There’s a moment every breeder waits for, the one where potential becomes personality, where promise starts to take shape, and where you realize you’re not just raising horses… you’re shaping the future.

This season at Azores Stables has been full of those moments.

Our Stallions: The Foundation of Everything

Great horses don’t happen by accident.

At Azores, our stallions are selected with intention, not just for pedigree or presence, but for soundness, temperament, movement, and mind. These qualities matter just as much in daily work as they do in competition.

At the heart of our program is Poison CM.

Poison CM brings power without tension, confidence without chaos, and a willingness that makes him a true partner. He elevates the herd not just genetically, but energetically and now, for the first time, we’re seeing that influence come to life in the next generation. We are the only ones seeing this, but the breeders that have used him within North America and Europe have also noticed his very prominent influence and stamp.

Learn More About our Stallions Here

The Foals: A First Look at Poison’s Legacy

This year’s foals are now weaned, and watching them step into this next stage has been a joy.

These are our first offspring from Poison, and already they’re showing exactly what we hoped for:

Curious, calm, confident minds

Balanced conformation, elastic movement

Natural presence without sharpness

An ease that can’t be manufactured, it’s bred

They are still young, still becoming, but experienced eyes can see the foundation forming early.

And we’re paying close attention.

What You Should Look for When Choosing a Lusitano

If you’re considering a Lusitano, it’s easy to be drawn in by their beauty, but the real magic of the breed goes much deeper than looks.

Here’s what truly matters:

1. The Mind Comes First

A great Lusitano should be thoughtful, brave, and willing. Look for a horse that is curious rather than reactive, confident without being dominant, and interested in partnership, learning and is very trainable.

A sound mind creates longevity, joy, and trust.

2. The Balance in the Body

Confirmation is key. A Lusitano should be naturally balanced, strong and agile. Their build should be up-hill to have a natural carriage with a round silhouette and square body. The topline transitions smoothly from an arched neck that ties in the well-defined wither and short-back round muscular croup. His horses are built to carry themselves in dressage and working equitation with ease

3. Herd Environment Matters

How a horse is raised matters just as much as who they’re bred from.

Horses developed within a calm, well-managed herd learn social intelligence, emotional regulation, and confidence, qualities that translate directly into rideability later on.

4. Handling Shapes the Horse

Early handling should be consistent, respectful, and intentional.

At Azores, horses are handled in a way that builds trust from the start, never rushed, never forced. This creates horses that are receptive, grounded, and ready to learn when formal training begins.

4. Training Philosophy Makes the Difference

The best Lusitanos aren’t trained at, they’re developed with.

Training should prioritize balance, clarity, and communication. A horse that understands what’s being asked and feels safe in the process, will always outshine one that’s simply obedient.

5. Value Goes Beyond the Price Tag

True value isn’t just in bloodlines or numbers.

It’s in soundness.

It’s in mindset.

It’s in thoughtful breeding and correct development.

Those things can’t be added later, they must be built from the beginning.

The People Behind the Program

Much of what makes our horses who they are comes down to Marco’s daily work.

His approach is steady, patient, and deeply respectful of the horse. His keen eyes are always picking up the nuances of each individual. There’s no ego, just experience, instinct, mindfulness and feel. The result is a herd that is calm, confident, and prepared for whatever comes next.

From there, Pam’s training philosophy shapes these horses into athletes and partners. Her focus on clarity, balance, understanding and trust ensures that each horse develops at a pace that supports both physical and mental longevity.

Together, this creates horses that are not just impressive, but a joy to work with.

Looking Ahead

This is only the beginning of Poison’s story, and the first chapter for this remarkable group of foals.

Real breeding isn’t loud.

Real quality isn’t rushed.

It’s intentional, thoughtful, and built one horse at a time.

We can’t wait to see who these young Lusitanos become.