GUESTS
IN OPEN AIR
Being it
lack of time, lack of space or even due to professional obligations,
horse owners don't always have the best conditions to keep their
four legged friends. Even at holiday time it is not easy to
find someone to look after them at a day-to-day basis. Close
to Odemira, by the alentejo coast, there is a farm which has
the answer to the problem.
About a year ago, José Francisco and his wife created
a "boarding" service. They have the space - something
like 30 hectares of land - well irrigated fields and a passion
for horses. With excellent water supply, unlike other areas
in the Alentejo, they have achieved great success at the Quinta
de Samouqueiro Taliscas, S. Teotónio.
They are now busy increasing the number of stables. Within the
next two years, the farm will have condition to take 30 animals,
also at holiday times. At the moment majority of the "guests"
are foals, and also horses who had to move due to the recent
fires.
José Francisco explains, "the animals goes in and
out of the stables as they wish, and spend most of their time
in open air". Thanks to a system which intensifies the
irrigation when needed, they always have lots of food, including
mixed grass.
The farms welcome animals from nine month of age. The foals
are very curious and adapt very easily. The ones already there
react as they were saying: "Who is this one here?",
says José Francisco, explaining that the residents wants
to get to know the new client. With the older one, the process
of socializing is different, "you can't suddenly mix older
horses", you must first analyze their behaviors, because
even if there is no female around, there is tendency for fights.
Jornal
de Notícias - Isabel Peixoto - 2nd September 2003
