Portuguese Team Rider Joao Moreira to Spend Winters in Portugal

Dressage

Portugal

After thirteen years being based in Germany year round, Portuguese Grand Prix team rider Joao Pedro Moreira has decided to relocate to his home country Portugal for winters.

The 41-year old Joao and his wife Marta are making the move right now.

Portuguese Team Rider

After pursuing academic studies in Chinese medicine and acupuncture, Joao decided to build a career in dressage sport. With his wife Marta, a English language and literature major, he moved to Germany in 2013. They are currently based with their business at Stable Löffeld in Lienen.

Moreira first became member of the Portuguese Grand Prix team in 2022 when he rode the then 8-year old Zonik Hit (by Zonik x Diamond Hit) at the World Championships in Herning, where they were the best scoring Portuguese pair by placing 28th in the Special with 70.942%. A year later the pair headed to the 2023 Europeans in Riesenbeck, where they were again Portugal's best finishing 18th in the Kur. He sold his horse shortly afterwards to German Lisa Müller.

With his upcoming talent Drosa Furst Kennedy he is nominated on the Portuguese team for the 2024 Olympic Games, but had to withdraw from competing in Paris when his stallion colicked. The horse recovered and the duo returned to compete at the 2025 Europeans in Crozet (16th in the Kur) and 2026 World Championships in Aachen (34th in the Grand Prix).

Winters in Portugal

For the first time in thirteen year, the Moreiras have decided to spend the winter with their horses in Portugal.

"Our main sponsor Roberto Pedrosa is building a top new stable for us to manage where we will continue to be focused on building horses for top sport," Joao told Eurodressage. "Obviously winters in Portugal are mild and our horses will enjoy more time outside, which is important for us. Then we come up to Germany during the main season for Championship qualifications."

Brazilian Roberto Pedrosa owns Haras do Drosa in Itu, Brazil, but also a Portuguese branch, Monte do Drosa, 30 minutes from Lisbon airport.