Berni, Mauro, Citelli, Truppa Win 2013 Italian

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interview | 31
INTERVIEW
T
he Italian
Renowned for her black army uniform, Italy’s
most successful dressage rider is moving on up
in the senior ranks on her impressive gelding
Fixdesign Eremo del Castegno.
Photography Rasmus Malmstrøm Styling Line Jarde
Text Maria Graae
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S
mall in stature and very
laid-back, Valentina Truppa
does not fit the typical
image of a dressage diva
when she meets us in
Herning at the European
Championships in
Denmark. She has a natural
summer tan and is wearing
jeans, a white T-shirt and
sneakers, her shoulder-length brown hair fixed in a
bun, revealing several piercings in each ear.
Valentina had her Olympic debut in London last
year at the age of 26, riding the Italian horse she
and her father trained from novice level. When she
entered the Olympic arena at the Final among the
very best in the world, she not only accomplished a
personal goal, she was also the sole Italian rider – indeed, the first Italian finalist in 25 years. And at this
year’s European Championships in Herning, she’s
part of a young Italian national team, of which two
of her fellow riders – Federica Scolari and Micol
Rustignoli – are also her students.
I
taly’s most successful dressage rider is no
stranger to the absolute top level and championships; she celebrated her first big successes
in dressage as a Junior and Young Rider. As a
multiple European Young Rider gold medallist she
earned a total of eight European medals and is a
triple-consecutive winner of the World Cup
Finals for Young Riders in Frankfurt. In winning
the Frankfurt World Cup, she also became the first
Italian in history to win one of these events. She
celebrated her Olympic debut in London the same
year she earned bronze in her very first World
Cup final.
T
hough her father is a successful dressage
judge, Valentina has by now established
herself in her own right. Having started
THE HORSE RIDER’S JOURNAL
riding while very young and competing from the
age of 12, she earned her first European medal in
2004 at the European Junior championships, and
her life has been dedicated to horses and dressage
ever since. Today her mornings are spent riding,
while the afternoons are busy teaching students.
Her life with horses as a professional athlete at the
top of her game does not leave room for much free
time. So, immediately after the Italian Championships in 2012, she and her father carefully studied
their calendar to plan ahead for an Italian team
qualification at the European Championship in
Herning the following year.
How do you prepare for a championship like this one?
“I make sure I eat and sleep well and simply
focus. I don’t get nervous. I tell myself, ‘It’s just
sport, not warfare – and if you make a mistake
you’ll have the opportunity to do better next
time’. By now my horse is used to going to shows
– at home I always ride to music to make sure he’s
familiar with it, and sometimes I even invite a
photographer over, so he gets used to the noise of
the camera. Ermo is great at piaf and passage, but
with the canter that comes afterwards he can get
almost out of control. He’s hot, as he should be to
do a good Grand Prix, but he can be quite
spooked, which makes it hard to keep him in
control. The last three or four months I’ve finally
found the best way to avoid the problem by
repeating the transitions between piaf and canter
more quietly. I keep working on it, and that is
how I solve my problems.”
You’re also a trainer for two of your team mates.
“My students are both just 25 years old, and
have advanced from small tour to Grand Prix
within this last year. To be here at the Europeans,
their first big show, all of sudden riding beside
Edward Gal, is a big experience for them, and for
me as well. To me they did well, they focused and
learned a lot. As a trainer I try to do a lot like my
THE HORSE RIDER’S JOURNAL
I make sure
I eat and
sleep well
and simply focus.
I don’t get
nervous. I tell
myself, ‘It’s just
sport, not
warfare – and if
you make a
mistake you’ll
have the
opportunity
to do better
next time’
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father: speak about horses in the stables, and then
outside the stables talk about other things and
have fun as well. It’s very important to me that I
explain to my students why I ask them to do this or
that. The goal is not to make them robots but to
allow them to think for themselves, because in the
end one is all alone in the arena.”
I
In the arena,
I’m competing
with the other
riders, of course,
but I’m also
competing with
myself. If I can
improve one or
two points on my
results, it gives
me great
satisfaction.
