Grass Control: As the Lusitano is a very good doer, we have to strip graze most of the year. It requires a huge effort to control their weight when they are out all the time as grass growth is so diverse and unpredictable especially as we're in an ideal climate for its production.

Grassland: We use a specialist horse mix grass ley which has slower growing and harder wearing grasses and includes herbs such as yarrow, ribgrass, burnet and sheep's parsley to provide a more natural and balanced grazing. We use slow releasing organic fertilisers to ensure a more controlled growth.

Grass & Soil Nutrition: ADAS take soil samples every two years and advise us on the correct soil p.h., nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and magnesium levels required for horses. As these levels are different to the requirements of grassland for cattle and sheep production, we ensure our haylage is only produced from equine specific grassland.

Trace Elements: The west coast of Britain is generally deficient in copper and selenium. As a precaution, we have our grass analysed and then if necessary, add a trace element supplement such as CopperPlex to the hard feed to ensure maximum health efficiency in our horses.

Paddocks: They are cleaned daily with a huge 'Predator' vacuum cleaner towed behind an ATV to reduce worm infestation. This virtually eliminates spoiling of the grass and soil and means there are very few areas on which the horses will not graze. The fields are harrowed in sunny periods to further reduce worm burdens.

Horse Nutrition: To ensure our horses fulfil their individual requirements and are not over feed and grow too quickly or become overweight. Louise Jones, a nutritionist from Dodson & Horrell, carries out a regular visual assessment. We are also advised by Deborah Lucas of DLP Equine Consultants, an internationally recognised nutritionalist and author.

Hard Feed: We use Dodson & Horrell feeds. Our horses are weighed weekly, a visual assessment also made and if necessary the diet modified. Each horse has its own individual feed chart and each feed and supplement is accurately weighed to ensure optimum results.

Forage: We prefer to feed haylage and comply strictly with recommendations for quality, storage and feeding. Each horse has its own chart for its daily ration.

Stabling: We believe horses are much happier and healthier out in the fields all year round. They do come in most days for training and grooming etc. Our horses don't bite, kick out and have no vices such as crib biting and weaving.

Worming: We carry out routine worming only in March and late November. In association with the University of Liverpool and our veterinary practise, we have regular faecal worm counts done instead. To date, our worm counts have all been zero with the one exception of less than 25 eggs per gram. 200 eggs or less per gram is considered a low count.

General: All our horses have a treatment by a Doctor of Chiropractic every three months and a regular remedial massage from a horse Physiotherapist to ensure correct alignment for growth and a balanced muscle development. Magnetic therapy, laser healing and homeopathy are used. Teeth are checked by the vet every six months.

All our horses are vaccinated for Tetanus, Equine Influenza and Equine Herpes Virus 1-4 and are ready to be exported anywhere in the world.