Equestrian
Issue #1 - November 2016
SADDLE THEM UP
PROFILE
Eleonora Moroni Ottaviani
It is with extreme pleasure that we would like to introduce the first issue of Equestrian Illustrated. As a welcome, we start with a selection of illustrious tributes to horses, randomly chosen amongst prestigious personalities both from the past and the present.
Photo Courtesy of Fabio Petroni/IJRC
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PORTFOLIO
Fabio Petroni
Photo of Fabio Petroni
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STORY
Lorenzo De Luca
Photo Courtesy of Fabio Petroni/IJRC
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WISHLIST
Country Lady
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Kirsten Dunst in a still from the film Melancholia (2011), by Lars Von Trier (Photo Courtesy of BIM Distribuzione)
“When I bestride him, I soar, I am a hawk: he trots the air; the earth sings when he touches it; the basest horn of his hoof is more musical than the pipe of Hermes. ” (William Shakespeare, Henry V) “He’s of the colour of the nutmeg. And of the heat of the ginger.... he is pure air and fire; and the dull elements of earth and water never appear in him, but only in patient stillness while his rider mounts him; he is indeed a horse, and all other jades you may call beasts.” (William Shakespeare, Henry V) “No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle.” (Winston Churchill) “Four things greater than all things are - Women and Horses and Power and War.” (Rudyard Kipling, The Ballad of the King’s Jest)
Limited edition competition jacket, Fixdesign
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“I’d rather have a goddam horse. A horse is at least human, for God’s sake.” ( J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye)
“The spirited horse, which will try to win the race of its own accord, will run even faster if encouraged.” (Ovid) “One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was from a horse master. He told me to go slow to go fast. I think that applies to everything in life. We live as though there aren’t enough hours in the day but if we do each thing calmly and carefully we will get it done quicker and with much less stress.” (Viggo Mortensen) “No philosophers so thoroughly comprehend us as dogs and horses.” (Herman Melville) “I grew up in New Mexico, and the older I get, I have less need for contemporary culture and big cities and all the stuff we are bombarded with. I am happier at my ranch in the middle of nowhere watching a bug carry leaves across the grass, listening to silence, riding my horse, and being in open space.” (Tom Ford) •
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ANTONELLA VALSECCHI MILANO Via Ernesto Rossi 9, 20143 Milano - Tel.+39 3357116759 mail: info@antonellavalsecchi.com www.antonellavalsecchi.com
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mandelli-milano.it
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Editor’s Letter 5
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Sport
AND
Lifestyle B
It is with great pleasure that we present the first issue of Equestrian illustrated. Reaching out to this world is nowadays an interesting opportunity to get in touch with an audience of enthusiasts and globetrotters, with an active lifestyle that belong to the International Upper Class. Equestrian illustrated will become a biannual release, providing the equestrian disciplines enthusiasts with a selection of high-impact images, a collectible portfolio. For the debut of our magazine, we chose Fabio Petroni’s photographs, a household name in this world. Prominent contributors, who personally partake in the most important events related to equestrian disciplines, will constantly keep the readers updated and will offer exclusive stories of horses and horsemen. In this issue, you will find a conversation with gentleman rider Sir Mark Philips, who will tell us about his career, and an interview with the young champion Lorenzo De Luca, who has recently made the Top 20 in the Longines FEI Ranking List. The magazine opens with the Italian lady of riding, Eleonora Moroni Ottaviani, who will tell us the secrets of her profession. Of course, being part of the DNA of our main magazine, Fashion Illustrated, lifestyle tips will not be missing, from fashion to the most exclusive spots in the cities that host the most important horse shows. Everything is presented in such a way to entertain our readers in a pleasant way, keeping in mind equestrian sports enthusiasts, but not just them.
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Contributors
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GIADA GALLIANO
CATERINA VAGNOZZI Based in Rome, Caterina Vagnozzi has been a free lance journalist, specialized in equestrian sports since the 1970s. She has been a member of the International Alliance of Equestrian Journalists since 1987 and national delegate for Italy since 2010. She has always been tied to the equestrian world, originally as an amazon, then as a breeder. At the beginning of the 1990s she founded EquiEquipe, a company providing editorial services connected to equestrian big events. Since the lare 1970s she has been contributing to the main Italian sport tabloids, Corriere dello Sport and Gazzetta dello Sport, and to the newspaper Il Messaggero.
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GABRIELLA LOMBARDI She worked in marketing activities for different advertising agencies, leaders in the Italian scenario of communication until 2009. Then, in 2010, she founded Chà Tea Atelier, the first tea shop in Milan with a tea room, specialized in high quality loose leaf teas and flavoured & herbal teas. Today she is the first Tea Sommelier in Europe, certified by the Tea Association of Canada, and she is involved in educational programs for consumers, professionals and consultancy to restaurants, hotels and spa for tea and food pairing, tea menu design, cooking with tea.
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She grew up in the North of Italy, in the Langhe region, but her career started in Los Angeles, California, where she worked as visual merchandiser at Ralph Lauren’s. The move from visual merchandising to styling was very quick. An expert of style and image, with an international and cosmopolitan taste, she likes to communicate her clear, pure and sharp ideas through the creation of outfits. Her career in the fashion media continued after she moved back to Italy, where she has been contributing to several magazines as fashion editor and writer, meanwhile working as personal shopper for several celebrities.
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GIUSEPPE BIANCHI Lawyer in Milan, specialized in antidoping cases, he is the former legal counsel of IJRC and of the Young Riders Academy’s Board. He also used to run Forum, a telecast on Class Horse TV.
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Born in Corinaldo (AN) in 1964, he lives and works in Milan, Italy. After studying photography, he collaborated with some of the most renowned professionals in the field. His career has led him to specialize in portrature and still-life, in which he has demostrated an intuitive and rigorous style. He collaborates with several important italian brands. Fabio has always spent his life in the company of dogs and horses and is the official photographer of the IJRC and Riders Academy.