I know my horse’s
weak points and
work hard to
improve them
n daily life, Valentina runs her parents’
equestrian centre, Centro Equestre Monferrato, with her father. Dressage is still a fairly
minor concern in Italy but it is on the rise, and the
Truppa family’s centre serves as a cradle for Italian
dressage, located in Asti, near Torino, in Northern
Italy. It’s also where Valentina grew up with her
mother, father and her brother in a spacious,
typical Italian country house. Today she lives in an
apartment in Asti, which is a small, medieval city.
The area is quite similar to Tuscany, with plenty of
picturesque countryside and vineyards. September is definitely the best time to visit, because of
the truffles – which the area is famous for – and of
course the fine wine, she says.
Her father and trainer, O-judge Dr Vincenzo
Truppa ­– or Enzo to friends ­– was the first Italian
dressage rider to compete in a World Equestrian
Games in 1982. Apart from her father, elite trainers
George Theodorescu and Hubertus Schmidt have
been the greatest influences on Valentina’s
development as a rider and trainer. It was her
father who was by her side as she progressed from
being the European Champion of the Young
Riders to being top ten in the world rankings and a
top-level Grand Prix rider at Championships.
What’s it like, being trained by your father?
“When I was quite young, I made up a rule: in
the arena he is my trainer, and I am the student;
when we are out of the stables, we talk about
everything except horses. Since he is still my
trainer after all these years, I would say the rule has
worked rather well.”
What makes you proud?
“The best sensation a horse can give me is
when it does its absolute best in that very moment.
In the arena, I’m competing with the other riders,
of course, but I’m also competing with myself. If I
can improve one or two points on my results, it
gives me great satisfaction. I know my horse’s
weak points and work hard to improve them.”
H
ard work and results have led Valentina to
being a member of the Carabinieri since
2004, which means being part of the
Army and gaining financial support but also an
obligation to get top results.
“The Carabinieri is the army of the republic.
It was originally founded as the police force of the
Kingdom of Sardinia, so it’s quite old. It’s a sport
team, really. I don’t have a ‘real’ job there – they are
a sponsor, more or less, they help with transport
and such. It requires good results to be a member,
otherwise you quickly get replaced. And of course
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THE HORSE RIDER’S JOURNAL
there is the uniform, which makes me look
different from the other riders, since I’m the only
one here and at the international dressage scene
that wears one, but now it feels normal. When I
wear the uniform I keep a double of everything in
the truck, because if I forget anything there’s no
one to borrow from – no one else wears black
pants with red stripes.”
N
ow aged 28, Valentina has already trained
eight horses to Grand Prix level. “I did my
first Grand Prix at 15 on my father’s horse
at a national show in Italy. I mean, why not? If you
don’t try you’ll never know your potential. We
wouldn’t possibly be able to buy educated horses,
so we usually buy our horses as foals. I’d say we
were very lucky with Eremo – he was just six
months when we got him; I didn’t even know
his true talent until he was eight or nine, and as
a young horse he was quite lazy. It’s true what
George Theodorescu says: you can never
really know about a horse’s real talent, you just
have to wait and see. In training horses, time is
our best friend.”
How did your style develop?
“As a child I loved to watch Isabell Werth
ride, and to me she’s still the queen of dressage.
Even now with all the young riders like Charlotte
and Helen conquering the scene, Isabell is still
here. I would be over the moon to achieve just half
of what she has. You can always learn from others,
and in my mind Isabell and Anky Van Grunsven
are still some of the best.”
Are you an open person or more private?
“I’m actually very private, but I’ve learned to
be more open and public. I like to hide away where
there are not too many people; at a show like this I
prefer to have my quiet moments just to listen to
the radio or read a novel. At home, a trip to the
cinema, shopping or going to a restaurant is all the
excitement I need. I would even say I prefer horses
to humans, that’s my thing. I cannot imagine
another way of life, even though I tried other
sports as a child; I always knew I wanted to ride.”
Is there anything you are fussy or particular about?
“At home it does not matter as much if my
boots are not completely spotless, but during a
competition like this I am particular about pretty
much everything! My groom says he hates me
because I like to do everything myself and do not
leave enough work for him. But as I always tell him:
four eyes are better than two.”
How does it feel to be around horses so much?
“My love for horses comes before competitions and everything else, really. Just look at the
para-dressage here – it’s incredible what horses
can do. I learned to be around horses and respect
horses long before I ever thought of competing.
They are wonderful animals: the relationship
between horse and human is something so unique.
