Imagine a place where :
This place exists and is only a one-and-half-hour scenic drive from Rio de Janeiro.
The Fazenda Desempenho is an equestrian center in Cachoeiras de Macacu (RJ), founded in 1990 by Bjarke and Mara Rink. The farm is home to a Riding School, an Atlantic Rainforest Reserve and iHOCA - Instituto Homo Caballus, an institute for equestrian studies and environmental action.
The school offers, year round riding lessons, courses and clinics for children and adults, beginners and advanced riders. We are affiliated to FEERJ (Rio de Janeiro Equestrian Federation) and our team participates in dressage and showjumping competitions at state level.
Our traditional Horse and Adventure Holiday Camp attracts children and adolescents from the whole of Brazil and also internationally, who enjoy the experience of the being with horses in nature.
Riding at the Desempenho School is different than a traditional riding school, as our pupils have the opportunity of relating to horses in the natural environment the whole day. The contact with the animals is not limited to the theoretical and practical lessons. At Desempenho you can venture out into the fields, the mountains, the forest and the dirt roads.
The lessons for adults, even beginners, include learning about the science of how human and equine nerves, muscles and mind interact during riding. When you experience how your senses align with the horse senses and vice-versa and learn how to control and adjust the horses movements, your equestrian journey is upgraded.
