Rising with Grace: Maria Culsán and Bernat Barrachina of Lusitanos La Donaira

Sales and Training

In recent months, Spaniard Bernat Barrachina Vaquer has stepped into the spotlight with compelling performances, most notably winning the 6-year old class in the Masters division at the Spanish Championships and then taking victory in the 6-Yo Finals Test at CDI Jardy aboard the luminous young stallion Elvis. But accolades are not the fuel here. “Horses are my best teachers,” Bernat often says. “Every day, they teach you patience and trust.”

A Partnership Forged in Patience and Passion

His partner Maria Culsan Perez echoes this approach. From her childhood in Jersey and her formative years at the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, to time spent managing stables in Santander and as a rider in Abu Dhabi and Switzerland; she’s never strayed far from her belief that understanding the horse comes first, always.

Today, the pair split their time between Sotogrande, where their main training base is located, and the untamed sanctuary of La Donaira; home to one of Europe’s most exceptional Lusitano breeding programmes and most distinguished hotels.

La Donaira: Horses Raised by Nature

Nestled amid the olive groves and peaks of southern Spain, La Donaira is not your average hotel and Lusitano breeding center. It's a biodynamic eco-retreat known for its world-class Lusitanos; free-roaming and ethically trained through natural horsemanship with the foals on the ground.

Maria and Bernat serve as both riders and stable managers, guiding these intelligent, emotionally aware horses from early groundwork to elite sport performance.

Their approach is subtle and deeply respectful. “The journey to the top is important,” they agree, “but more important is that each horse enjoys the journey with us.”

Building a Reputation as International Sellers

Beyond their success in the arena, Maria and Bernat are fast becoming key figures in the international Lusitano market, with horses regularly sold to discerning buyers in Europe and the United States. Their reputation for producing young horses that are rideable, trainable, and mentally mature has made them particularly appealing to U.S.-based amateur and professional riders alike.

“In the U.S, there’s a growing appetite for horses that offer safety and sensitivity in equal measure,” says Maria. “The Lusitano is perfect for that balance.”

From Californian dressage stables to New England farms, La Donaira horses are now competing, teaching, and inspiring across the Atlantic.

Why the Lusitano Is Winning in Sport

Maria Culsan on Dario CR at the 2024
CDI Alter do Chao (Photo Alemeda Renes)

Long respected for their classical roots, Lusitanos have long been proving they belong in the contemporary dressage world. With natural collection, uphill movement, and deep intelligence, these horses bring a different kind of power to FEI-level competition; one rooted in harmony, not brute force.

Bernat explains, “They might not always be the flashiest movers in the warm up, but when they go down the centreline, they focus, they deliver, and they try for you every step of the way.”

It’s that loyalty, combined with athleticism and resilience, that’s fueling the Lusitano’s global resurgence in recent years.

The Eye for a Dressage Horse

What do they look for in a potential champion? Not just movement, but mind. An uphill frame, strong back, expressive yet calm demeanour, and that signature Lusitano elasticity. In Bernat’s words, “We evaluate both the conformation and the soul. A dressage horse must be willing to meet you halfway.”

This understanding is hard won. For Maria, it came from Cajou, a gift from her father and her first true partner at a national championship. For Bernat, it came from Jaleo das Figueras, a gifted stallion who was tragically sidelined by laminitis, but whose character and talent remains in his eight offspring.

Behind the Scenes

Their days begin at 7:30 a.m. and stretch long into the Andalusian heat, split between training their own mounts and mentoring a younger team of riders at La Donaira. Their support crew: grooms, farriers, vets are an extension of their ethos: dressage, done right, is never done alone.

Bernat and Maria at La Doneira, a Relais & Chateux listed estate

When not competing or teaching, the pair stay open to learning. Currently training with Olympic level trainers, they draw daily inspiration from other riders at shows and clinics. “We’re always observing,” says Maria. “The best lessons are often the unspoken ones.”

Looking Ahead

Together, Maria and Bernat represent a powerful rising archetype in the dressage world: grounded, ethical, and quietly ambitious. With Elvis being selected for the 2025 World Championships for young dressage horses in Verden and a stable full of La Donaira bred stars in development, and a community growing around their vision, their story is far from peaking.

And yet, they remain as humble as ever.

“Dressage isn’t about control,” says Bernat. “It’s about conversation. And we’re just getting better at listening.”

Discover Lusitanos La Donaira at www.ladonaira.com and on Instagram

-- press release by EMA Collective