Just look back at history where would we have
been without them – we owe them so much.”
•
e uro dre ssage .co m
http://www.euro dressage.co m/equestrian/2013/09/30/berni-mauro -citelli-truppa-win-2013-italian-dressage-champio nships
Berni, Mauro, Citelli, Truppa Win 2013 Italian Dressage
Championships
T he podium f or the 2013 Italian Technical Grand Prix
Championship: Ester Soldi, Valentina Truppa, Micol
Rustignoli
Photo © FISE
2013 Italian Dressage Championships
Pony rider Lucia Berni, junior rider Camilla Mauro, young
rider Simone Citelli and Grand Prix rider Valentina Truppa
captured the most important titles in their divisions at the
2013 Italian Dressage Championships which were held
during the 2013 CDI Arezzo at the Arezzo Equestrian
Centre on 26 - 29 September 2013.
In Italy the national dressage championships are split
between a technical championship and a f reestyle championship, so per age division two titles are to be
earned. T he f irst two technical tests (team and individual test f or the youth riders and Intermediaire II and
Grand Prix f or the seniors) count towards the "normal" championship, whereas simply the f reestyle counts
f or the Kur championship.
T he organization of the 2013 Italian Dressage Championships caused quite some commotion the past
month because of very late date changes. T he normal and kur championships were originally scheduled f or
two separate events but the kur championship all of a sudden was rescheduled to collapse with the normal
one, so that some riders were short in time to have a new f reestyle made, putting other well prepared or
better inf ormed riders at an advantage. Furthermore at the event itself judges were being swapped classes
f ive minutes bef ore the start of a test adding to the conf usion. Also, to have enough riders participating in
the Nationals the perf ormances of the Italian riders in the CDI classes were counted towards the national
championship alongside the scores of the Italian riders in the national tests, in which they f aced less
competition. Despite all the turmoil a good collection of riders presented itself at the starting line and the
most seasoned Italian competitors surf aced at the top.
In the pony division Lucia Berni and her bay pony Blakt's T homas won the technical (70.200%) and
f reestyle championship (73.000%), with the silver going to Valentina Remold on her second, younger pony
Prince of Gory (69.910 and 72.542%). T he bronze in the pony technical championship went to Italian 2013
European Pony Championship kur f inalist Alice Campanella on her experienced mount Flamenco Star
(67.580%). Campanella did not ride the kur so the bronze went to Marta Baf ile on Nube (65.875%).
Especially f or the Junior and Young Riders medals points f rom national classes were mixed with points
f rom CDI tests to create one big conf using cocktail of scores f or the ranking. T he nationally competing
junior rider Camilla Mauro reigned supreme on Santo Stef ano Francis and won double gold with 66.640%
and 69.125%. Pony rider Valentina Remold also grabbed silver in the technical junior riders championships
aboard Don Farino. She scored an average of 66.100%. T he internationally riding Annachiara Menin earned
technical bronze (64.640%) and kur silver (66.875%). Kur bronze went to Irene Fabris on Rocko Barocko
with 66.792%
Simone Citelli, who didn't compete in the CDI Young Riders classes, became the technical 2013 Italian
Young Rider champion aboard Dustin VII with an average score of 67.240%. T he silver went to CDI rider
Claudia Brambilla on Wiona. She scored an average of 67.000. National rider Vittoria Z aniboni grabbed the
bronze on Saf f ierduna with 66.800%. In the Young Rider Kur championship, Claudia Brambilla won gold with
69.583%, f ollowed by Leonardo Tiozzo f or silver (68.292%) and Valentina Croce on bronze (65.583%).
At Grand Prix level, there were three Italian Grand Prix championships, but the most important one was
the Grand Prix "Assoluto" of which most riders competed at CDI-level, though several rode the national
tests. T he 2013 Italian Grand Prix Champion's title was won by Valentina Truppa on her Danish warmblood
Chablis. She won the technical championship with an Intermediaire II score of 71.132% anbd a Grand Prix
score of 72.872%. She also won the f reestyle championship with 75.550%. Ester Soldi and Harmonia won
technical silver with 65.816% and 64.809% and kur bronze with 68.150%. Micol Rustignoli and Corallo Nero
won technical bronze with 66.342% and 63.362% and kur silver with 68.250%.
