SONS OF THE WIND, LLC
LOXAHATCHEE, FLORIDA

Vitor Silva, a native of Portugal, began his equestrian education at a very young age. Quickly he realized his passion for Classical Dressage. Intuitively he knew that in order to achieve function with lightness and harmony on the ground or under saddle, there needed to be complete understanding between horse and rider. His studies, combined with his great passion for the horse helped him develop a remarkable ability and finesse in communicating with his equine partners with the aim of becoming living art in motion. Vitor’s training and teaching is grounded in his philosophy, the best teachers are the horses. Whether from in-hand work, under saddle or on long-lines, Vitor teaches his students that while masters or trainers can share their knowledge and explain the technical aspects of riding, each rider must open themselves to feel the horse’s movements, responses and needs. Vitor strives to develop an intuitive feeling in his students so that harmony between horse and rider can be achieved. Encouraged by his father, family friends, and Master Frank Grelo, and combined with many years of diligently pursuing his passion, Vitor has established himself as an internationally known Master. Recognizing the need for a European Classical Dressage riding school in the United States, Vitor established his first Sons of the Wind School of Equestrian Arts in 1997 in New Hampshire. Due to the increasing number of students and the demand for more services, a much larger farm with more amenities for horse and rider is now located in the rolling hills of Merrimac, MA. In this serene and beautiful four season setting, he provides a European Classical Dressage educational experience for his students. Group lessons and individual instruction is offered for riders from beginning to the highest level of dressage, including recreational to competitive and amateur to professional. The internationally recognized Sons of the Wind School of Equestrian Arts provides every rider a venue in which to expand their abilities in a progressive manner on equine schoolmasters, many of which perform to the Grand Prix level. The Sons of the Wind Farm is the only farm in the US where there are a large number of classically trained horses available for riders and student lessons. Vitor has also established and manages a training and breeding center in Brazil for Lusitanos. There he assesses the talent of the young horses, working with them until they’re around 3 years old. He then carefully selects approximately the top 30% who are ready to be brought over to the United States to be trained as schoolmasters for his clinics and performances, his students lesson’s or sold to serious riders. Vitor’s performances are a truly unique experience of the horse and rider seen in authentic European costume. It is a step back in time where spectators can enjoy a spectacular performance highlighting the most moving and beautiful impressions of Classical Dressage performed by master riders and horses from the Sons of the Wind Farm. Using Vitor’s personally trained and talented Lusitano horses, considered the “Horse of Kings”, riders perform a beautiful dressage test in sync with music and symphonic like movements. Performances include spectacular Aires Above the Ground, the precision of the Upper Level Quadrille and the elegance of the dance with Groundwork on Long Lines. Along with enlightening demonstrations, many performances include a forum for lectures and an opportunity to participate in individualized private lessons with Vitor and your own horse. Vitor’s clinics provide riders and trainers with valuable insight and knowledge in many of the basics of classical dressage training that they can start applying at home. The forums and clinics provide high educational value with varied, important topics that include developing the strength of your performance horse through the Pendulum of Elasticity, how simple exercises such as leg yield lead can lead to pirouettes and changes, and the importance of strength training. Other topics may focus on long-lining, lateral work, and tempi changes, as well as how and why to introduce the piaffe /passage progression early in a horses training. These clinics will provide invaluable information that will assist horse and rider as they progress and expand their dressage knowledge. In addition to his numerous performances and clinics, Vitor has been a frequent speaker at many conferences that include the NorthEast Horseman Conference. He generously gives his time to perform at fundraisers that include the Ride for Life Breast Cancer Fundraiser, the fundraiser for HorseSense for Special Riders in La Crosse, WI, and several therapeutic riding programs including Windrush, North Andover, MA. Organized by Portuguese Consult and Sons of the Wind Farm, he has hosted the Boston Portuguese Festival at farm in Merrimac for several years. He has been featured in Dressage Today and many other local and national publications. Vitor has been honored as a Citizen of Distinction in 2011 by his home town, Lages, Terceira, Azores and many times by the ABPSL (Brazilian Lusitano Association). Sons of the Wind Farm - School of Equestrian Arts Sons of the Wind The over 400-year-old traditions of the European Dressage Masters are honored with perfection at Sons of the Wind through training and riding. The mystical and magical movements by horses that were presented to royalty and families of aristocrats centuries ago still endure today at our farm. Our magnificent Lusitanos move in a “Royal” like fashion for all the present day “kings” and “aristocrats” (our clients and students) who visit and train at our farm. In addition to all who have an appreciation for tradition, style and grace. Vitor Silva, a native of Portugal and a master trainer, has both preserved and enriched the centuries old dressage traditions here in America. The Sons of the Wind Experience The Sons of the Wind School of Equestrian Arts offers a diverse selection of European classical dressage experiences for riders of any level through correct demonstration, personalized instruction and progressive practice sessions conducted by Master Vitor Silva. Whether you have not yet been introduced to classical riding or you are seeking an intensive refinement program, the staff at Sons of the Wind Farm provides students, from amateur enthusiasts to instructors and competitive riders of diverse disciplines, the opportunity to discover the functionality of classical training.