125 years old and it doesn’t show: Fieracavalli brings equestrian passion back to Veronafiere 9-12 November

Fieracavalli is one of Veronafiere’s historic, best known and most loved brands. It is pure passion – a passion that unites – as the claim for the 125^th edition of the international equestrian show scheduled 9-12 November at Veronafiere clearly stated.

This year’s event features 700 companies from 25 countries and 35 breeder associations occupying 12 show halls totalling over 128,000 net square metres of exhibition space. Yet the absolute protagonists are still the 2,500 horses representing 60 breeds on show over the four days. More than 200 initiatives will animate the event, including evening shows with Bob Sinclar’s DJ set, conferences, contests and sports competitions, including the only Italian stage of the Longines FEI Show Jumping World Cup™.

Fieracavalli plays a leading role for the entire equestrian community in Italy: a primacy emphasised by institutional visits to the horse fair by four ministers: Agriculture, Tourism, Sport, and Disability. The exhibition at Veronafiere represents a sector which is worth almost 3 billion euros in Italy. It employs 35,000 people, boasts 380,000 registered horses in the country, 140,000 farms involved in promoting the 32 Italian horse breeds and more than 1,400 farm holiday centres offering equitation options.

“Fieracavalli is the demonstration of what can be achieved when the Italian system truly works as a team,” commented Federico Bricolo, President of Veronafiere. “It is only right and fair to share credit for the success of this event with everyone who help us organize it throughout the year, starting with the Ministry of Agriculture and sector associations, our own local area which also works in support of the Show, the Italian Federation of Equestrian Sports and ICE-Trade Agency – a fundamental promotional vehicle for the Italian equestrian field. If this show has become the global landmark for the equestrian value chain, it is precisely because it is the result of everyone’s hard work.”

Talking about the equestrian world also means talking about a sector that generates business: sector operators alongside Italian and foreign trend seekers attending Fieracavalli will find a range of proposals for all needs, including accessories and equitation items, clothing, technical equipment, horse feed, pharmaceuticals and veterinary products, as well as accessories for riding schools and stables.

“We must always bear in mind that Fieracavalli was founded in 1898 precisely as an equestrian market on a European scale,” explained Maurizio Danese, Managing Director of Veronafiere. “And today, the show is one of the largest international showcases for business in the sector, with huge areas specifically for commercial areas where top international brands exhibit their products.” We have invited 25 delegations of international buyers to the event, selected together with ICE-Trade Agency, from target markets including Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Oman, Paraguay, Peru, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Uruguay.

The merit behind the success of Fieracavalli’s format also lies in its ability to evolve with the times and embrace innovation, while always ensuring the finest context for exhibitors and visitors. The great challenge for the 2023 Show was to review the layout of the Exhibition Centre to create spaces exclusively for the movement of horses perfectly integrated with those for visitors, thanks to the creation of the Horse Safety Loop – cordoned off paths reserved for them to ensure their well-being and allow everyone to get to know horses in the show up close and safely.

Finally, Veronafiere has also decided to raise the bar in the social field for this 125^th Fieracavalli: in addition to more than 20 associations in tertiary sectors directly involved in the event and direct support for the “Riding The Blue” horse therapy project, the three evenings of the Arté Gold Gala were dedicated to three awareness-raising ideas. They range from the issue of violence against women, to inclusion in employment of people affected by Down’s syndrome and the Ri.Abilitiamoci initiative by the Progetto Islander Onlus Association, dedicated to children with cancer.