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Editorial Director MARCO POLI m.poli@fashionillustrated.eu Editor in Chief GIULIANO DEIDDA g.deidda@fashionillustrated.eu Art Director FABRIZIO MAJERNA f.majerna@maj-fm.com Editor Consultant PAOLA DE VINCENTIS Editorial Staff FRANCESCA MANUZZI, ANNA PAOLA STRONA info@fashionillustrated.eu Contributors GIUSEPPE BIANCHI, GIADA GALLIANO, GABRIELLA LOMBARDI, FABIO PETRONI, CATERINA VAGNOZZI
Editorial Office Corso Colombo 7 20144 Milano Tel. +39 0287365694 www.fashionillustrated.eu
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Publishing House MILANO FASHION LIBRARY Via Alessandria, 8 - 20144 Milano - Tel. +39 0258153208 Chairman DIEGO VALISI dvalisi@milanofashionmedia.it Assistant Publisher PRASANNA CONTI pconti@milanofashionmedia.it Advertising Via Alessandria, 8 20144 Milano Tel. +39 0258153208
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All rights reserved©/The material on this magazine may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Fashion Illustrated.
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Contents
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PROFILE ELEONORA MORONI OTTAVIANI
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FOR HIM IT’S ALL ABOUT THE DETAILS By Giuliano Deidda
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FOR HER COUNTRY LADY By Giuliano Deidda
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WISHLIST STYLISH RACE
By Anna Paola Strona
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FOCUS LA PISTA VAIRANO By Giada Galliano
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Q&A THE GENTLEMAN RIDER By Giada Galliano
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LIFESTYLE SCENTED AND BLOOMING TEAS By Gabriella Lombardi
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STORY LORENZO DE LUCA By Caterina Vagnozzi
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TRANSPORT STEPHEX GROUP
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PORTFOLIO FABIO PETRONI
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DESTINATION VERONA
By Giada Galliano
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ADDRESSES GENEVA
By Giada Galliano
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LEGAL CORNER THE BEST RIDER OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM By Giuseppe Bianchi
Dressage bridles, Hermès
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TERESA DESIGN ROBERTO LAZZERONI
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A SHOW, BUT
PERSONALITIES
ESPECIALLY A SPORT A conversation with Eleonora Moroni Ottaviani, the Italian lady of riding, who unveiled the secrets of her profession.
T
he hospitality that we were offered by Eleonora Moroni Ottaviani, the Italian lady of riding, in her living room, was a happy island in the midst of a somewhat anonymous elegant residential area in Lugano. As she proudly showed off some trophies she had won throughout her career and invited us to take a seat on a sofa that mig¬ht be found in the best design magazine, our gaze wandered around the room, admiring artworks and valuable objects. Everything seemed to be endowed with the class and elegance of our host. It’s not a coincidence that we chose her for our first portrait to be published on Equestrian Illustrated, which we want to be both authoritative and classy. No one but her can represent the way in which we want to talk about the equestrian world. Event Director of the most important horse shows in the world, but, most of all, a real purist as far as the sport is concerned, Eleonora Ottaviani is the Director of the IJRC (International Jumping Riders Club), and the General Secretary of the UEAA (United Equestrian Athletes Association), the association, recognised by the FEI and the International Olympic Committee, that represents the athletes’ associations in the three Olympic disciplines of equestrian sports. Moreover, she tied
Photo Courtesy of Fabio Petroni/IJRC
her name to the San Patrignano competition when she succeeded in her attempt to bring back a show jumping European Championship to Italy (2005). She also took part in the WEG (World Equestrian Games) in Rome in 1998 and in the Riders Academy project, of which she’s one of the founders, a real academy dedicated to young European talents in show jumping. Our conversation started from this last point, while Mrs. Ottaviani showed us a book that was dedicated to the Academy and told us with great enthusiasm that “the horsemen of the future will need a 360-degree training, will have to know and respect the rules of the sport, fight in order to keep the sport clean, but will also have to be managers, build relationships with sponsors, and have a deep knowledge not just of horses, but of everything that is related to the stable, from both a practical and organizational point of view, so that they can become true professionals”. What struck us was her devotion to the values of this sport intended as a pure discipline, with its strengths and weaknesses, but also with the merits that only hard training can lead to, while taking distance from power games. It doesn’t come as a surprise that it was her idea to introduce a Ranking List in the world of riding, providing anyone with a chance to take part even in the best competitions on the basis of meritocracy and not on the capacity of paying the registration fee. A clear example of her ability to organize competitions was the latest edition of the Top Ten Final, a sort of tennis master gathering the best riders in the world; which took place in December 2015 in Geneva and saw the triumph of the US horseman Kent Farrington, riding Voyeur, in front of the French Simon Delestre, riding Hermès Ryan, and of the German horseman Daniel Deusser, riding First Class van Eeckelghem. “An event like the one in Geneva” said Mrs. Ottaviani, “always reminds me how much I enjoy organizing and directing competitions, it’s a role that allows me to stay where I feel most comfortable, in direct contact with the sport and its top athletes. After all, that’s where everything starts”.
