The Editorial

The goal achieved is but a starting point

This year and beyond, in addition to the primary health aspects, this pandemic has seriously affected the economies of all countries obliging most activities to close. The same has happened in the world of sport, in particular affecting gyms, swimming pools, collective and team sports as well as skiing. To the disadvantage of activities in closed environments, such restrictions literally resulted in the explosion of outdoor open-air sports.

Never before have so many people been seen walking and riding bicycles on country lanes. There has also been an increase in the number of those who have taken up riding, confirming the enormous merits of our equestrian sports which, starting with the absolute value represented by the relationship with the horse, allows one to be outdoors in large spaces.

Evidence of this rise in numbers has been confirmed by official data published by the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation (FISE), when on March 31st the number of those registered rose to 101,034. Compared to the same period, last year between January 1st and March 31st 2020, the Federation had 66,624 registered riders and hence the increase amounts to 66%.

At this point, however, the real goal is not to have achieved these numbers but to make sure they are maintained over time. That is the real commitment we need to make from hereon. It is a commitment that must be made by all those who work in this sector, be they riding school owners and managers of equestrian centres, instructors, coaches and all the professions involved that would be too long to list.

It is a commitment that must also finally also involve the federation, which must field all resources possible so as to outline a specific path for the valorisation of our sport through the quality of everyone’s worlds and always respecting the ethical values that must characterise it thanks to the real leading players of every success, our horses.

Buy this month’s issue: