Hercules D'Atela Receives 4* Recommendation from Portuguese Lusitano Studbook

Breeding

Lusitano

The Portuguese Lusitano Studbook (PSL) has bestowed the Brazilian owned, licensed breeding stallion Hercules d'Atela with the 4* Recommendation.

Owned by Vila de Sagres Hercules d'Atela is an 8-year old Portuguese bred Lusitano by Soberano out Vaqueja d'Atela.

Success from the Start

Bred by Francisco Bessa de Carvalho of Coudelaria Lusitanos d'Atela in Portugal, the grey stallion has stood out from the start in sport and at breed shows.

At breed shows Hercules impressed the judges with his flawless conformation and gaits. He was a champion and gold medal winner in his age group at the 2015 and 2016 International Lusitano Festival. In 2016 he won the title and gold medal at the 2016 European Lusitano Breeding Championships held in Germany

At these European Championships, Vila de Sagres knew for sure that they wanted to purchase Hercules as their flagship stallion for the breeding programme and sport in Europe and the Americas.

Brasil and Hercules d'Atela Aim for Paris

The stallion was based in Brazil, where he did his first breeding at Vila de Sagres. There the stallion got matched to Roberto Brasil as his rider and trainer.

Brasil and Hercules made their medium tour debut at national level in Portugal in the autumn of 2020. This year Roberto hopes to introduce him to the Grand Prix, although Covid-19 makes any planning uncertain.

"When the situation allows it, my plan is to the medium tour level at CDI's first and then maybe later in the year Grand Prix," Brasil explained. "I don't want to push him any harder than what he gives. It's not the year for that. Our goal is for sure, the 2024 Paris Olympics. We are still three years away. We have time and I want to save the horse as much as I can, so that when he's 100% ready we can go to the big competitions and maybe, hopefully, get on the team."

**4* Recommendation**

The 4* Recommendation from the Lusitano Studbook is an award given only to those stallions who have made themselves stand out.

The 4* recommendation is a functionality distinction for stallions who have made their mark either at breed shows (for model and gaits) and/or in sport (either in bullfighting, driving, jumping, dressage, or equestrian art). Hercules d’Atela received the distinction for Model & Gaits.

"For Vila de Sagres this is a very important step as this was the first stallion they invested in and have high hopes for in the future," said Roberto. "Vila de Sagres started its breeding project just six years ago and this is an important achievement to have already a recommended stallion in the programme. We are very proud of this."

The recommendation is first step towards the highest decoration given to Lusitano stallions: "5* Merit". This title is only received by older stallions that have had an outstanding sport career as well as progeny proving themselves in sport at upper level. Their sons need to be 4* recommended, the daughters named elite mare.

Peaceful Minds, Great Movers, Colour

Hercules' first crop of offspring is turning three in 2021.

"The first offspring are now getting under saddle and we are eagerly looking forward to their development," said Brasil. "We have 39 offspring by him here at the yards in Portugal and Brasil and have of course been handling the babies and doing some work in hand with the young ones. What strikes us is that they are very peaceful and easy to work with. They don't get hot. It really looks like Hercules passes his amazing character on to them. Most of them are really good movers."

Hercules is a beautiful grey Lusitano stallion, but his coat is not automatically inherited by his offspring.

"Although he is a grey stallion, he passes on a lot of colour," Roberto confirmed "Only two of the 39 offspring we have turned out grey. In addition, Hercules himself is not the tallest, standing at 167 cm, but he gives a lot of size to his offspring."

Discover Vila de Sagres at www.viladesagres.com.br or on Instagram
Tune in with rider Roberto Brasil on Facebook and Instagram.