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Profile
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PERSONALITIES
Eleonora cheers Ludger Beerbaum (Photo Courtesy of Fabio Petroni/IJRC)
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Kent Farrington and Voyeur, winners of Top 10 Final 2015 (Photo Courtesy of IJRC)
PERSONALITIES
Eleonora with FEI President Ingmar de Vos (Photo Courtesy of Fabio Petroni IJRC)
Eleonora and Riders Academy at Uppsala University - Sweden (Pho Courtesy of Fabio Petroni/ Young Riders Academy)
Eleonora Ottaviani is a genuine enthusiast of the equestrian world and she lives her passion with great empathy, regardless of her role in it. When asked to define herself and her work, her answer was “I’m some sort of an idealist more than a politician, even though, certain times, I’m forced to talk like one. I have a hard time accepting that the world of sports is getting increasingly distant from its true principles. Nowadays there’s too much business involved and we need to balance things out with the values of sport”. We then asked her what the main weaknesses of her role are and, this time as well, she had a prompt answer: “Endless meetings, fights, pointless battles, trials. As I said, I don’t love politics, but I’m forced to try to get an understanding of it and to follow its strategies in some cases”. After a great coffee, our conversation continued over the need of introducing the values of honesty and fair play, even from a financial standpoint, like in the world of football. “Good manners and professionalism are not something you can learn over a few minutes and they are pivotal in giving priority to the sport and not to politics, business or media. We need to build a house with clearly defined rules, with proportioned sanctions when someone makes a mistake”. We asked her at what organizational level this sport is in our country with her federation. “The Italian federation needs a general modernization. More decentralization would be important, with a new assignment of roles and responsibilities. It would also be necessary to have a discussion and a subsequent collaboration with foreign organizations and referees, in order to allow our young athletes to get some experience abroad. Organizers too should visit other countries and other international
Eleonora and McLain Ward, winner of Grand Prix of Rome 2016 (Photo Courtesy of Fabio Petroni/IJRC)
competitions. But, often, what is missing is the will of the single individuals. Throughout my life, I’ve had great enthusiasm for my job and a desire to pack and leave the country”. We moved on to discuss the regulations that influence the discipline in whatever way, the assignment of championships and of any event, from the Nations Cup, to the World Cup, to all international competitions, and, most of all, the fact that the main objective would be leaving more room to emerging talents. The bottom line is that there’s a need to coordinate efforts and work more as a team, especially to ensure a clean and democratic sport, with everything that this term entails. In the end, Eleonora Moroni Ottaviani told us about the many gratifications she achieved throughout her career: the World championship, the European championship, the World Cup final, being seen as an important figure in the war on doping, and being able to face each task in the best possible way, “especially thanks to the fact that I could count on a special family and on true friends”. We ended our conversation talking about one of the most well known Italian competitions in the world, maybe even the most famous in the world, Piazza di Siena, which she refers to as “an extremely tough competition, but full of magic. I directed it in the past and am fully aware of its problems. It’s a historic competition, that used to be a point of reference in the Italian sports world also because there were few international competitions in that period. Nowadays, we have five thousand international competitions and standing out is complex. But I do believe it has a bright future”. When we asked her what she would like to see in this sport that still doesn’t exist or is only partially present, she answered. “What the Olympic paper suggests: putting sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, with the aim of promoting a society governed by peace and that respects the dignity of the individuals”. •
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Wishlist
NOVEMBER 2016
FOR HIM
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE DETAILS BY GIULIANO DEIDDA
The winter must-haves for the contemporary gentleman, perfect both on horeseback and off.
Wool flat cap, Borsalino
Printed silk tie, Salvatore Ferragamo.
Wax jacket with couduroy neck, Barbour.
Wool crew-neck sweater, U.S. Polo Assn.
Polo Ralph Lauren, Fall Winter 2016.
Single-breasted Shetland tweed jacket with cotton twill details, La Martina
Steel Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona with monobloc Cerachrom bezel in ceramic and waterproof case to 100 metres, Rolex.
Cachemire and silk vest with goose padding, Herno. Prince of Wales flat-front trousers, Berwich. Leather boots with mini chaps, Hermès.
Leather gloves with cashmere lining, Brunello Cucinelli.
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WE CARE
YOUR PASSION s i n c e
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SHOP ONLINE:
WWW.MASCHERONISTORE.IT Follow us on:
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Wishlist
NOVEMBER 2016
FOR HER
COUNTRY LADY BY ANNA PAOLA STRONA
The classics of the equestrian style meet the most luxurious accessories.
Rigid leather hat, Chanel
Wellesley Field Jacket in waterpoof and windproof fabric, Hunter x Duke of Wellington
Limited edition Competition jacket in water repellent bi-elastic fabric, clip buttons and zipper, Fixdesign.
Cotton shirt with ruffled front, U.S. Polo Assn.
Stainless steel Dolcevita watch with 18 carat pink gold crown, case set with 46 Top Wesselton VVS diamonds, Longines.
Royal Cashmere Fall Winter 2016 White and pink gold bracelet with white and black diamonds, Roberto Coin. Polished calfskin boots with zipper, Moreschi.
Silk twill scarf, Hermès.
Limited edition printed cashmere blanket edged in tan coloured plongé leather, created to celebrate Loro Piana’s participation in the 2014 World Equestrian Games, Loro Piana.
Leather and alligator The Bridle bag with studs, Burberry
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ADD QUALITY TO YOUR STYLE
Quality is not a detail: it’s Lauretana style, expressed through the exclusive Pininfarina design, for those who choose excellence in the glass. www.lauretana.com
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Wishlist
NOVEMBER 2016
RIDING
STYLISH RIDE BY ANNA PAOLA STRONA
A selection of the best accessories, combining functionality with elegant design.
Helmet with matt polycarbonate outer shell, dual density polystyrene foam inner protection and Coolmax fabric removable inner padding, Kep Italia.
Competition jacket in water repellent bi-elastic fabric, clip buttons and zipper, Fixdesign.
Waist height pants with ¾ seat panel with grip coating, zipped pockets and stretch insert at ankles, Pikeur.
Embroidered ear net in cross stitching style with lurex glitter yarn and microstuds, Equiline.
Sunglasses with O Matter™ frame, light and resistant, with HDPolarized lenses and Unobtainium® earsocks, Oakley.
Saddle cloth in voluminous ‘Big Square’ quilting, with cotton waffle inner side, Eskadron.
English riding crop for horses in leather, cover with peculiar fringes, linen button, hide grip and durable leather tip, County Whip England
Buffalo leather boots with unlaced front and exclusive B-Flex rubber sole, Parlanti Roma. Alluminium brackets, Lorenzini.
Fabric and leather bag, Vestrum.
Padded bridle with fancy stitching on the browband and noseband, Pariani.
