Two trainers (Fred and Sofia Bernardino) riding horses in an outdoor riding area, with trees and a building in the background, on a sunny day.

The faces behind LUSOWEST

Meet Trainers Fred and Sofia Bernardino.

After meeting in Portugal and moving to the United States, Fred & Sofia created LusoWest LLC in 2023 happily serving clients on the Palos Verdes Peninsula and Brentwood. The pair recently moved their business to Moorpark, California Spring 2026 and are accepting horses for training with the goal of producing top level Working Equitation and Dressage mounts.

Fred & Sofia are dedicated to share their knowledge and education in both Dressage and Working Equitation with their clients, as well as bring along horses to compete in national level competition, with sights and aspirations to go beyond. Fred & Sofia are for clients from beginner to advanced level in search of excellence and results within themselves and their horses, believing that success between the horse and rider starts with the health, wellness, and care of our equine partners to pair with the scale of training in order to create a refined, confident, and happy horse.

A rider on horseback playing polo on a sandy field with a black and white cutout of a buffalo in front of the horse. The rider is dressed in equestrian gear and is holding a polo mallet.
A person riding a light-colored horse jumps over a blue and white obstacle in an outdoor equestrian event, with greenery and trees in the background.
A woman in formal riding attire rides a black horse through an obstacle course on a sunny day, holding a red cup upwards near a pole.
A man wearing a gray suit, tan hat, and black riding pants is riding a galloping tan horse in an outdoor equestrian arena with trees in the background.
A woman in equestrian attire riding a horse on a sandy dressage arena during daytime. The rider holds a baton and wears a helmet and jacket, while the horse is adorned with white leg wraps and a bridle.
A man in traditional Mexican charro attire riding a palomino horse in a dressage arena during a competition, with trees and spectators in the background.
Two people riding horses in a park, with one person wearing a large hat and the other a riding helmet, and an area with tents and parked carts in the background.
Man riding a white horse in an indoor arena, dressed in a dark suit with a fur collar and a wide-brimmed hat, under blue lighting.
A female equestrian rider in formal riding attire riding a white horse on a dressage arena with another rider in the background.
A man wearing a hat and riding attire riding a light-colored horse during an equestrian event, approaching a jump with a sign that reads 'Wine County Classic' and a potted plant.
A woman riding a brown horse through a training course on an outdoor arena, practicing equestrian jumping with a blue platform and white cones.
A rider on horseback jumping over a small obstacle decorated with potted plants on an outdoor dirt arena. The rider is wearing a hat, a green jacket, black pants, and glasses, and the horse is wearing protective leg gear.
A man in a gray suit and wide-brimmed hat riding a light brown horse with a saddle, holding a long lance, surrounded by green trees in a forested area.
Two women riding a horse in a riding arena, with a photographer taking pictures in the background.
A rider in a gray suit and hat on a beige horse participating in a cow phase at working equitation championships, with a cow in the background on the dirt arena floor.
A man riding a gray horse inside a fenced arena with hills and greenery in the background.
A person dressed in Western riding attire, including a hat, is sitting on a light-colored horse. The person is holding a silver trophy in one hand, raised in the air, and appears to be celebrating. The setting is an outdoor riding arena with trees in
Young woman riding a black horse in an outdoor riding arena, wearing riding gear including a helmet, navy jacket, white riding pants, and tall black riding boots, with trees and a fence in the background on a sunny day.
A man in formal riding attire riding a white horse on a sandy arena with a mountain and green trees in the background.
A man riding a Lusitano stallion in a livestock pen decorated with plants during an equestrian event.
A rider and horse jumping over an obstacle decorated with pumpkins and hay, in an outdoor equestrian arena with trees in the background. working equitation at el campeon
A person riding a horse in an outdoor riding arena with a mountain in the background.
A woman riding a brown horse on a dirt track with greenery and trees in the background.
A person wearing traditional Portuguese riding attire, including a wide-brimmed hat, riding a light-colored Lusitano in an outdoor arena during daytime. The arena is fenced with white boards, and there are trees and a blue tent in the background.
