Sunflower Lusitanos
Sunflower Lusitanos
Sunflower Lusitanos was created from a passion for the Lusitano horse and a belief that exceptional performance horses begin with an exceptional foundation.
Based in Granby, Connecticut, we specialize in the development and sale of thoughtfully bred Lusitanos selected for their athleticism, temperament, trainability, and natural balance, with a primary focus on dressage.
Our program combines decades of horsemanship experience with classical dressage principles. From groundwork and first rides to continued development and the competition arena, each horse is brought along thoughtfully and individually, with an emphasis on confidence, correct training, and partnership.
We are drawn to the Lusitano for their unique combination of athleticism, intelligence, bravery, sensitivity, and willingness to connect with their rider. Our goal is to preserve these remarkable qualities while developing confident, rideable horses capable of excelling as modern performance horses.
Above all, we strive to thoughtfully match each Lusitano with the right rider, creating partnerships designed to thrive both in and out of the arena.
Thoughtfully selected. Correctly developed. Exceptional partners.
Purposeful Partnership
The partnership between Sunflower Lusitanos and Casa do Noble Lusitanos began in 2023 with the purchase of T’Stark d’Noble, owned by Brooke Klenk. What began as a search for one young horse prospect quickly grew into a partnership founded on a shared appreciation for the Lusitano and a common vision for producing and developing exceptional performance horses.
When Brooke began searching for her next young prospect, she looked extensively throughout the United States and internationally. She wasn’t simply searching for a beautiful Lusitano; she wanted a horse that was ethically bred with the natural balance, athleticism, correct conformation, temperament, and trainability to develop into a serious dressage and performance horse.
That search ultimately led to Michelle Clarke and Casa do Noble Lusitanos in Aiken, South Carolina.With more than 30 years of experience with Lusitanos, Michelle brings decades of knowledge and a deep understanding of the breed to the Casa do Noble breeding program. Her program is focused on preserving the traditional qualities of the Lusitano while thoughtfully breeding horses with the athletic ability, movement, conformation, and trainability necessary to excel as performance horses.
One of the qualities we appreciate most about the Casa do Noble horses is that their athleticism is paired with an exceptional mind. Lusitanos are naturally known for their bravery, intelligence, sensitivity, and willingness to work, and these qualities are incredibly important to both of our programs. We want horses that are powerful and athletic enough for the performance arena while remaining confident, sensible, and deeply connected to their people.
At Sunflower Lusitanos, our primary focus is developing these horses for the dressage arena. The natural balance, active hindquarters, quality movement, and willingness found in the Casa do Noble horses give us an excellent foundation from which to develop strength, suppleness, engagement, and collection through classical dressage training.
Just as importantly, our philosophies align in how young horses should be raised and developed. Casa do Noble’s thoughtful and ethical approach to raising and handling their youngsters blends naturally with the horsemanship principles at the heart of Sunflower Equestrian Center and Sunflower Lusitanos.
When a young horse enters our program, we continue that foundation through thoughtful, handling, groundwork, and a careful introduction to work under saddle. As they mature, we continue their development through classical dressage and, when appropriate, introduce them to the competition environment. Our goal is never to rush the process, but to develop confident, willing horses whose mental and physical abilities progress together.
When we created Sunflower Lusitanos, we knew we wanted to work hand-in-hand with a breeder whose program complemented our own—one producing horses intentionally bred for performance, athleticism, correct conformation, exceptional dispositions, and rideability, while giving them an ethical and thoughtful beginning.
We found that relationship with Michelle and Casa do Noble.
Together, our programs represent a philosophy we strongly believe in:
Purposeful breeding. Ethical raising. Thoughtful development. Classical training.
From thoughtful breeding and early handling to a horse’s first ride and eventual development in the dressage arena, every stage matters. Our goal is to develop brave, confident, athletic, and rideable Lusitanos that preserve the remarkable qualities of the breed while demonstrating their ability to excel as modern performance horses.