Photo © FISE
Related Links
Scores 2013 CDI Arezzo
Italy Bends Own Rules and Sends Team of Four to 2013 European Dressage Championships
Only One Italian Junior to Compete at 2013 European Junior and Young Riders Championships
Italian Tragedy: Italian Equestrian Federation's Board of Directors Disbanded
Valentina Truppa Sweeps the 2011 Italian Dressage Championships
Pierluigi Sangiorgi Wins 2008 Italian Dressage Championships
ho rse m agazine .co m
http://www.ho rsemagazine.co m/thm/2013/10/bella-dressage-perfetto /
The Horse Magazine – Australia's Leading Equestrian
Magazine
T here were lots of highlights at last year’s London Games, and one standout memory is of Valentina
Truppa and her beautif ul son of Rohdiamant, Eremo del Castegno. Here was dressage as it should be,
harmonious, sof t, charming: the pretty gelding in harmony with his chic young rider.
Rebecca Ashton went searching f or the story behind the story, visiting Valentina, and her f ather – and
trainer – Enzo Truppa, at their home…
T here’s a Hawaiian saying that goes something like, “T he weather doesn’t make a day.” T his proved true on
the unseasonably cold, wet Spring day I visited the Truppas at Monf errato, their northern Italian base half
way between Turin and Milan. Valentina, at only 27 years old, is one of the most beautif ully ef f ective riders
I’ve seen. Her f ather and coach, Dr Enzo Truppa, himself an O level judge and f ormer international Grand
Prix rider, is a walking encyclopedia of classical equitation. My visit is like a personal masterclass, so
generous were they in sharing their knowledge.
When I arrive, Valentina is warming up Fixdesign Chablis. T he 15-year-old chestnut she rode to many
successes in young rider classes, including two of her record three European Championships. Chablis is
af f ectionately known as Valentina’s ‘boyf riend’… Enzo explains: “Chablis was the most dif f icult horse
because he was so dominant. Even some of the top trainers couldn’t f ix his problems. I wanted to sell him
but Valentina wouldn’t let me. Only Valentina can teach him. He accepts only her.”
T he training is sof t and correct, the curb shank is
vertical and the exercises are used to shape the
horse. “We work always at making loose the horse.
T his is our mantra,” Enzo emphasises. Contraptions
are unheard of in the stable. “Valentina has never seen
draw reins in her lif e. She would not know how to f ix a
problem with them. She is only 160cm and just over
50kg, and look at the horse. So I can’t believe our
method is too wrong.”
Working pirouettes, a couple of big trot extensions to
f inish and many “molto buenos” f rom the trainer,
Chablis has done everything asked of him so the
session is short and he is put away af ter being f ed a
lot of sugar!
Valentina and ‘her boyfriend’ Chablis
While Fixdesign Eremo del Castegno (by Rohdiamant), Valentina’s Olympic partner is prepared f or work,
Enzo shows me around the stable. I can’t help notice how many horses are named af ter wine: Chablis,
Sauvignon, Chardonnay. Enzo laughs, “Yes, the stable is really a cellar! We all get drunk. You know, this is
actually the best wine growing region in Italy,” and like all good Italians, Enzo is a wine connoisseur.
T he horses range f rom three years old (Eremo’s f ull sister) to 15-year-old Chablis. Treadmills are used f or
exercise and to keep the young horses moving when the Truppas are away at shows. T here is also an
indoor solarium that has colour therapy, to keep the horses happy during the Winter months.
Eremo is the superstar. He has a body like Rambo and is of ten mistaken f or a stallion. At the London
Olympics the owner of the two showjumping mares stabled next to him was a little worried, until she was
assured he is a gelding…
Valentina is riding in new boots and a new prototype
saddle and laughs through her pain, “Ah…it has to
be done!”
Five minutes of walk at the beginning and then
loosening canter work. Enzo continues to explain the
training: “We never get so concentrated on the
collected work that we f orget the looseness and
relaxation. How long we do it f or depends on the
horse.”
All the training is individualised f or the particular
animal. Some are warmed up in the trot, some the
Enzo Truppa helps Valentina with Eremo del Castegno
canter. Some are stretched long and some not. “Take
Eremo, a German magazine once called him ‘T he
Gladiator’. He was so over-motivated but now he understands that we do the work together.
