Establish a connection both in the saddle and on the ground in our week-long courses. We are happy to teach total beginners but also welcome experienced riders, who are looking for a new way to be with horses.
Improve your riding and horsemanship skills on trail rides through amazing nature and lessons in the arena and roundpen.
Guests stay in our typical Alentejo ranch house in the midst of our valley, where the river Mira flows through 25 hectares of pasture. Enjoy evenings out on our terrace in groups of max five guests.
Temperatures in Portugal are most comfortable in spring and fall. Therefore, we offer courses from April until June and again in September and October each year.
A small and dedicated team supports Sandra in her mission to help her guests enjoy their stay and maximize their learning with the horses.
Our herd of riding horses includes a few quarters, a few Portuguese and the odd warmblood, but all of them are excellent teachers.
If you really want to learn understanding horses and good riding, this is the perfect place to go.
Alexandra
I rode as a child, but as an adult I knew I would only ever ride again if I found the right way to do it, in sympathy with the horse, with kindness. Again, this is the right place to do it. It has changed our lives, and we will be sure to return again and again to re-experience all that Sandra and her horses have to offer.
Katie
I went to Portugal this summer and was so lucky to get the chance to spend hours learning how to listen to movement; A foundation of all communication is body language. It requires to be present in this very moment for us to pick up on the smallest signals that we so often overlook. Thank you Sandra for the most rewarding and eye opening experience and all the laughs and fun.
Malin
Sundance Ranch is a rare piece of paradise where horses are supported to be themselves and as humans, we have the opportunity to learn how to do that for our own horses. None of this would be possible without Sandra’s tremendous enthusiasm, integrity and generosity of spirit.
Adela
It was the most magical time ever. The holiday lasted only a week but was so wonderful. I spent time in a little piece of paradise. Accommodation was excellent, food was amazing, Sandra was a fantastic host. The horses and other people around were all truly wonderful. I learnt so much and feel so much more attuned to horses needs. I can’t wait to go to the ranch again. Thank you
Taryn
We stayed at Sundance Ranch in April 2018 and loved every minute. Sandra, Nina, the horses, the food and accommodation were all perfect! Very relaxed and positive experience for myself and my 10 yo daughter ❤️
Karen
Sandra took me on a journey in which I got better with and at horses step-by-step, combining theory, proper ground work and rides out in the landscape.
Paul
EXCELLENT rating
Based on 78 reviewsI arrived at Sundance in Mai for a training in natural horsemanship, having seated 3 times on a horseback in my life for group trail. I was highly motivated and very eager to discover horses, their way of life, an how to understand and communicate with them. And I was very much looking forward to riding as well. Sandra has proven to be an excellent teacher, seeing every participant in their individuality and adapting to their levels and learning abilities. The cohesion in the small group was astounding. Very relaxed, friendly and harmonious. The House in which we were living was very beautiful and the rooms neat and clean. Same for the sanitary. We were lucky enough to enjoy 3 delicious freshly cooked and aboudant meals a day, which made the stay feel like a very nice holiday. However, the days were absolutely full with horsemanship, with time to rest after lunch, early morning and you'll be early in bed to be fit on the next day ;) Meals were shared with Lysette who trains horses on the ranch and two other girls who were helping with the ranch. Those moments were relaxing, animated and joyful. In the morning timetable with all the trainings and care for the horses was planned, so you'd get another insight in the amount and the variety of work that is connected with running a ranch. On my arrival, Sandra picked me