Translation by Asja Goetzke
It is not a coincidence that the most competitive European countries are those to have breeding stables based on quality and professionalism and not on large numbers.
In fact, it is not sufficient to dispose of reproduction mares to be “a breeder”, but it is inevitable a business orientated set-up and a professional management, to guarantee the birth and growth of horses that can bear the international confrontation.
For many years, we have justified our lacking successes in breeding with the diversity of the grounds and the missing dimensions of the available areas; thus, the disadvantage due to the lack of vast grassland areas, as present in the rural northern zones in Europe.
But the true problem was the lack of investment in breeding mares, trusting just in the quality of the breeding stallions! Too often, mares, not suitable for use in the sport for conformation or age, were used for breeding.
Riccardo Volpi has demonstrated, in little more than 15 years, that the available rural areas are not only adequate, but also favorable thanks to the climatic conditions, having created Allevamento Fonteabeti in 2005, based on the genetics of six extraordinary quality breeding mares, bought in the Netherlands.
Gradually the number of breeding mares on stud has grown, increased by Hannoveranian breeding mares deriving from excellent lines, many acquired from the Schockemöhle stables.
The adequate business and success orientated mentality, supported by important investments, following a programmed vision, has transformed a project in today’s reality.
Fonteabeti is not just a dream of Riccardo Volpi anymore, but has become a competitive business and an Italian absolute excellence, also in the International comparison.
Four-hundred (400) hectares in the Marche destined as grassing areas and the development of the foals in freedom, as well as an important equestrian site at Sansepolcro, where the idea was formed, today offering 150 boxes, in-door arena, out-door arenas, all created to support the progressive technical growth of the sport horses.
With a mean of 25 new born foals per year born from 27 high quality breeding mares, mostly registered in German stud-books and breeding stallions selected by international experts, taken in consideration the ideal fusion of blood lines to create competitive dressage horses.
But it is not enough to produce in a good manner, but the growth of each foal is of great importance, treating ever single foal as if it was the one and only one, following the youngsters by means of a professional staff, technical assistance, veterinarians, physiotherapists, farriers of highest level constantly present in the facilities.
In order to guarantee a future in the sport to the promising horses, a special attention and kindliness in the phase of first schooling of the horse (to willingly avoid the words “breaking in”, “saddle breaking”) is necessary, and then progressively proceed, patiently, taking great care with the schooling under the saddle.
At Allevamento Fonteabeti the foals grow strong in liberty in vast appropriate grass areas, but always under the daily attentive control of the expert staff members and the constant sanitary control of the veterinarians.
In work at Allevamente Fonteabeti there are normally about 50 horses under the saddle.
The professional staff, that takes daily care of the horses at Allevamento Fonteabeti, is made up by 16 grooms and technicians and five riders of international level, who take care of the daily schooling of the horses as well as of the first steps, getting the horse used to the saddle and tack by the means of horsemanship. You cannot fail in this phase!
Hurrying or forcing the horse in this phase can implicate severe damage to the horses’ character, can inflict possible physical damages and create psychological traumas, which will condition the horses’ ability to perceive the training and its willingness to cooperate during the following training process.
Riccardo Volpi has understood the principle secret of success of breeding, that it does not consist just in the simple production of good horses, but that it is to guarantee to ideal progression in growths and schooling, and the visibility of the “products” of his breeding, presenting the horses in competition in the most adequate way.
Fonteabeti is becoming a center of equestrian excellence, demonstrating successfully the ability to produce competitive foals and grow competitive sport horses in Italy.
Horses with nothing to envy to the horses of Northern Europe.
To quote the recent successes, we would like to remind you the qualification and participation of Ecuador di Fonteabeti at the World Championship of Young Dressage Horses 2021 and the magnificent performance of Elektra di Fonteabeti, scoring second place at the Hanoveranian Championship in Germany 2021.
Many Italian riders are putting their bets on youngsters born at Allevamento Fonteabeti, as Valentina Truppa, who appointed the promising Smile di Fonteabeti as partner in crime and invested in his training, being able to prove the quality by winning several young horse classes, making him a guarantee for results on highest levels.
But last but not least, Allevamento Fonteabeti is also becoming a high-class training center for riders, who find at Sansepolcro the technical support at highest levels.
A professional environment is provided, where the provided technical knowledge is combined to the insight to equestrian culture, such as professional stable management, guaranteeing the horses’ health and the wellbeing of the competitive athlete “horse”.
Here as well, the stables Allevemento Fonteabeti are a point of reference, where the professional staff within the daily taking care is supported by not only the continuous presence of two specialized veterinarians, horses’ dentists, the ferrier’s services, but also by a team of physiotherapists, who besides offering the well-known medical treatments as medical electronic devices, water treatmill, etc. pp., are researching and developing new important software and treatment protocols in cooperation with an Italian specialized company to minimize the use of pharmacies in anti-inflammatory treatments of contractions, distensions and general osteo articular traumas.
Too often, the cause of horses’ physical problems is being presumed in the accidental coincidences.
The truth is, that the well-being of our horses as athletes can be guaranteed only with the daily taking care of, the detail-fanatic assistance and the special attention, often lacking at the staff, technicians and owners. A superficial stable management, eases the way to infortunes and limits the sportive operativity of many times promising, high quality horses to be presented in competition, those being the most sensible and reactive subjects.
The inappropriate management of the stables and the lack of professional taking care, the absence of appropriate facilities in the phase of recovery from injuries, are the reasons that often, promising high quality horses are kept from emerging in competition.
The results in breeding, but more than else the delivered results in competition, at national and international level, of the stables Allevamento Fonteabeti, are the prove that professionality and entrepreneurship spirit can create the “plus value”, its’ creating so far appearing impossible to realize in Italy, or in other words: the creation of a pool of equestrian excellence at Sansepolcro, is now a magnificent reality thanks to Riccardo Volpi!