T he Truppas do a lot of interval training. If an exercise is done properly, there is a pat and a walk. T he
biggest punishment is to repeat the exercise when it is wrong. T hey believe that if you punish a horse, he
will never f orget it and that horses give everything back… with interest.
Now 12, Eremo was chosen as a six-month-old weanling. T he Truppas don’t buy trained horses but
purchase them very young. T hey like to own the horses, so the training can progress at a speed suitable
without the pressure of owners pushing the horses too quickly through the system.
Once the big bay has loosened up, it’s time to train what Enzo believes is perhaps the best piaf f e in the
world. T he whip is taken away f or the piaf f e/passage as it can’t be used in competition. It is indeed perf ect,
showing why the horse usually gets awarded 9s and 10s f or the pace. “Fantastico!” enthuses Enzo, “How
do you like that?” he laughs.
T he O level judge explains a situation that occurred at Stuttgart CDI, “One of the judges awarded a 7.5 f or
that piaf f e without a comment. I believe marks below 8 should have a comment. Valentina asked me, ‘How
do I make it 9.5 or 10?’ I told her the only thing you can do now is change your name to Truppenhof f or Van
Truppen!”
Valentina hasn’t needed to resort to such tactics. She has had a great season on the World Cup circuit, and
is headed to the World Cup f inals af ter f inishing in second place in the Western European League. It’s just
f ine-tuning now and a stress-f ree 20-minute session is all that is needed today, bef ore the obligatory
sugar.
Valentina’s two top students enter the arena, and are
wrapped up in a horse rug, the young rider takes on the
coaching role. Frederica Scolari and Micol Rustignoli
have already represented Italy as young riders with
Valentina and now the young trainer wants her girls to
make up the Italian team that goes to the European
Championships in Herning later in the year. T hey both
have their f irst qualif ying marks, so it’s a reasonable
goal. Although both are active and f orward, Frederica’s
horse is kept up in f ront while Micol is stretching hers
long and low, “But never deep”, enf orces Enzo, “I don’t
believe in deep. But every horse is dif f erent and ridden
accordingly.”
Micol’s horse has a short and theref ore slightly tight
back. She is tall, so she works to help him lif t his back
somewhat. Enzo explains again: “T his is very interesting.
T he passage gets a bit tight, so then she trots to
loosen the back bef ore trying the passage once more.
Never do we use f orce.”
Fixdesign Ranieri is next in the arena. Named af ter a
Norman king, the big bay eight-year-old has just
successf ully begun his international career at Vidauban
CDI. Enzo tells his story while Valentina loosens him up.
Valentina in teaching mode
“He is the f irst horse I have allowed Valentina to ride
f rom three years old. Usually I don’t allow her to ride
them until they are f our; bef ore that it can be too dangerous plus it’s not really training. But Valentina would
say, ‘You don’t think I can do it’ and kept insisting so then I had to say ok, ride the bloody horse!”
Valentina explains: “He is like a little dog. He is a f unny horse. I ride him sometimes without the saddle or
bridle, the same as Eremo.” Valentina has started to do some Parelli work with her top horses to change
their routine a little and give them mental relaxation. T hey play with big balls, walk over tarpaulins and get
ridden in just a halter about every two months.
But today it is strictly dressage. Ranieri warms up in the canter. T he quarters are engaged and the
straightness checked then leg yield into half pass. “We do tonnes of counter-canter here,” Enzo explains.
T here is also an emphasis on working pirouettes. Next the trot is developed with shoulder-in and half pass.
“Magnif ico,” yells Enzo, bef ore Valentina rides the f irst part of the Grand Prix.
When Ranieri throws in a quick 180 on the centreline, Enzo says dryly, “He is a horse with sense of humour,
not always the same as the rider!”
But there is still sugar waiting f or him at the end of his session. “T he main danger to our horses here is
diabetes. I had to stop standing next to the arena when Valentina competes this one as he used to stop all
the time where I was, waiting f or his sugar.”
It is then time f or the younger horses to strut their stuf f . Valentina is on Fixdesign Eremo’s brother Nilo.
T he rising six-year-old is so similar to his big brother in looks, but not in temperament; he can have his
‘moments’. T he trot and canter are just so naturally swinging and the neck and back so correct, the young
bay is on his best behaviour today. “We think the piaf f e will be amazing too, but we’re not touching that
yet”, says Enzo.
