Novilheiro (MV)After a short career in Portugal, he went to France, always showing his qualities as a good dressage horse. There, he was discovered by the British rider, John Whitaker, who, with his professional acu-men, anticipated his potential for jumping. Under John Whitaker, Novilheiro became the British Jumping Champion and later, the Jumping-Horse Leader in the Rank of Prize Money in Europe. In 1987, Novilheiro returned to Portugal, acquired by Arsenio Raposo Cordeiro, one of the most impor-tant Lusitano breeders and the author of the book “The Sons of the Wind” – from which the accompanying photo was scanned. Novilheiro (MV) was then acquired by Sociedade das Silveiras (SS) in partnership with other Portuguese breeders. Novilheiro (MV)’s other brothers, Nilo (MV), Neptuno (MV) and Opus II (MV), and their offspring, also made a huge success as bullfighting horses in Portugal and Spain, the latter with the world known Domecq family of Andalusia. The impressive careers of these famous horses attracted the attention of all Lusitano breeders and cre-ated a large demand for the offspring of Firme (SA) and of his four sons. Soon after Novilheiro’s return, the other two, Opus (MV) and Neptuno (MV), were also bought by Portuguese breeders and brought back to Portugal for stud activities, where Nilo (MV) was actively employed.