stallions such as Craque and other Figueiras horses. Since then they have used these stallions both in their own breeding program and when advising clients.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had wonderful results with the Figueiras horses. This year we are again using Craque and also trying Niro for the first time. We\u2019re excited to see the results.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Balance: the key quality
\nFor Pedro, one quality stands above all others when describing the Figueiras horses: balance.<\/p>\n\u201cBalance is very important. In Lusitanos the canter is often the strongest gait. But when you have a horse with balance in the walk and the canter, that makes them very good for dressage.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
He remembers clearly the first time he saw the stallion Craque.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I saw Craque for the first time with Ant\u00f3nio Maria, I immediately thought: this is a super horse for my mares. He has the old Veiga bloodlines and a strong canter, and that is exactly what I wanted to add.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
A recognizable type
\nAccording to Pedro and Abigail, the Figueiras horses have a recognizable physical type.<\/p>\n\u201cMaybe you can recognize them by the neck and the croup. They are very strong and usable horses.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Abigail also notices a distinctive structure in the horses they breed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have a lot of substance. They have a strong body structure that allows them to sit well, move well and maintain great balance.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Interestingly, their breeding program also produces larger Lusitanos than average.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur horses average around 1.70 meters. That\u2019s not always typical for the breed, but the Figueiras lines have had a big impact on that.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The mentality that makes the difference
\nWhile movement and conformation are important, Pedro believes the true strength of the Figueiras horses lies in their mentality.<\/p>\n\u201cFor me the best quality is the mindset. They can go to the red line in their work and then come back to the walk and relax. They keep positive energy while remaining rideable.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Horses for professionals \u2014 and confident amateurs
\nAt PDF Sport Horses, the clientele falls into two main groups.<\/p>\n\u201cOur first type of client is the professional dressage rider looking for a reliable partner. But we also have many amateur riders who want a horse that makes them feel confident and proud to ride. One of the qualities they appreciate most about the Figueiras horses is their honesty. What you see is what you get!\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
A breeding philosophy focused on sport
\nPedro and Abigail believe the success of the Figueiras horses comes from a clear breeding philosophy.<\/p>\n\u201cThey breed sport\u2011minded horses. Sometimes people prioritize morphological beauty over sport ability. But the Figueiras program clearly focuses on horses that can perform.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Consistency over trends
\nIn modern breeding, the couple believes long\u2011term consistency matters more than following short\u2011term trends.<\/p>\n\u201cFor us it\u2019s about breeding for excellence and breeding for the future.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Looking to the future
\nPedro is convinced the Figueiras horses will continue to play an important role in the future of the Lusitano in sport.<\/p>\n\u201cI believe they have a great future. For example, I believe Oscar could become an Olympic dressage horse.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
And when asked why professionals should invest in a Figueiras horse, Abigail\u2019s answer is simple:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe results speak for themselves.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>","protected":false},"featured_media":706,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"class_list":["post-965","voices-of-figueiras","type-voices-of-figueiras","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/horsesoffigueiras.bonsaidev.nl\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/voices-of-figueiras\/965","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/horsesoffigueiras.bonsaidev.nl\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/voices-of-figueiras"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/horsesoffigueiras.bonsaidev.nl\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/voices-of-figueiras"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/horsesoffigueiras.bonsaidev.nl\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/706"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/horsesoffigueiras.bonsaidev.nl\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=965"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}