There is an imperceptible, suspended moment when the horse, launched into its gallop, does not touch the ground. It is the moment that Eadweard Muybridge immortalized in 1878, and which today becomes a metaphor for something greater: the possibility of rising above all limits, of experiencing, even if only for an instant, absolute freedom.
This image gave rise to the spirit of “Riding the Blue”, a project conceived by Dr. Leonardo Zoccante, a child neuropsychiatrist at ULSS 9 Scaligera, and the beating heart of Fieracavalli, which is increasingly focused on inclusion, care, and rebirth.
This year, the journey begins with “Oltre il suolo” (Beyond the Ground), an artistic journey curated by Anna Lisa Ghirardi, which intertwines matter, mind, and movement.
In the lobby of Palazzo Uffici, the exhibition “Good Use of My Bad Health” by Claudia Amatruda depicts fragility as a generative force: works that seem to breathe through water, allowing the beauty of limitation and its transformative power to emerge.
In Pavilion 4, on the other hand, “Rise Again. Paralympic Games” by Emanuele Broli and Laura Predolini captures the spirit of the Paralympic Games—the courage, tenacity, and rebirth that are imprinted in the athletes’ gestures like a silent hymn to life.
Walking through the spaces of Veronafiere, you can feel the same beat: the one that unites man and horse in a universal language made up of trust, breath, and listening.
It is the language that changed the life of Beatrice Tambini, regional para-dressage champion, and Ivan Mattei, a 32-year-old with spastic hemiparesis who found a new horizon in the saddle.
Beatrice, with her Maremma horse, has exceeded all medical predictions; Ivan has transformed fatigue into energy, discipline into freedom, achieving goals that speak of dignity and redemption rather than medals.
Emotions that are reflected in the stories and social projects that Fieracavalli – scheduled at Veronafiere until Sunday, November 9 – supports and hosts every year within the exhibition center, so as to shine a spotlight on realities that demonstrate the power of horses to unite, support, and profoundly transform the lives of the people they come into contact with.
Yet the power of horses is not only evident in competition.
Sometimes all it takes is a glance, a caress, or simply being close to an animal that seems to possess ancient wisdom.
Isabella, representative of the Sbandieratori e Musici di Borgo San Martino di Saluzzo (Flag Throwers and Musicians of Borgo San Martino di Saluzzo), one of the few Italian organizations that teaches the discipline to young people with disabilities, knows this well.
“Being at Fieracavalli is essential for us,” she says. “Here, the kids learn to feel part of a group, to express themselves, to trust. Horses don’t judge, they welcome. They are silent teachers who teach listening and presence.”
These stories gave rise to Healthcare & Leisure, a new area of the event dedicated to mental and physical well-being and the relationship between humans and animals.
A space where adults and children can discover how contact with horses, donkeys, or even just the natural environment, can become an opportunity for balance and growth.
This is where the projects of Aria Aperta and HOltre are located, as well as the brand new Accademia Fieracavalli-USA, an experiential program born from the collaboration between Michele Marconi, psychologist at the Santa Giuliana Hospital, and Giuliana Marple, professor at the University of Utah.
The goal: to teach a new way of “seeing” horses, not only as animals or athletes, but as mirrors of human beings and companions on a journey of awareness.
Every day at the 127th edition of Fieracavalli, the public can watch paradressage performances, a discipline that allows riders with motor disabilities to express their talent on horseback.
Ivan Mattei is one of the athletes present every day from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in area A, and he recounted his experience during these first two days at Fieracavalli: adrenaline, tension, but a great sense of freedom.
“It was a truly exciting experience because it gave me the opportunity to showcase para-dressage on one of Italy’s most important stages. This discipline is often seen as a niche sport, a sub-discipline of dressage, so it’s great to be able to give it greater visibility. I would like to thank Fieracavalli for offering us this opportunity. I was a little nervous at first, but seeing the audience and friends who came to support me helped me relax. Riding and participating in these performances gave me a great sense of freedom and belonging to a real community. Although I focus mainly on competitions, these freer moments allow me to express myself without constraints and are truly precious.”
Every step, every breath, every glance of these horses seems to remind us that freedom is not a goal, but a moment: the moment when, just like in Muybridge’s gallop, you manage to lift yourself off the ground—and, even if only for a moment, fly.
