Miguel de Lancastre e Tavora started riding with Nuno Oliveira at eight years of age. He rode with Nuno until he was 18 years old, at which time he attended the Military Academy. In his military career, he completed the Course of Instructors and later the Course of Masters at the Portuguese Military Riding Academy of Mafra (CMEFED) and competed in eventing, show jumping and dressage. He was later appointed as the Director de Ensino de Equita��o, (Chief Instructor and the Director of Equestrian Teaching) of the Mafra School. On retiring from the army, Nuno Oliveira arranged for Miguel to migrate to Australia, where with his wife Dianne they run their own equestrian center (M & D Tavora School of Equitation). He trained numerous horses himself, and horses and riders in Australia and in the USA to FEI level-many competing at Grand Prix Level-and conducts regular clinics in Australia, the USA, and Portugal. His 'bible' was The Gymnasium of the Horse by the German master, Steinbrecht. While he revels in the artistic dimension of dressage, he is equally intent on producing competitive riders at the highest level, using the classical principles-and his pupils have shown that correct training can also be winning training. Miguel wrote equestrian articles for The Horse magazine in Australia, and the Portuguese magazine Equita��o. He published his first Equestrian book, Conceitos Equestres, in his home country, Portugal. Journalist and editor of The Horse Magazine, since 1984. Mr. Hector is a regular contributor to Breeding News Author of: "From Gothard to Garibaldi - the making of the Modern Warmblood" (2008)
Chris Hector speaks of his lessons with Miguel Tavora (quoted from his introduction): "This is a work book, a blueprint for the serious rider. After the training sessions I had with Miguel-when I was back home riding, I suddenly had a whole new vocabulary of school movements, of techniques to apply. "Just as every training session with Miguel developed gently, logically, each step, each exercise building on the last, so too this work. I know of no other book in the English language that provides such sophisticated and detailed prescriptions for horse and rider as they move to the ultimate goal: collection, and horse and rider as one. "So much of the 'dressage' we see in the competition ring is distressing to watch. Riders leaning back, rudely, crudely pushing their horses into hard and unyielding hands. Is it any wonder that their horses go hollow, shorten behind, and wave their front legs in an extravagant manner that fools only the ignorant? Sadly, this group includes a number of five-star international judges. "What I find so puzzling is that this style of training not only produces such a sorry result, but it is so taxing on both horse and rider. The rider must ride the whole time in a state of tension, to balance the tension he has provoked in the horse. It is oh-so-different when I watch Miguel work with one of his talented pupils. Here the rider is relaxed and soft and the horse willingly gives his back. As the exercises progress, the horse and rider move into a balance that is as beautiful as it is functional. "Do yourself and your horse a favour. Study this book. Use it as your day-to-day guide. I promise it will reward you and your horse many times over."
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