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THE FEI EVENTING NATIONS CUP AT
LA PISTA VAIRANO BY GIADA GALLIANO
T
he Vairano International Horse Trials, the Italian leg of the FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing Series 2016, took place from 15-18 September. The competition, held on the charming farmland south of Milan, introduced a new and inviting CIC3* Cross Country track with a great variety of fences designed by Lord Captain Mark Phillips. The FEI Eventing Nations Cup returned to the Vairano Equestrian Centre four years after its last international competition. La Pista, the beautiful location owned by Mrs Maria Giovanna Mazzocchi, is not far from Pavia and really close to Milan. The extraordinary event featured three days of super competitions from September 15th to 18th. The amazing Captain Mark Phillips designed the cross-country trail. Almost a hundred horses from different countries crowded La Pista. The program included the first horse inspection on Thursday, the dressage competition on Friday, cross-country on Saturday and show jumping on Sunday. The prestigious teams, in contention for the CCI3*, CIC2* and CICO3* Nations Cup, came from France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, the Czech Republic, Finland and Spain. Amongst them were some highly prestigious Italian names, such as Stefano Brecciaroli, Marco Biasia, Susanna Bordone and Roberto Rotatori. The great French team won the team competition. As for the final results of the individual CICO3*, the victory went to the relentless and marvellous Andreas Ostholt, riding Pennsylvania 28. The Italian Inno di Mameli welcomed the CIC2* victory by policewoman Susanna Bordone, the daughter of Mrs. Mazzocchi, riding the gelding Irish Amacuzzi. Of course, the staff at La Pista ensured a highly professional organization and management of the event. •
Photography Paolo Angius (C)
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LOCATION
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Q&A
NOVEMBER 2016
INTERVIEW
THE GENTLEMAN RIDER BY GIADA GALLIANO
He had a great and successful military career. He has been a talented horseman. He has been the commoner husband of a Royal and he is a very busy man. Let’s take a look at the life of Lord Captain Mark Phillips.
Mark Phillips
Photo by Paolo Angius
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Born on September 22nd 1948 in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England, Sir Mark Phillips received a privileged upbringing and earned distinction as a military official. After winning a gold medal as an equestrian, Phillips became a national icon as the commoner husband of Princess Anne, daughter of Queen Elizabeth II. As a child, he was educated at Marlborough College and then entered the Sandhurst Royal Military Academy. Upon graduation from Sandhurst, Phillips joined The Royal Dragoon Guards. While rising in the ranks from Lieutenant to Captain, Phillips was named Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, in recognition of his service to the monarch of the British Royal Family, and Personal Aide-de-Camp to the Queen, which allowed him to represent the ruling monarch and her viceroys. Lord Captain Phillips has also always been a very talented horseman, and competed in three-day events riding in The Beaufort Hunt Pony Club Team for five years in the 1960s, reaching the finals on three separate occasions. He won a Team Gold Medal at the Munich Olympics in 1972, and was in the winning teams for the 11th World Championships in 1970 and the 7th European Championships in 1971. He also won the Badminton championship title in 1971, 1972, 1974 and 1981, and at Burghley in 1973. A Very clever rider, the Captain also became an accomplished show-jumper, competing in two winning Nation’s Cup Teams. Phillips retired from professional competition in 1988, after winning a silver medal in the Seoul Olympic Games. He resumed his equestrian pursuits, training athletes in the art of horsemanship and designing courses and trails for riding. He is now a regular contributor to Horse and Hound magazine, and served in a number of roles for the British Equestrian Team and also as the Chef d’Equipe with the US Eventing Team. He therefore remains a leading figure in British and American equestrian circles. Paola De Vincentis interviewed the Lord Captain for us while he was in Vairano for an international trail.
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INTERVIEW
Photo by Fabio Petroni
When did you decide to dedicate your life to horses? Was it very clear in your mind from an early age? Well, I started in The Pony Club and I was pretty successful. Then I got lucky because the first horse I had was an international horse and I won a lot. I joined the Army so that I could still have the opportunity to ride and then, when I left the Army, I went professional. You won the Olympics in Munich, is that correct? Yes, I won the gold medal in Munich and then I won the silver medal in Seoul in 1988, then I got too old so I stopped. Do you think that horses are more of a lifestyle choice than just a job? I am lucky that my hobby became my sport, which then became my profession. Do you have a special equestrian centre where you train your young riders? No. I coached the American Team for twenty years, but it’s such a big country that it was much easier to have me move around rather than moving the horses. You also trained your daughter Zara, right? Yes, I used to help her while she was younger, when she won the individual gold at VEG in Aachen in 2006, but now she does her own things. When do you get the inspiration to create equestrian trails? I always try to let the ground talk to me, because you cannot do cross-country design on a piece of paper. I never know what I am going to do, but, when I see the ground, the picture comes to me clear! Is there an equestrian trail you are most fond of? Burghley is probably the biggest four-star in the world now. I have done that since 1989 and it is a huge, massive event. What do you think about the future of three-day events? That’s a good question! I wish I knew the answer. I think we’re making some good decisions and also some bad decisions. I don’t agree with everything FEI is doing in terms of their plans for the future. In the equestrian sport you cannot have exactly the same rules for 3 different disciplines. There has to be some flexibility. What are your next projects after Vairano? I am going to California on Monday, on Wednesday next week I will be in North Carolina and then I’m going to Barcelona. Afterwards, I will return to North Carolina again. September is a busy month! •
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WHI
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LA FERRIERA A country chic spirit in this extraordinary estate in Tuscia, at the border with Tuscany, composed of 5 villas, 2 main structures and 3 smaller ones. They are all completely renovated with luxury finishes, fireplaces in each room, sorrounded by a luscious vegetation with vineyards and fruit trees, a natural waterfall, streams, a pool, predisposition for tennis court, the possibility of a 6 hole golf course and stables. Privacy and security just an hour from Rome.
VILLA LENA Beautiful estate in the Montevecchia park near Lake Como at a close distance from Milano. The villa of 1500 sqmt from the XVIII cent has affrescos and original fireplaces, surrounded by 8hct of land with a pool. It also has different indipendent apartments on the property. Possibility also of an investment with a garenteed interest.
VILLA LEGNANO The charm of nature at a close distance from Milan, a beautiful villa of 400 sqmt from the beginning of the 1900’s completely renovated with all the comforts from sauna to indoor pool and a tavern, fireplaces and a veranda, sorrounded by a 3500 sqmt park.
