Career
Career
Career
A life with horses
Childhood at the barn of the family
Boaventura Freire, also known as Ventura, was born in Lisbon in 1988. He grew up near the Portuguese capital and spent much of his childhood at his uncle's stud farm.
From an early age, Ventura was fascinated by horses. His childhood dream was to become a great bullfighter At the age of six, Ventura presented a Lusitano stallion at a breeding event for the first time.
A life with horses
Childhood at the barn
Boaventura Freire, also known as Ventura, was born in Lisbon in 1988. He grew up near the Portuguese capital and spent much of his childhood at his uncle's stud farm.
From an early age, Ventura was fascinated by horses. His childhood dream was to become a great bullfighter At the age of six, Ventura presented a Lusitano stallion at a breeding event for the first time.
Childhood at the barn
Boaventura Freire, also known as Ventura, was born in Lisbon in 1988. He grew up near the Portuguese capital and spent much of his childhood at his uncle's stud farm.
From an early age, Ventura was fascinated by horses. His childhood dream was to become a great bullfighter At the age of six, Ventura presented a Lusitano stallion at a breeding event for the first time.
The foundation for his dressage career was laid in the year 2000 at a trotting competition. At the award ceremony, Ventura met the dressage rider Nuno Palma e Santos, when handed him the trophy for winning the extended trot event. Nuno recognized the twelve-year old’s talent and inspired Ventura to take up dressage.
In the following years, they trained together and collected numerous prizes at competitions. Ventura, with his stallion Rivero, was part of the Portuguese team at the European Junior Championships in 2003.
When Nuno Palma e Santos moved to Germany with his horses in 2004, Ventura followed him. The tradition of equestrian sports and the professional training facilities in Germany offered him optimal conditions a career as a dressage rider. So at the tender age of 16 Ventura decided to stay in northern Germany, where he began his apprenticeship as a horse trainer.
The foundation for his dressage career was laid in the year 2000 at a trotting competition. At the award ceremony, Ventura met the dressage rider Nuno Palma e Santos, when handed him the trophy for winning the extended trot event. Nuno recognized the twelve-year old’s talent and inspired Ventura to take up dressage.
In the following years, they trained together and collected numerous prizes at competitions. Ventura, with his stallion Rivero, was part of the Portuguese team at the European Junior Championships in 2003.
When Nuno Palma e Santos moved to Germany with his horses in 2004, Ventura followed him. The tradition of equestrian sports and the professional training facilities in Germany offered him optimal conditions a career as a dressage rider. So at the tender age of 16 Ventura decided to stay in northern Germany, where he began his apprenticeship as a horse trainer.
The foundation for his dressage career was laid in the year 2000 at a trotting competition. At the award ceremony, Ventura met the dressage rider Nuno Palma e Santos, when handed him the trophy for winning the extended trot event. Nuno recognized the twelve-year old’s talent and inspired Ventura to take up dressage.
In the following years, they trained together and collected numerous prizes at competitions. Ventura, with his stallion Rivero, was part of the Portuguese team at the European Junior Championships in 2003.
When Nuno Palma e Santos moved to Germany with his horses in 2004, Ventura followed him. The tradition of equestrian sports and the professional training facilities in Germany offered him optimal conditions a career as a dressage rider. So at the tender age of 16 Ventura decided to stay in northern Germany, where he began his apprenticeship as a horse trainer.
Instrucitve years with Dolf Keller
His greatest joint success with his horse was winning the bronze medal at the World Cup Final in 2007 and the bronze medal at the European Championships in 2008.
At the age of 20, Ventura was awarded the German “Golden Riding Badge”. In the same year, he received an offer to work as lead rider at the “Wintermühle” equestrian center. From 2008 to 2011, as a young dressage rider, he was responsible for training and showing horses up Grand Prix level.
The following years, Ventura trained his own horses together with Johann Zagers. There he learned a lot about training and movement theory. This in-depth knowledge of the anatomy of horse and rider still characterizes his training today.
Back home - In 2012, Ventura moved back to Portugal to be with his family. For the next two years he was
responsible for training the horses at Dressage Plus. The primary focus was on the training of the young stallions and their presentation at tournaments. Ventura won the Portuguese Championships for 5- and 6-year-old dressage horses in 2013 and 2014 with horses that he presented at Grand Prix level a few years later.
This link provides a few impressions of his time in Portugal.
Despite the sunny weather in Portugal, Ventura decided to go back to northern Germany in 2014.
In cooperation with his long-time trainer, Dolf-Dietram Keller, he trained his eight young horses at the Luhmühlen training center from then on.
In the following years, Ventura collected numerous national and international victories with different horses. With his championship horse "Sai Baba Plus”, he was part of the Portuguese team at the European Championships in Gothenburg in 2017.
