Coudelaria Veiga

The most traditional of all Lusitano breeders in the world, Coudelaria Veiga (MV) was founded 180 years ago by Rafael José da Cunha on its present location, Quinta da Broa, in Golegã. Breeding started with two Alter Real (Royal Stud of Alter) stallions offered by the Portuguese kings, D. Fernando II and his son and successor D. Pedro V. By inheritance, Coudelaria Veiga was since then transferred successively, first to Rafael’s nephew Manuel Tavares Veiga; from him to his grandsons Manuel and Carlos Tavares Veiga, and then to his great-grandson Manuel de Castro Tavares Veiga. The Veiga lineage is one of only four basic bloodlines recognized by the Lusitano Stud Book, being considered as the purest of them all. The Veiga horse can be considered as the Pegasus improver of the Lusitano breed and, for this reason it is difficult to find a Lusitano pedigree without the presence of a Veiga ancestor.