A female equestrian in a blue jacket and white riding pants riding a chestnut horse with a blue saddle pad on a dirt outdoor riding arena.
A man riding a gray horse on a sandy outdoor arena, with a green landscape and hills in the background.
A female equestrian riding a brown horse in a dressage arena, with another rider and horse in the background show at LAEC (Los Angeles Equestrian Center)
A man riding a horse on a dirt track surrounded by trees, wearing a gray jacket and a straw hat.
A woman riding a horse in a fenced working equitation obstacle arena decorated with pink flamingo yard ornaments, American flags, and cartoon unicorn cutouts.
A person riding a grey Lusitano stallion horse in an indoor arena, wearing equestrian attire including a hat, jacket, and riding boots. In the background, there is a large illuminated sign with the letters FNC and some spectators in Golegã, Portugal
A female equestrian rider dressed in formal dressage attire riding a galloping bay Oldenburg horse on an outdoor dirt riding arena with trees in the background.
A man dressed in a gray suit riding a chestnut Lusitano stallion horse during daytime in an outdoor arena.
A woman riding a black KWPN Warmblood horse during an indoor equestrian riding session.
A man riding a grey Lusitano stallion in an outdoor riding arena, with trees and a building in the background.
A woman riding a white lustiano on a training ground with wooden poles on the ground, with a building with glass windows in the background.
A man riding a gray Lusitano horse in a dressage arena during daytime, with a background of trees and banners.
A young woman riding a brown horse in an outdoor riding arena, wearing a helmet, grey long-sleeve shirt, and black riding pants, with green foliage in the background.
A horseback rider dressed in formal riding attire, sitting on a light gray horse inside an indoor riding arena with wooden beams and a sandy floor.
A female equestrian rider in a black helmet and dark riding jacket guides a brown horse over a colorful orange, white, blue, and yellow jump during a show jumping competition in an outdoor arena with a fence and green trees in the background.
Three smiling people at an equestrian or horse riding event, holding ribbons representing first and second place, standing in front of a wood and hedge background with a circular sign reading 'Working Equitation' and 'El Campeon Farm' featuring a tre
A woman in equestrian attire riding a brown horse on a sandy riding arena, with trees and a wooden fence in the background.
A person in equestrian riding attire riding a galloping brown horse in an outdoor riding arena.
A horseback rider dressed in formal equestrian attire jumps over a hurdle during a horse jumping competition, with greenery in the background.
A man riding a tan horse with a dark mane and tail on a sand arena, with trees and a fence in the background.
A woman in riding attire riding a horse during an equestrian event, jumping over a small obstacle with patriotic decorations, in an outdoor arena surrounded by trees.
Equestrian rider in vintage-style attire riding gray horse in a training arena with markers and greenery in the background
A female equestrian rider dressed in white riding a brown horse during a competition on a sandy arena with trees in the background.
Equestrian rider in formal riding attire and hat jumping a horse over a white and blue obstacle during a competition.
A woman riding a light-colored horse in an outdoor arena, holding a long pole, with trees and fencing in the background.
A rider and horse jumping over an obstacle in an equestrian event, with pumpkins and gourds on the ground, and trees in the background.
A rider wearing formal riding attire and a wide-brimmed hat guides a beige horse through a dressage competition on a dirt arena. A blue tent and officials seated at a table with flowers are visible in the background.
A young girl riding a brown horse in an outdoor arena during a dressage competition, with decorative flowers on a white sign and trees in the background.


Goals are always different for every rider, owner, or horse and the LusoWest team will help you define and reach your goals along the journey.

Fred and Sofia offer premium, results-driven training programs personalized for dedicated clients and their horses. Committed to excellence, they continuously refine their methods to deliver exceptional progress and lasting success. Their personalized approach fosters a supportive and rewarding experience, ensuring that every client feels valued and empowered while achieving their goals.

The pair have a profound appreciation for Iberian and Warmblood breeds but warmly welcome horses of all backgrounds. Their training approach is thoughtfully tailored to bring out the unique strengths and potential of each horse, ensuring that every horse they work with thrives and reaches its fullest capability.


A woman riding a horse on a dirt track under a large leafy tree.