FEI/USEF Gold Medal Dressage Trainer in Los Angeles

What we can do together

Carlos Santos is renowned for his ability to cultivate horse-and-rider partnerships from their foundational stages to FEI Grand Prix. With a distinguished record of success across multiple regional and national championships - whether aboard himself or coaching clients - results speak volumes. From Warmbloods to Iberian breeds, his expertise transcends breed, delivering elegant, competitive combinations time and again.

About Carlos

Riding since the age of 13, Carlos’s lifelong passion for horses began in his native Portugal, where he trained in classical dressage from an early age and explored a variety of disciplines, including endurance and horse racing across Europe.

After relocating to Southern California to start his family, he began his training business working with horses and students on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Carlos’s famous work ethic and dedication to the precision, discipline, and essence of dressage has brought him to over 100+ shows since the inception of his competitive career in 2008.

Carlos has had the privilege of working with world-class trainers such as Severo Jurado Lopez, João Moreira, Debbie McDonald, and Denis Callin—further refining his technique and deepening his approach to high-performance dressage. Today, he specializes in developing talented young horses and coaching ambitious riders who are committed to reaching the upper levels of the sport.

Our services

  • Coaching

  • Training

  • Competition

  • Sales

Providing a Productive Environment

Providing a top-tier environment that is truly conducive to developing high-performance athletes should always be a top priority for discerning horse owners. We are proud and grateful to offer precisely that - a setting where excellence is cultivated, and potential is brought to life. CSD amenities offer:

— 20m x 60m Footing Solutions HIT Active Aqua arena complete with FSGeoTEX Premium footing and Dressage Diamond Mirrors on a short side
— Spacious Footing Solutions turnout
— 15’ x15’ Equine Mattress stalls with attached 15’x15’ paddocks

 

Further Options

While based in the heart of the prestigious Palos Verdes Peninsula, CSD’s program also offers comprehensive off-site training and remote coaching options for serious, goal-oriented clients. Through platforms like PIVO and Pixem, we’re able to extend the same quality of instruction and attention to detail beyond our home base.

Whether you’re developing a young prospect or striving toward FEI-level performance, Carlos provides a program grounded in classical fundamentals, refined through modern techniques, and tailored to meet the unique goals of each horse-and-rider partnership.