up at the station very kindly and graciously. She organised a driver for me on the way back to the airport. While staying at hers, she made the guests feel really comfortable, as if they were in their own home. She is very interested in getting to know people and is an active participant in conversations as well. Amazing. The whole previous online communication was very smooth and fast. I learnt a lot during this week and had a truly wonderful time. I even made a friend I met back at home. It would be lovely to go back and do some more training :) Thank you to everyone, every animal, that is the horses of course, but also the various dogs and the cat who honoured us with their presence on our laps at dinner from time to time, and the beautiful and fragrantful nature. Gumtrees essences floating in the warm dry air as well as the sweet scent of rockroses in a lot of very sunny quiet.Gren Koh2024-08-18We had an amazing week at Sundance Ranch! Sandra was an awesome host, and the place is absolutely peaceful and beautiful. The whole experience was just perfect. The team is fantastic, and all the animals (especially the cute dogs) make the place feel so alive. Everyone there has such a unique personality, and it really adds to the charm. The ranch is in a stunning location, surrounded by nature, with water and wildlife all around. The food was a pleasant surprise, too! We’re not usually big on vegetarian dishes, but the cook prepared such delicious meals that we loved every bite. It was a real treat to experience such a slow, healthy lifestyle and be surrounded by such great people. Learning about horses in a completely different way was eye-opening. It’s not just about riding; it’s about connecting, understanding leadership, and building friendships—lessons that stick with you in everyday life. We’ve come away with so many great memories and unique experiences. We can’t wait to go back and will definitely be telling all our friends about it!Svetlana Zhelenkova2024-08-17Zum fünfzigsten Geburtstag wollte mir mein Mann ein besonderes Geschenk machen und mit der Sundance Ranch ist ihm ein Volltreffer gelungen. Von der herzlichen Aufnahme durch Sandra und ihr Team - einschließlich Pferde und Mulis - bis zur Begleitung während der Übungseinheiten, dem authentischen Essen und dem tollen Setting haben wir den Aufenthalt sehr genossen und konnten vom tristen Alltag in Rekordzeit Abstand gewinnen. Der Ansatz der Natural Horsemanship erlaubt es Anfängern ebenso wie fortgeschrittenen Pferdeliebhabern, diese wundervollen Tiere besser zu verstehen. Im übrigen ist dieser Kurs mit Sandra das einzige mir bekannte Angebot, bei dem Anfänger und Fortgeschrittene im selben Mass profitieren und Spass haben können, und zwar miteinander. Sandra geht auf die individuellen Bedürfnisse ein, gibt wertvolle Tips und versteht es, die Botschaften der Tiere an uns in humorvoller Art verständlich zu machen. Eine absolute Empfehlung für alle Pferdefreunde und solche, die´s noch werden wollen. Besonders herzliche Grüße von Toni an Buddy. Thumbs up and keep on rocking girls!Silvia Jaeger2024-08-15I had a great time at the April 16th, 2023 Natural Horsemanship Course. My experiences both in and out of the saddle was wonderful. I learned so much. As a beginner and someone who prefers keeping her feet on the ground, I was grateful for Sandra and her team's patience, compassion and encouragement. I learned so much during round pen, freedom based training in the pasture, Liberty and harmonizing with the horses. It felt good to know that all was OK if I stepped out of my comfort zone. My connection with the horses felt so comforting. I left with a heart full of gratitude for having met everyone at Sundance Ranch and having experienced something I thought I never would. No matter your age...there is a place for you at Sundance Ranch. BTW....Thanks to Sandra, I did ride a horse every day. Until we meet again may your journey be filled with ease and grace. Muito ObrigadaMaria Landis2024-08-14Gleich am ersten Tag konnten wir über die Bodenarbeit mit dem Pferd, das Sandra für jede*n von uns passend ausgesucht hatte, einen besonderen Kontakt aufbauen, wie ich es noch nicht erlebt