“Look at this horse, with such balanced paces it is easy to sit back and do nothing, but you must control
the tempo. It is like a car with f ive gears, you have to use them, you have to control and master the tempo.
T his is so important and is the basis of our training.”
Valentina plays with the exercises: half pass of f the inside leg, counter-canter and then just a couple of
perf ect, expressive changes of f the track which were only introduced to the work last week.
Valentina checks that the horse is in f ront of her leg and checks the tempo control but never is she strong
in her position nor does she over-organise the horse.
“Valentina has amazing natural f eel. Look, I don’t have to say anything. She is also a master of balance.
Even as a child, she’s always on the centre of gravity, never behind or in f ront. It is her gif t,” says the proud
f ather, who is also her biggest critic. “I’m more severe than the most severe judge. I have to commend
Valentina f or being so patient as I’m very picky.”
Other top trainers are sometimes brought to the stable to conf irm the training. T hey have worked with
Georg and Monica T heodorescu, Wolf ram Wittig and Klaus Balkenhol. Valentina also spent some months
with Hubertus Schmidt, an experience that changed her attitude towards the sport, not so much in the
training, but her prof essionalism. She now rides many horses a day and runs the stable f ully on her own.
Enzo is busy in Milan during the week working as a tax consultant, only training Valentina three days a week.
We f inish with the f our-year-old Sauvignon who has already been lunged. “It is an idea f rom Georg
T heodorescu. T he lunging is the horse’s 10 minutes where he can do what he wants. T hen it is the rider’s
20 minutes.” Valentina chats to the big baldy f aced chestnut the whole time, “I have to be clear with him,”
she says.
Enzo explains f urther, “With the young horses, we teach them a lot with voice; German words.”
Why German?
“It is like what Charles V is claimed to have said, ‘I speak Spanish to God, Italian to women, French to men
and German to my horse.’ T his is why German,” Enzo says with a wry smile.
Soon we are out of the cold and in the Truppa house meeting Enzo’s wif e Anna, who turns out to be an
incredible cook. Food and wine is indeed a religion in Italy and I f ear I may have been converted.
Looseness and tempo are the key points to the Truppa training system. T he horses are given all the time
they need to develop, are treated as individuals and are never f orced. T heir system is kind, creative and
classical and the results in the competition arena speak f or themselves.
VALENT INA INT ERVIEW
Do you have a favourite horse or is that like asking if you have a favourite child?
I have to say Fixdesgn Chablis. He has been with me so long and I had my best results with him until now.
He’s my ‘boyf riend’ (although Valentina does have a real, live human one as well). Of course I love Eremo
too.
What was the highlight of the London Olympics?
Well being my f irst Olympics it was a really big experience. T he main thing was the atmosphere. Every
competition we do the same tests, but at the Olympics there were so many people watching. Also, I stayed
in the village f or three days and being there with all the other dif f erent sports was very exciting.
What is your daily routine with the horses?
I start in the stable more or less around 08:30. I ride about seven horses a day, depending on what
competitions I have coming up. I give lessons to students three to f our days a week as well and f inish the
day around 17:30. Six clients are enough f or me with my competitions.
As well as work, the young horses go into the paddocks when there is not so much rain! If this is not
possible, they are lunged or get put on the treadmill. Sometimes I hack out as well.
You also do some Parelli work with the horses?
It is something f un f or me and the horses. It’s another way to know more about your horse. T his can be
usef ul f or riding. I started it with the older horses af ter the Olympics but have been doing it with the young
horses f or three to f our years. I have help f rom Sergio Vezzoni.
With Eremo, it was not so easy to start with. He thought, ‘I am f ree!’ so he was a bit crazy. But now I can
ride him with no saddle or bridle, but just at the walk.
What is the most important aspect of your dressage training?
If you ride young horses or Grand Prix, the most important thing is the basic work, then you can do
everything. Sometimes during the week with Eremo and Chablis I do just basic work so the piaf f e/ passage
is there ready f or the weekend when Dad is home to train me.
You have to f ind the right way with each horse, then it is easier.
I have also worked with other trainers. You have to try all the ways then you take what works and then make
your own training system.
Biggest inspiration?