PENTHOUSE MILANO Elegant and refined penthouse in the center of the city, 300 sqmt with a 100 sqmt of terrace, a green oasis with a view. Renovated with special attention to detail and precious materials, it is composed of a double living room, 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms a large kitchen and service quaters.
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Lifestyle RITES
NOVEMBER 2016
SCENTED AND BLOOMING
TEAS
BY GABRIELLA LOMBARDI • PHOTOS BY FABIO PETRONI
A little guide to enjoy the pleasure of the most distinguished brews, taken from the book Tea Sommelier, published by White Star in 2013.
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hinese teas are divided into six macro-families, split by color classification, depending on how the tea leaves have been processed after harvest. Once the basic processing, which is different for each tea category, is complete, the “pure” leaves are ready to be sold. In some cases, however, these same teas may be further treated to produce the so-called “processed teas.” This macro-category includes scented, flavored and blooming teas. The art of “scenting” tea leaves is an ancient Chinese tradition applied to any kind of “pure” tea. Scented tea is produced mainly in the regions of Fujian, Sichuan and Yunnan. In scented teas, processed tea leaves are put in contact with fresh flowers, such as jasmine, gardenia, orange blossom, sweet osmanthus and roses. Once the flowers have released their delicate scent, they are removed from the tea leaves. For aesthetic reasons, a few flowers are left, even once the scenting process is complete. Naturally, scented teas are much more delicate than flavored teas, which obtain their aroma, not through contact with fresh flowers, but through the addition of natural or artificial flavorings reminiscent of flowers, fruits and spices. Blooming teas also belong to the macro-category of processed “pure” teas. In this case, tea shoots and flowers are tied together in striking bundles, such as spheres, mushrooms, towers, and even Buddha’s shapes. This process gives the liquor a delicate floral aroma while providing an experience of great visual impact. A very experienced craftsperson can tie more than 400 flowers a day. Originating in the Fujian province of China, these “artistic” teas are made by skilful women with thin and nimble fingers who can produce compact balls of tea of 2 cm in diameter. The order in which dried flowers, such as jasmine, osmanthus, amaranth, calendulas, hibiscus, lily or chrysanthemum, are arranged will determine the shape and the style of the bloom. Some blooms symbolize happiness, love or prosperity. While selecting and purchasing a blooming tea, look for even and whole tea leaves and bright flower colors. To enjoy the display offered by blooming green teas blossoms, we recommend choosing a tall and narrow glass cup (a tumbler) or a tall glass teapot. The teapot or cup should be at least 15 centimeters tall.
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RITES
After pouring water heated to around 80°- 85° C (175°-185° F) on the tea “blossom,” you will have to wait a few minutes before you can observe the unfurling of the truly masterful Chinese art of binding tea buds. The “tea blossoms” can be made solely of tea buds, as in Lu Mu Dan, or paired with different flowers, that will enrich the liquor with a delicate floral aroma and will offer a striking and spectacular visual that is sure to please. Lu Mu Dan, whose shape is similar to a chrysanthemum or small rose, can also be prepared in a glass Gaiwan cup. This tea, fashioned into the shape of a flower, is made exclusively of green tea shoots from the plantations on the Huang Shan mountains in the Anhui region. This tea is a rare example of poetry and aesthetics combined, in order to offer truly surprising aromatic notes. After seeping for a few minutes, this delicate tea in the shape of a rose, unfurls to create a clear and brilliant sweet, honeyed liquor. This classic among Chinese green teas can be seen as a forerunner of the “blooming teas.” As the tea buds have been processed in the same way as green teas, you can prepare several infusions from each blooming tea. These delicates teas are recommended with lightly salted foods, white meats, vegetables, fish, rice and fruit. Or, for their beauty, as tea for meditation. Once the tea has been consumed, you can still continue enjoying it just displaying the flower for a few days in a small glass jar of cold, fresh water. •
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ARIZONA MUSE FOR ROBERTO COIN®
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RIDERS
LORENZO DE LUCA BY CATERINA VAGNOZZI
From a small equestrian centre on the outskirts of Lecce to the most prestigious stages in international showjumping.
Portait of Lorenzo De Luca (Photo Courtesy of Fabio Petroni/IJRC)
L
orenzo De Luca, 29, has been part of the Italian Air Force’s Sports Centre since 2015 with the rank of Chosen Airman and he is the Italian horseman who, more than anyone else, has been making headlines in international show jumping. A few weeks ago, he finally fulfilled his dream: he made the Top 20 in the Longines FEI Ranking List. Last July, he literally caught the attention of both insiders and equestrian sports enthusiasts with his result in Dublin’s historic CSIO: first place with the Italian dream team in four categories at the Nations Cup (along with Piergiorgio Bucci, Emilio Bicocchi and Bruno Chimirri), and a first place in Longines Grand Prix of Ireland, which really gave weight to his performance. An impressive tally of victories. “Actually – said De Luca – the week of competitions in Dublin felt truly magical. Everything went well: the horses were in perfect shape, I was in higher spirits every day and I knew I could be really competitive. My team mates and staff helped create the ideal atmosphere”. If someone had told an 18-year-old Lorenzo that it would take him just 10 years, although 10 years of hard work, to fulfil his dream of becoming a big name in international show jumping, he would have never believed it. It was undoubtedly a tough decision for him “I picked up horse riding while on holiday, on the seaside. No one in my family had ever had anything to do with horses. My father is a building contractor and my mother works at the supermarket. My dad was against it, but he bought Saturno, my first horse, in exchange for a little work. After school I would ride the horses of a small, local merchant and I would groom them too. The problem, or, now that I think of it, the opportunity, came when I graduated from high school. I didn’t want to keep working with my dad because I didn’t like it. Instead, I was terribly fascinated by the world of horses. There was no other solution: I left without a penny in my pocket. I had nothing but my moped. I took my horse and I went to Sacrofano, on the outskirts of Rome. Simone Coata is a friend of mine, we’re the same age, and I was welcomed in his father’s stable. I could also count on my first small salary. My mom was the only member of my family I would talk to at that time. My career as a horseman continued in Modena, with Borghi, for four years, it was there
