Ana Teresa Pires on a Journey "From Promise to Performance" with Own Training Business

Sales and Training

German based Portuguese professional dressage rider Ana Teresa Pires has made the leap to independence after riding for trainers, breeders, and stallion owners for the past 12 years. Pires is building her own business at the quiet, private family-owned yard, Zuchtstall Schäfers, in Ense-Sieveringen, Germany.

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Honing Her Skills in Germany

The 32-year old Pires arrived in Germany in 2013 in her quest to become an experienced and skilled dressage rider.

She first gained mileage at the big yards such as Schockemöhle and Hof Kasselmann before honing her skills with dressage breeders and horse dealers Stephan Borgmann and Fabian Scholz.

"Every step of the way, I got to know people that taught me their ways, techniques and perspectives," Pires explained. "I had the pleasure of training with Oliver Oelrich, Joao Moreira, and I am currently working with Christian Wendel on a regular basis."

Over the past decade Ana has competed up to national Grand Prix level and ridden at CDI's in the young horses classes, including the 2021 and 2022 World Young Horse Championships in Verden and Ermelo. As of 2018 she qualified horses for the Bundeschampionate every single year and in 2019 she became Westfalian Regional Champion.

A Full Toolbox

With a toolbox full of expertise and experience, Ana began building her own network and business. Since October 2025 she has been working out of the family-owned stable Schäfers in Ense-Sieveringen (GER);

"Ever since I first moved to Germany, there was this clear vision in my mind that one day. I wanted to be independent, on my own, teach students and train horses the way I think it should be done," she said. "With the capability and style of the rider in mind, and focused on the character, capabilities and preferences of the horse."

With Van Damme at the 2021 WCYH in Verden

In the last few years she began collaborating with a select number of private clients.

"The results began to show, the horses and their owners were happy," Ana smiled. "Soon it grew and now, starting January 2026, I will venture out fully independent. It is exciting and I look forward to it very much. Coinciding with the move of my family to a new city in Soest I now have the chance to accept new clients and grow my business."

Ana has found her home at Zuchtstall Schäfers, where she connects deeply with the owners and notices clients are happy.

"The stable offers big single boxes with windows, two indoor arenas in two different sizes, two big outdoor arenas, one jumping, one dressage. There is lunging ring, a walker, various paddocks and fields close to the stables, a solarium, washing bay," said a thrilled Pires, listing everything a professional needs. "The horses get fed multiple times a day with hay, grains, and mash."

"From Promise to Performance"

Ana offers all options for training horses from green to Grand Prix.

With Fogel vom Lauf at the 2022 WCYH in Ermelo

"I offer the daily dressage training, preparation for competitions, presentations of stallions and mares at performance tests, as well as horse sales, always making sure that their needs are met," she said. "I like to call my philosophy "the journey from promise to performance". For me, it is important to get the best performance out of my horses, while knowing that it takes time for them to build up their bodies and minds to high end competition level."

Ana believes that each training session should end on a high note, a positive experience for the horse. She stated, "it's progress through patience, while enjoying the process."

When asked what her goals are as a professional, Pires replied that she aims to be "a little bit better each day."

"That is why I also surround myself with a team of peers, who are also professional dressage riders, as well as coaches and I get regular training sessions," she said. "My goals for the horses also depend on the goals of their owners: I feel blessed to have the trust of some clients who have a long-term vision for their horses and enjoy seeing their horses compete and patiently improve their skills."

Ana is also in tune with market requirements but keeps the welfare of the horse in the nr 1 spot.

"There are other clients who prefer a more time-sensitive approach in which a potential sale is the priority. Of course, both clients and their horses need different approaches on solving their individual problems," she said. "I am happy to be a part on their journeys and help both, clients and horses, to get to the next level."

Discover Ana Pires Dressage on Instagram