hatte. Ich war gerührt von den Pferden, von Ramses insbes., und beeindruckt von der Frau, die dahinter steckt: Sandra ist eine außergewöhnlich gute Vermittlerin zwischen Pferd und Mensch. Sie spult kein Programm ab, sondern ist sichtbar daran interessiert daran, dass es Mensch und Tier gut geht. Das zeichnet Expertise und Qualität aus. Ich habe sehr viel gelernt und jeden Tag pures Glück verspürt: die Ranch, die Umgebung, der Fluss, die Pferde, Esel, das Maultier und die Hunde, nicht zuletzt das leckere Essen und völlig entspannte Wohnen in einem gemütlichen Haus... besser geht's echt nicht!!Antje Klinge2024-08-13I recently took a Natural Horsemanship course with Sandra, and it was an amazing experience. Sandra's teaching was clear, patient, and full of insight. I had the honour of riding her now late horse Legend, which I am very grateful for. I highly recommend Sandra’s course to anyone interested in deepening their horsemanship skills.Paigh dos Santos2024-08-13Ich durfte im Frühjahr diesen Jahres eine wunderschöne Woche auf Sandras Sundance Ranch verbringen. Die Ranch ist sehr schön gelegen mitten im Inland auf einem idyllischen Gelände, auf dem man sehr gut zur Ruhe kommen kann und es dennoch nie langweilig wird. Der Kurs war sehr gut und strukturiert Aufgebaut und es gab trotzdem viel Zeit für individuelle Fragen und Themen aller Kursteilnehmerinnen. Die Atmosphäre und alle Mitwirkenden der Ranch waren sehr herzlich und aufgeschlossen. Besonders gerne denke ich an die Gemeinsamen Abende an denen wir sehr viel zusammen gelacht haben und uns eigentlich nie die Gesprächsthemen ausgingen. Die Pferde waren alle sehr liebevoll und es ist wirklich für jedes Reit-Niveau und jeden Typ Mensch ein passendes Pferd dabei. Sandra hat eine sehr verständliche und gelassene Art zu erklären und so habe ich mich in den Reit Stunden immer gut aufgehoben gefühlt. Ein ganz besonders Lob möchte ich an die Köchin der Ranch aussprechen, die uns jeden Morgen mit frischem Brot und Mittags und Abends mit sehr leckeren frisch gekochten Gerichten versorgt hat. Ich bin wirklich glücklich diese Schöne Zeit in Portugal verbracht zu haben und komme gerne wieder. Die Sundance Ranch kann ich von Herzen empfehlen. Vielen Dank an Sandra, Lysette, Isabella und Kim für die schöne Zeit bei euch.Luisa Auerbach2024-08-12Sundance Ranch is a truly magical place! There's plenty of space for the horses to live, the location is quiet and the surrounding countryside is breathtaking. Sandra built up the ranch with a lot of attention to detail, and the wellbeing of the horses is always top priority! If you love animals and nature, and you want to understand the language of the horse, this place is for you!Liesbet Corthout2024-08-12Heaven on earth exists - a few places are more solid proof of that than Sundance Ranch! I went there to learn riding from scratch (I’m 36yo) and to go over my beginner’s fears. What I received had been beyond expectations - tailored daily training, empathy, patience, loving and calm horses, connection to nature and people, personal growth … and so on! I own everything to Sandra and Lysette, two great horse professionals. They taught me so much, keeping me safe and accompanied at all times. With them, I started gaining the confidence (riding and around horses) I always dreamt about but was too scared to try. I found at Sundance Ranch the best horses and the best teachers. ♥️♥️ I definitely recommend this place to any rider(to-be).Super Melocoton2024-08-11Ich habe als fortgeschrittener Reiter Sandras Horsemanship Kurs besucht. In einer Woche haben wir so viele neue Dinge gelernt, neue Blickwinkel erfahren , sowie verschiede Traingsansätze besprochen und ausprobiert. Dabei sind die verschiedenen Kursabschnitte immer gut auf das reiterliche Wissen und Können der einzelnen angepasst. Dennoch hatten wir auch genug Zeit zum Ausruhen und Genießen der schönen Umgebung. Auch das Essen war immer super lecker- auch für mich als nicht- Vegetarier🤭. Vielen Dank an Sandra für diese schöne und erlebnisreiche Woche, den familiären Umgang und die tolle Versorgung!🥰Kim Ebert2024-08-11
Riders
Hectares of pasture
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