Welcome to Bonanza the land, where the beauty of Portugal’s coastline meets the freedom of horseback riding. Nestled between the stunning Ria de Aveiro Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean, our little paradise offers unforgettable riding experiences through sandy beaches, endless forests and rolling dunes.
This journey started in 2021 as a dream of Carine, a Dutch woman living in Portugal for over 8 years, she always wanted to create a place where people can connect with nature in a meaningful way. This place had to be near the sea, cause she loves to surf. Ricardo, her partner, a surfer, passionate for sailing, artist and carpenter, has been by her side, helping turn this dream into reality. Together, they built everything from the ground up. When they arrived, there was nothing here—no stables, no facilities, just untouched land. With dedication and love, they are creating a space where people can be in peace, enjoy nature, relax and enjoy the tranquility of this land.
A key part of our story is Virginie, now a dear friend who grew up in this region. She looked after the land for some time when both Ricardo and Carine where not around. She never left and became a guardian of Bonanza the land. Through her father, who have been breeding horses for over 40 years, we received our first horses. Along the way our herd has changed and currently exists of five mares, one gelding and a pony.
Virginie is an experienced practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine and also offers somatic therapy for stress and trauma release (TRE). Her therapies as well as her therapeutic and relaxation massage will help you to restore balance and well-being.
In addition to guiding rides, Carine also offer horse therapy sessions. Horses have an incredible ability to heal, and these sessions are designed to help individuals find peace, confidence, and connection through their interactions with these gentle animals.
We’ve had help of multiple volunteers, friends, family and different professionals on our land and we are always improving. In the meantime we’ve had over 40 nationalities visiting our land, we’ve had 13 different horses living on our land, 5 different dogs and 3 cats.
Whether you seek adventure, relaxation, or a deeper connection with horses, we welcome you to join us. Breathe in the fresh ocean air, feel the rhythm of your horse, and discover Portugal in a way like no other.
Bonanza the land 