Portuguese Stud Horse Farm

Horse Stud Farm, Portugual

As a part of the tour we stopped for lunch and a "horsey" demonstration at a Stud Horse farm in Portugal, owned and operated by "Maria".

Maria and her family had suffered when Portugal, following the end of its dictatorship in the 1970s, voted in a communist party.  During this difficult time her family farm and all its assets were ceased by the government, communist party.   The Portuguese people got rid of the communists but it still took a few years for Maria to get back all her property.

She's doing just fine now - she has a cork farm, horse farm, raises pork as well as hosting these tourist lunch stops.  Not too shabby at all.  (Glad this tour company supports local family businesses and gives us a taste of some of the rural areas.)

Maria is in the red cape and the traditional Portuguese hat, at least I think it is a traditional Portuguese hat.

LOTS of storks in this area of the country.  In some places you saw many, many nests - Antonio called them "stork condominiums".