Biography

Portuguese rider Manuel Grave (35) last competed at Badminton in 2013 – his first and last visit – but did not complete. With Badminton entry Carat de Bremoy he represented Portugal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Manuel who describes himself as a farmer and eventing as a hobby, is from Alentejo in the centre of Portugal. He comes from a family of equestrians. He is the son of former Olympic (2004) rider Carlos Grave, who also competed in two World Equestrian Games, three European Championships and who competed at Badminton in 2000 & ’05 (but failed to complete). His brother Joaquim also competes.

Manuel, previously contested three Junior European Championships, (2005, 2006, 2007) and one Young Rider Championship (2009) and won the Portugese Championships three times (2007, 2009 and 2011). In 2010 he represented Portugal at the WEG with Samaritano a homebred that was a grand son of Jus de Pommes (see results) who passed away only last year one week before Manuel left for Paris.

Manuel is married to Mariano Herculano and the couple has two young children. He trains with his father Carlos.

Carat de Bremoy, considered a family horse, is a 13-year-old French-bred Selle Francais gelding. He is by Quick Star out of a mare by the leading jumping sire Diamant de Semilly. He was acquired in 2017 from ‘our great friend’ Duarte Seabra who previously competed him in showjumping. Manuel contested his first FEI competition with him in 2019. He is described by Manuel as ‘not the most obvious horse for eventing but he is a very nice guy and very courageous cross country’.