My Dad. I started riding in f ront of him when I was two years old. At f our I rode my own pony, Rudy, both
jumping and dressage until I was 12. But I also grew up watching Isabel and Anky as inspiration.
What do you get up to when you’re not riding?
Dinner, the cinema… simple things. I do like shopping. (At which point Enzo interrupts, “T hat she gets f rom
the mother. It’s a very dangerous hobby! When they go out, my credit card becomes only a card.”)
So you followed your father into dressage and not your mother who is a dancer?
Oh. I dance much better with a horse!
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ho rse sint e rnat io nal.co m
http://ho rsesinternatio nal.co m/spo rt/valentina-truppa-no t-to -co mpete-in-the-wo rld-cup/
Valentina Truppa not to compete in the World Cup
On the short term Valentina Truppa will take part to some national shows as well as in the
Italian Dressage Championship to be held in Arezzo f rom the 26 to the 29 of September
and the concomitant 3*CDI.
As she announces on her website she will start the indoor season with Eremo del
Castegno going to Lyon, Salzburg and Frankf urt.
Valentina Truppa f inished the last World Cup with a 6th place in Gothenburg while she f inished the
European Championship in Herning with a 21st place in the Grand Prix Special good f or the individual
medals without qualif ying f or the f inal Freestyle.
Source dressage-international.com
pf e rde wo che .ch
http://www.pferdewo che.ch/news/ausgaben/charmante-fro hnatur/63/
Charmante Frohnatur
Sport Der Kavallerieverein Hinterthurgau gewinnt in Altstätten den OKV-Vereinscup.
Veranstaltungen Dressurf inals des Pf erdesportverband Nordwest (PNW) in Lauf en BL.
Persönlich Valentina Truppa verzaubert durch ihren Charme und ihre schnittige
Unif orm.
Aktuelle T hemen von Birgit Popp //
Mit schnittiger, schwarz-roter Unif orm, zackigem Gruss, charmantem Lächeln,
rasanten, schwierigen Küren zum gute Laune verbreitenden Bella-Italia-Medley
piaf f ierte und passagierte sich Valentina Truppa in die Herzen der Z uschauer.
Immer mit dabei ist ihr Hund Pepy, den sie von Sissy Max-T heurer geschenkt bekam.
Seit der Deutsch-Italienerin Pia Laus, die in ihrer Jugend zahlreiche Medaillen bei Europameisterschaf ten f ür
Deutschland sammelte, im Seniorenalter aber in den 90er-Jahren f ür das Heimatland ihres Vaters bei
internationalen Championaten an den Start ging, gab es in der Dressur keine so erf olgreiche Vertreterin aus
unserem südlichen Nachbarland mehr, wie die in der Unif orm der Carabinieri reitende Italienerin Valentina
Truppa. Schon f rüh trumpf te die zierliche Amazone auf und gewann neben zahlreichen Titeln (den ersten
2004) und Medaillen bei Europameisterschaf ten ihrer Altersklasse dreimal den Weltcupf inal der Jungen
Reiter in Frankf urt.
Valentina Truppa und Eremo in Fritzens, Tirol (AUT ).
Nahtlos gelang ihr der Übergang ins Seniorenalter und in den internationalen Grand-Prix-Sport, vor allem
mit dem bereits als Fohlen von ihrer Familie erworbenen, in Italien gezogenen Eremo del Castegno, ein
Rohdiamant-Weltmeyer-Sohn. Das erf olgreichste Jahr des durch seine herausragende Piaf f e-PassageTour besonders auf f älligen Paares war bisher 2012. Gleich zu Beginn wurden sie beim Weltcupf inal im
holländischen ’s-Hertogenbosch hinter Adelinde Cornelissen mit Parzival und Helen Langehanenberg mit
Damon Hill Dritte, zuvor waren sie bereits in den Weltcup-Qualif ikationen von Lipica und Frankf urt siegreich.