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Lorenzo De Luca and Balou de Coeur Joye (Photo Courtesy of CSIO Roma/M.Proli)
Lorenzo De Luca and Eleonora Moroni Ottaviani (Photo Courtesy of Fabio Petroni/IJRC)
that I was introduced to Gianni Govoni’s stable.” This horseman had a lot of talent, the right character, but, most of all, clear ideas. His professional career was the consequence of a lot of sacrifices, which were finally rewarded in 2015, when he joined Stephan Conter’s Stephex Stables, one of the most important stables for the trade of high-level show jumping horses. “Rori Marzotto helped me enter the international stages, she is an equestrian sports enthusiast and a horse owner, and she offered me the chance to ride her young horses and to move in with Henk Nooren, the Dutch trainer of the French team. The top riders used to train in his stable near Liegi twice a week. It was like going to University.” The definitive transfer to Belgium came in 2012, when Lorenzo, while competing in Arezzo, met Neil Jones, whom he had already met while staying with Nooren, and was asked to work for him. The road to the international stages was open once again. “Jones really believed in me and he made me train with good horses – said de Luca – I began riding horses owned by important individuals such as Michael Collins and Luck Tilleman. In 2013 I went to Florida for the winter season and that’s were I really gained experience. There were some great competitions: three months of races with the best North American horsemen and each one a chance to stand out.” The relationship with Stephan Conter began after the WEG in Normandy in 2014, when Lorenzo was part of his team. “I didn’t think about it twice and, in January 2015, I moved to Bruxelles. Stephan’s stable is really wonderful and extremely functional. It was recently enlarged with a new wing. We’re five horsemen taking care of his horses: Daniel Deusser, he is the best and he is a great point of reference for all of us, the two Swedes, Jonna Ekberg and Petronella Anderson, and the French, Robinson Maupiler. Each one of us takes care of fifteen horses and has a dedicated staff: two grooms and a horseman to move the horses. We’re really busy and I
think there may be only two or three weekends a year where we don’t compete”. Lorenzo De Luca, besides from being an excellent horseman, is a really lovable and friendly person. “I’m really satisfied with my work and with the confidence that Stephen Conter placed in me. My greatest pride is seeing the passion with which he follows the horses’ improvements and their results. This sport is the most important thing to him. The fact that I contributed to the good results that Italy has achieved at this year’s Nations Cup were a source of motivation for him as well. The horses are all improving and I’m improving with them”. He has a long road ahead of him, but the indoor competition season has started well for the young horseman from Puglia who has placed fifth in the temporary overall ranking after the first three legs of the Longines FEI World Cup (Oslo, Helsinky and Lyon). In Verona, his fourth participation and a special competition for all the Italian horsemen, De Luca was determined and motivated after the third place in the Grand Prix in Lyon, which was won by his teammate Deusser. Another result to mark his extraordinary professional growth. “2016 has been a special year and being part of the Italian team in many CSIO and in the final of the Furusiyya Fei Nations Cup in Barcellona definitely contributed to my technical improvement and growth. We finally have a competitive Italian team and the high spirits in the team are a great source of motivation”. •
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Lorenzo De Luca and Ensor De Litrange Lxii (Photo Courtesy of CSIO Roma/M.Proli)
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STEPHEX GROUP Three ranges, heavy weight models, endless possibilities, and best seller STX 2 Horses.
O
ne of the strong points of STX Horsetrucks’ offer lies in the diversity of its models and refinishing. It’s impossible for a horseman not to find what he’s looking for! If you’re looking for comfort and quality with a small budget, the AKX series will live up to your expectations. Built on a Mercedes châssis, this vehicle can accommodate 5 to 9 horses and ensures functionality and ease of driving. If you’re looking for a more spacious solution and want to choose the engine, the ideal choice is the STX. Emblematic, this model has already won over hundreds of professional horsemen, thanks to its style, its numerous hi-tech optionals and the chance to drive a Mercedes, Scanio or Volvo châssis. In less than a decade, the STX has become the point of reference in the industry, thanks to its unmatchable value for money. Whoever wants to customize the interiors and add a personal touch, will find the Equix to be the right choice. Drawing its inspiration from yachts and nordic design, the Equix alllows freedom in the choice of colour, materials and layout, a vehicle built around your every need. Stephex Horsetrucks has revolutionized the horsetruck industry. It’s a matter of fact. But if there’s a field where the brand has literally changed the industry, that’s the one of 2-horse vans. As a consequence of the new regulation with regards to the towing of trailers (a light vehicle can no longer tow more than 1,5 tons), the demand for two-horse vans, which can be driven with a category B driving licence, has increased drastically. Stephex Horsetrucks was able to adapt to this new demand with the STX 2 horses, adopting the same design of the other heavy weight models. Moreover, the STX 2 horses offers great comfort: GPS, leather seats, MP3, but most of all, rubber flooring, a ventilator, and LED lighting in the horse area. Already a best seller, the STX 2 horses, built on a Renault châssis, will turn kilometres into metres. •
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PHOTOGRAPHER
FABIO PETRONI PHOTOGRAPHING HORSES IS NEVER EASY. IN FACT, THESE ANIMALS HAVE PERFECT PROPORTIONS WHICH MUST BE FAITHFULLY REPRODUCED. THEY HAVE A FORCE THAT MUST BE TRANSMITTED. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN PARTICULAR BEAUTY THAT MUST BE RESPECTED.
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I have photographed many horses and each one of them behaved differently: young foals with cheeky personalities, or others that hid behind their mothers, who were always present on this set, checking on everything (every once in a while they would neigh to one another; who knows what they were saying...), stallions famous as sires (one of them was truly aggressive), and each one with its own trusted groom who knew its character perfectly. Some of the horses would allow themselves to be bribed with carrots or sugar cubes, while others ate their fill, then went right on doing exactly what they wanted. Still others would tease me; even though they knew just what I wanted, they would do the exact opposite. Some would cooperate, others were indolent, and esch one had its own personality!
