Carlos Santos was born and raised in the heartland of Lusitanos: Santarem, Portugal.  As a young adult, he worked in prestigious barns in Portugal, including the elite Quinta da Marinha, owned by Baron Bodo Von Bruemmer. With his talent, an American agent offered Carlos the opportunity to come ride in the big racetracks in America. 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

In his racing days, he worked with many great horses and trainers like Bobby Frankel. Eventually, he returned to his primary passion, classical horse dressage at Palos Verdes, California. For the last fifteen years, Carlos has successfully trained horses and clients to the FEI levels of this discipline. As well, has shown from the state, regional, national and CDI levels.   

 

Carlos has attended several clinics with top trainers/riders such as Steffen Peters, Juan Matute, Debbie McDonald, Dennis Callin, and many more. He trained with Olympian and United States Equestrian Federation Young Horse Equipe Chef, Christine Traurig, and Pan American USA Team Member, Sabine Schut-Kery. Fortunate as well to be currently training with Europe's top horse dressage rider, Severo Jurado Lopez, and former Helgstrand rider, Joao Moreira.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

Carlos's main mission is to help any horse and rider from any background, breed, or level to find harmony and balance. 

He has a way to teach students and their horse partners in having a better connection and feel in their rides. It is his personal goal to help every client and their horse reach full potential regardless of breed: he has coached a couple of his clients with their "non- warmblood" horses winning in southern California's show circuit, California Dressage Society Championships, USDF Regionals.

​

​

 

(Check out our news section to see Carlos and his students' accomplishments.) 

​

 

 

Awards & Highlights 

2019

Del Mar National Developing Prix St. George Qualifier *Winner* 

Del Mar National CDI *1 Prix St. George (First Debut PSG)- 66%

Flintridge Dressage Affaire Third Level Test 3 - 69%

Los Angeles Chapter Third Level Test 3- 72.50%

Los Angeles Chapter Prix St George - 71.618

Great American/USDF Open Third Level Region 7 - 3rd Place - 70. 938%

California Dressage Society Horse of the Year Prix St George - 7th 

California Dressage Society Championships (Young Horse Futurity) 5th - 70%

USDF/Adequan Breed Award North America-KWPN/ Third Level Open - 4th Nationally 

2018

Adequan West Coast Dressage Festival Third Level (National Class) 2nd Place

CDI *1 International FEI Prix St. George 13th Place

Temecula Dressage Summer Classic - *Winner* FEI 5-Year-Old Qualifier - 8.1

USDF/Adequan Breed Award - International Andalusian & Lusitano Association PSG/Rank #1 

California Dressage Society/USDF Region 7 Championships- 5-Year-Old Futurity Winner Part 2 - 75% 

USDF Horse of the Year Region 7 Third Level 3 - 6th Place

California Dressage Society Championships Horse of the Year Prix St George- 8th Place

​

2017

Dressage Association Southern California First Level Open Championship

Dressage Association Southern California Third Reserved Championship

United States Equestrian Federation Young Horse National Championships - 4th Place

​

​

​

2016

Dressage Association Southern California First Level Open Championship

Dressage Association Southern California Training Level Championship

USDF 4th Place Region 7 Open Training Level

California Dressage Society: Horse of the Year Open 12th  Place Training Level 

​

​

​

​

2011

USDF Reserved Champion- Region 7 Open 1st Level Championship

USDF Reserved Championship Region 7 Open 2nd Level Championship

USDF 5th Place Region 7 Open Intermediate Championship

USDF 7th  Place Region 7 Open Prix St. Georges

California Dressage Society: Horse of The Year Open 7th Place Prix St. Georges 

California Dressage Society: Horse of the Year Open 8th Place Intermediate

Dressage Association Southern California First Level Open Championship

​

​

2010

USDF 6th Place Region 7 Open 4th Level Championship

​

​

​

​

*For any questions or information, please contact us below:

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​