Instructive years with riding master Dolf Keller
From 2004 to 2008, Ventura trained together with the riding master Dolf Dietram Keller at Klosterhof Medingen. During these years as a young rider, he was an integral part of the Portuguese team with his horse "Peralta Pinha".
His greatest joint success with his horse was winning the bronze medal at the World Cup Final in 2007 and the bronze medal at the European Championships in 2008.
At the age of 20, Ventura was awarded the German “Golden Riding Badge”. In the same year, he received an offer to work as lead rider at the “Wintermühle” equestrian center. From 2008 to 2011, as a young dressage rider, he was responsible for training and showing horses up Grand Prix level.
The following years, Ventura trained his own horses together with Johann Zagers. There he learned a lot about training and movement theory. This in-depth knowledge of the anatomy of horse and rider still characterizes his training today.
Instrucitve years with the riding master Dolf-Dietram Keller
From 2004 to 2008, Ventura trained together with the riding master Dolf Dietram Keller at Klosterhof Medingen. During these years as a young rider, he was an integral part of the Portuguese team with his horse "Peralta Pinha".
His greatest joint success with his horse was winning the bronze medal at the World Cup Final in 2007 and the bronze medal at the European Championships in 2008.
At the age of 20, Ventura was awarded the German “Golden Riding Badge”. In the same year, he received an offer to work as lead rider at the “Wintermühle” equestrian center. From 2008 to 2011, as a young dressage rider, he was responsible for training and showing horses up Grand Prix level.
The following years, Ventura trained his own horses together with Johann Zagers. There he learned a lot about training and movement theory. This in-depth knowledge of the anatomy of horse and rider still characterizes his training today.
Back home - In 2012, Ventura moved back to Portugal to be with his family. For the next two years he was
responsible for training the horses at Dressage Plus. The primary focus was on the training of the young stallions and their presentation at tournaments. Ventura won the Portuguese Championships for 5- and 6-year-old dressage horses in 2013 and 2014 with horses that he presented at Grand Prix level a few years later.
This link provides a few impressions of his time in Portugal.
Despite the sunny weather in Portugal, Ventura decided to go back to northern Germany in 2014.
In cooperation with his long-time trainer, Dolf-Dietram Keller, he trained his eight young horses at the Luhmühlen training center from then on.
In the following years, Ventura collected numerous national and international victories with different horses. With his championship horse "Sai Baba Plus”, he was part of the Portuguese team at the European Championships in Gothenburg in 2017.
Back home - In 2012, Ventura moved back to Portugal to be with his family. For the next two years he was
responsible for training the horses at Dressage Plus. The primary focus was on the training of the young stallions and their presentation at tournaments. Ventura won the Portuguese Championships for 5- and 6-year-old dressage horses in 2013 and 2014 with horses that he presented at Grand Prix level a few years later.
This link provides a few impressions of his time in Portugal.
Despite the sunny weather in Portugal, Ventura decided to go back to northern Germany in 2014.
In cooperation with his long-time trainer, Dolf-Dietram Keller, he trained his eight young horses at the Luhmühlen training center from then on.
In the following years, Ventura collected numerous national and international victories with different horses. With his championship horse "Sai Baba Plus”, he was part of the Portuguese team at the European Championships in Gothenburg in 2017.
The own stable area
Ventura's focus is on training dressage horses for Grand Prix sport and showing them at competitions.
He relies on his long-term partner who has been responsible for the care and welfare of Ventura's horses for over 10 years.
In addition to training his horses, Ventura is a sought-after dressage trainer in the Hamburg and Hanover region. In addition to teaching many successful dressage students up to the advanced level, he is increasingly establishing himself as a trainer for eventers. Two of his riding students competed at the 2022 FEI World Championships in Pratoni.
The own stable area
Ventura's focus is on training dressage horses for Grand Prix sport and showing them at competitions.
He relies on his long-term partner who has been responsible for the care and welfare of Ventura's horses for over 10 years.
In addition to training his horses, Ventura is a sought-after dressage trainer in the Hamburg and Hanover region. In addition to teaching many successful dressage students up to the advanced level, he is increasingly establishing himself as a trainer for eventers. Two of his riding students competed at the 2022 FEI World Championships in Pratoni.
The own stable area
Ventura's focus is on training dressage horses for Grand Prix sport and showing them at competitions.
He relies on his long-term partner who has been responsible for the care and welfare of Ventura's horses for over 10 years.
If you would like to know more about Ventura's work with horses and his philosophy, click here.
"If you keep improving yourself, your horse is getting better independent of its age."
In addition to training his horses, Ventura is a sought-after dressage trainer in the Hamburg and Hanover region. In addition to teaching many successful dressage students up to the advanced level, he is increasingly establishing himself as a trainer for eventers. Two of his riding students competed at the 2022 FEI World Championships in Pratoni.
If you would like to know more about Ventura's work with horses and his philosophy, click here.
"If you keep improving, your horse is getting better independent of its age. "