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All photo shoots were performed adhering to the utmost respect for our friends, the horses. Fabio Petroni
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Destination
NOVEMBER 2016
ADDRESSES
VERONA BY GIADA GALLIANO
• Hotels •
• Restaurants • Tre Marchetti Just a few steps from the Arena, the restaurant Tre Marchetti delights its guests with traditional recipes. Their cuisine is intelligent, tasty and rich. The Tre Marchetti is a very special spot for whoever wants to taste the local cuisine, presented with simplicity and elegance. The restaurant’s design is typical, warm and welcoming just like in a Verona trattoria. During the opera season, the restaurant is open until
Byblos Art Hotel Villa Amistà
late at night and lots of artists and celebrities,
Villa Amistà is a combination of historic and contemporary pieces of furniture, the result of
and Bruce Springsteen have eaten there. Tre
such as Placido Domingo, Franco Zeffirelli
well-known designer Alessandro Mendini’s inventiveness, featuring several artworks by world-
Marchetti gives rise to emotions and helps
famous artists. This charming hotel is a real museum of contemporary art and design. Bright colours and plastics combine with paintings and marble elements in the 17th Century rooms to create a unique and exclusive project: a permanent exhibition of some of the best artists and
Vicolo Tre Marchetti, 19/B - +39 0458030463 www.tremarchetti.it
Verona stay in the heart of its visitors for a long time after they have left.
designers in the world, such as Ron Arad, Philippe Starck, Marcel Wanders, Ettore Sottsass, Eero Saarinen, Eero Aarnio and many more. There is also a beautiful park spanning 20.000 square meters, offering an evocative setting with fountains made from Verona marble and an elegant deck level swimming pool with a classic shape. This charming hotel truly offers all comforts. Via Cedrare 78 - 37029 Corrubbio di Negarine, Frazione di San Pietro in Cariano (VR) +39 0456855555 www.byblosarthotel.com
Le Suite Di Giulietta Le Suite di Giulietta is a charming relais in the historic centre of Verona, right in front of Romeo and Juliet’s balcony. The building is a historic monument from the 1400s, restored using
Locanda 4 cuochi Defined a modern trattoria, Locanda 4 cuochi was designed
advanced technologies yet respecting its past.
and built by the great chef Giancarlo Perbellini (2 Michelin stars). The other tree chefs,
Through its windows, you can see the balcony
Andrea Manzoli, Fracasso and Dario Moreno Pellegrini, also work as waiters taking
of the most famous lovers in the world, the
orders. While waiting for their orders to be served, Guests can entertain themselves
medieval Torre dei Lamberti and the Veronetta
by drawing with the pencils and markers placed on the table as centrepiece. The
roofs, the first Verona core. There are five suites,
restaurant serves a modern cuisine, seasonal and with high quality products, but with
all with wooden floors and chromotherapy
a rock’n’roll spirit. Locanda 4 cuochi is a pleasant, young and sparkling spot where to
lighting in the bathroom. The design of Le Suite
enjoy an excellent classic Italian cuisine. A great place to keep in mind.
di Giulietta is articulated, elegant, with different
Via Alberto Mario, 12 - +39 0458030311 - www.locanda4cuochi.it
styles and with unique pieces of furniture for each room. Exclusive and lovely.
Vicolo Crocioni, 8 - +39 3272068209 www.suitedigiulietta.it
L’oste scuro L’oste scuro is a restaurant and fish trattoria in Vicolo San Silvestro. The Wooden old
Castello di Bevilacqua
beams and old ceramic plates create a warm and informal atmosphere. The menu offers
An authentic XIV Century castle not far from Verona. As soon as you’ll enter, you will
a superb selection of raw fish, cooked fish, seafood, as well as excellent hot dishes, like
immediately feel embraced in a warm and welcoming atmosphere, immersed in the history
pastas. I highly recommend the mixed tasting of fish and raw shellfish (the oysters are
of Verona. You can relax in the splendid suites, with soft lights and red rose petals, in a
incredible). Whether you’ll choose the finest fish, the more common blue fish, or the small
truly enchanting setting. Each of the seven rooms, the names of which recall the castle’s
and unknown fish varieties, they’ll always be presented in a way that highlights their taste
ancestors and their passions, offers magical sceneries with unforgettable class. The ancient
and high quality. Nothing but very good fish.
decorations are mixed with modern comforts, so that guests can enjoy a truly unique atmosphere. At Castello di Bevilacqua the Renaissance style leaves room to modern design
Vicolo San Silvestro, 10 - +39 045 592650 - www.ristoranteosteoscuro.tv
details too. Definitely a fairy tale Relais. Via Roma 50 37040 Bevilacqua (VR) - +39 044293655 - www.castellobevilacqua.com
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ADDRESSES
GENEVA BY GIADA GALLIANO
• Hotels •
• Restaurants •
Il Lago
Swiss Luxury Apartments
Il Lago, Four Seasons Hotel Des Bergues’s main restaurant, is a feast for the eyes and
Located in a historic building, once belonging to the Darwin/Wedgwood family, Swiss
taste buds. The bold and grand interior, with its intricate brocades, French doors
Luxury Apartments are just a few minutes from Lake Geneva and are situated in
and chandeliers, is reminiscent of the lavish imperial period. Magnificently decorated
the centre of the city’s business area. With easy access to nearby restaurants, shops
with Italian frescoes, the living room is elegant yet welcoming, while the blue room,
and nightspots, these luxury apartments are just a short walk from Geneva’s main
although somewhat more formal, is a great destination for business lunches. The menu
railway station. Swiss Luxury Apartments have one, two and three-room suites,
is a perfect marriage of traditional Italian specialties and the best Mediterranean
all featuring striking contemporary decor and luxury furnishings. Each suite has a
gastronomy. The arrival of Two-Michelin-starred chef Philippe Jourdin will guarantee
private entrance, dining and lounge area, as well as fully-equipped kitchenettes. The
that Il Lago remains one of the top restaurants in Geneva. Surrounded by centennial
suites also boast a complete range of hi-tech amenities for both business and leisure.
olive trees, the terrace is a wonderful place to dine. Combined with the legendary Four Seasons service, guests are ensured a flawless and memorable dining experience.
Rue Philippe-Plantamour 6 - +41 225961200 - www. swiss-luxury-apartments.ch
Four Seasons Hotel Des Bergues - 33 Quai des Bergues - +41229087000 www.fourseasons.com
Parc des Eaux Vives
Auberge Du Lion D’Or
Hôtel du Parc des Eaux-Vives is housed in an
Thomas Byrne and Gilles Dupont have been
18th Century mansion, with its own extensive
described
grounds next to Lake Geneva. Only 2 km from
as
choreographers
the centre of Geneva, this small luxury hotel is
the of
tightrope
walkers
gastronomy.
Set
and in
tantalizingly soothing location, with views over
within easy reach of a golf course and the Gare
Lake Geneva, the aesthetics of their cuisine is
de Cornavin train station. Parc des Eaux-Vives
creative and streamlined. If the mesmerizing
has seven rooms located on the hotel’s top floor,
views on the city and lake can be considered
offering spectacular views of the park and lake.
the frames, the savoury dishes are undoubtedly
All rooms feature sloped, attic ceilings, parquet
the paintings. Maintaining a smart and classical
floors and sumptuous furnishings. The rooms
décor, the Auberge du Lion d’Or shifts the focus
are also equipped with a full range of amenities
of attention towards the dishes. Sharing their
and have private bathrooms.
ideology of creating edible masterpieces, the Auberge du Lion d’Or also hosts cooking classes
82 Quai Gustave Ador - +41228497575 - www.parcdeseauxvives.ch
for parties of six to eight. 5 Place Pierre-Gautier, 1223 Cologny (Geneve) - +41227364432 - www.liondor.ch
Hotel Les Armures At the heart of Geneva’s picturesque Old Town, Hotel Les Armures consists of four buildings, which have been lovingly transformed into an unassuming luxury hotel, offering a genuine and discreet city hide-away. The buildings, leaning against the old boundary walls of the city, have belonged successively to the Bishops of Geneva and to the distinguished Chouet de la Rive family, who restored the structure in the 17th Century and decorated it with an Italian style. Today, the Granges family personally runs this charming hotel with 32 rooms, offering a luxury yet unpretentious accommodation and excellent dining. Guests will sleep within walls steeped in history, beside the adjoining St. Pierre Cathedral. It’s the ideal location to discover the treasures of the Old town, and is also within a five-minutes walk from the shopping district and the lakefront promenade. Rue du Puits-Saint-Pierre 1, +41 223109172 - www.hotel-les-armures.ch
a
Vertig’O Restaurant Contemporary and eclectic, the Vertig’O is considered one of the most taste-engaging restaurants in Geneva, thanks to the expert direction of talented chef Jérôme Manifacier and his team. With an emphasis on ‘simple and tasty’, the French and Mediterraneaninspired dishes draw their strength from the traditional and serve up an unforgettable gastronomic experience in comfortable surroundings. The Champagne Brunch offered by Chef Jérôme Manifacier at the Hotel de la Paix is the ultimate Sunday treat, with its cold buffet dishes and hot à la carte dishes, accompanied by Laurent Perrier Champagne, a dessert buffet by pastry chef Emmanuel Lebled, followed by coffee or tea. Hotel de la Paix - 11 Quai du Mont-Blanc- +41229096073 - www.hoteldelapaix.ch
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Legal Corner
NOVEMBER 2016
CONSULENCE
THE BEST RIDER OF
THE
NEW MILLENNIUM BY GIUSEPPE BIANCHI
T
he new millennium has changed the role of the professional rider. Unlike in the past, when international shows were very few, we now have about five thousand international competitions. In such a scenario, standing out is much more difficult and a good rider needs a completely different background compared to the past. Having been the lawyer of the IJRC, I had the opportunity to speak with all the best riders in the world; the first impression I had was that they were not the best because of their riding skills, but mainly because of the innovative way in which they conceived their profession. International show jumping is nowadays a cross-border activity that entails having to attend shows organized by different countries around the world. As a consequence, international riders must respect different laws by different legal jurisdictions. For instance, the FEI has recently issued a brief, entitled International Movements of Horse, which clearly states that Asia, the Middle East and North Africa are not governed by EU regulations and this fact “faces a number of challenges” related to the international movement of competition horses. If a horse tests positive to doping in Italy, the
rider will be put under investigation not only by the FEI, but by the Court as well, and charged with a criminal offence under article 544-ter of the Criminal Code which is punished with reclusion from 3 to 18 months or with a fine from € 5.000 to € 30.000: “anyone giving animals drugs or other forbidden substances or inflicting treatments which produce a damage to the animal’s welfare”. This new scenario has turned the contemporary international rider into an “individual company” operating all around the world. A good rider must know if his stable is earning or losing money at any given time, exactly like a manager leading his business would. The candidates selected by the Young Riders Academy, a new project launched in 2014 thanks to Rolex’s invaluable support, are really focused on learning how to organize their carriers, getting good sponsors and managing their relationship with the owner of the horse to avoid problems in the future. In a recent case, a rider began riding a young horse and, after a few years, they were able to win a team silver medal at the European Championship. Afterwards, the horse was sold and the rider filed a lawsuit against the owner, claiming that he had the right to receive a percentage of the price that was paid for the horse, because he was able to improve the horse’s skills to such a high level. A career’s-worth of achievement, even an Olympic gold medal, can be lost if the horse tests positive to a prohibited substance. A modern professional must have a clear knowledge of the anti-doping rules issued by the FEI and his veterinarian’s staff must be prepared to safeguard the horse’s integrity during different shows. A good rider should also be aware of the fact that facing a trial for a doping violation in front of the FEI means taking part in a criminal trial and that it must be approached as such. In conclusion, I like to think of the modern professional as the hub of a wheel where the different spokes are the FEI, the owners of the horses, his sponsors and so on. The best riders are in the middle of this intersection and are ready to deal with each of these spokes in spite of the fact that they are regulated by different rules and Laws. •
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Equestrian
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