Im Mai gewannen sie mit ihrem bisherigen Rekordergebnis von 84,25 Prozent den World Dressage Masters
Kür-Final bei der Pf erd International in München-Riem und bei den Olympischen Spielen in London gelang
ihnen der Einzug in den Kür-Final, wo sie mit 78,214 Prozent 15. wurden. Im Weltcupf inal 2013 im
schwedischen Göteborg ritten Valentina Truppa und der zwölf jährige, braune Wallach mit ihrer neuen Kür zu
einem Medley von Stücken aus Verdi- und Rossini-Opern auf Platz sechs. Beim diesjährigen CDI4* Fritzens
auf dem Schindlhof in Tirol gewann Valentina alle vier Grand- Prix-Prüf ungen des Turniers: Grand Prix und
GP Kür mit Eremo, Grand Prix und Special mit Chablis.
Den f rühen Beginn ihrer reiterlichen Karriere hat sie vor allem ihrem Vater Vincenzo (Enzo) Truppa zu
verdanken. Der Mailänder Jurist, der als angesehener Fünf stern-Dressurrichter bereits auf mehreren
Championaten im Einsatz war, ist selbst erf olgreich international bis Grand Prix geritten. Er setzte seine
Tochter bereits im zarten Alter von einem Jahr vor sich in den Sattel und ist von Anf ang an ihr Trainer und
Coach. Ins Nähkästchen geschaut hat Valentina Truppa aber auch bei berühmten Trainern wie Klaus
Balkenhol, Jean Bemelmans, Hubertus Schmidt, Monica und Georges T heodorescu, Morten T homsen und
Wolf ram Wittig.
Valentina trainiert viel zusammen mit ihrem Vater Enzo.
Mehr Spiel als Sport
Mit drei, vier Jahren begann Valentina bereits selbständig ein schon 25-jähriges Rapp-Pony zu pf legen und
zu reiten: «Ich mochte das sehr gerne, weil ich Tiere und besonders Pf erde sehr mag. Für mich war es als
Kind mehr ein Spiel als Sport. Richtig begonnen zu reiten habe ich mit sechs Jahren auf einem Pony, das
Georges T heodorescu f ür uns gef unden hatte. Mit ihm nahm ich auch schon an meinen ersten
Wettbewerben teil. Mit meinem ersten Pf erd habe ich mit elf begonnen, Turniere zu reiten. Z u Beginn meiner
Junioren-Lauf bahn verbrachte ich mit 14 schon einige Z eit mit Monica und Georges T heodorescu. Später
f olgten Lehrgänge und Trainingsauf enthalte auch bei einigen anderen Trainern wie Hubertus Schmidt und
Morten T homson.» Manche mögen denken, dass viele Köche den Brei verderben würden, aber Valentina
Truppa sieht das anders. «Ich habe mir von jedem Trainer das Beste abgeschaut und nicht jedes Pf erd ist
gleich. Mit dem einen Pf erd ist die Trainingsmethode des einen Trainers besser, f ür das andere Pf erde eine
andere Art von Training. Man muss versuchen, f ür jedes Pf erd das Beste herauszuf inden. Auch heute noch
sehe ich mir während einer Prüf ung immer an, wie die anderen abreiten, um dabei etwas Interessantes zu
entdecken. Ich bin erst 27 Jahre alt. Reiter wie Edward Gal oder Isabell Werth haben viel mehr Erf ahrung als
ich. Wichtig ist meinem Vater und mir bei der Pf erdeausbildung, dass sie pf erdef reundlich ist und wir den
Pf erden Z eit zum Reif en lassen.»
Reitsportanlage Centro Equestre Monf errato bei Asti der Familie Truppa.
Ihre erste internationale Medaille gewann Valentina 2004 bei der Junioren-EM mit Silber mit Don Rico. Noch
erf olgreicher wurde sie bei den Jungen Reitern. Im ersten Jahr wurde es 2005 Einzelbronze auf Don Rico,
mit dem sie im selben Jahr auch den Weltcupf inal f ür Junge Reiter in Frankf urt gewann. Auch in den beiden
Folgejahren sollte sie, dann mit Chablis, diese Prüf ung dominieren. Bei der EM 2006 gewann sie mit ihm
Gold in der Einzelwertung. Ein Jahr später verteidigte das Paar erf olgreich seinen Titel und gewann
obendrein Bronze mit dem italienischen Team.
Bereits f rüh begann Valentina selbständig ein Pony zu pf legen und zu reiten.
Vom Dienst befreit
Besonders vorteilhaf t f ür ihre Karriere war auch, dass vor genau 25 Jahren, als sie zwei Jahre alt war, ihre
Eltern die Reitsportanlage Centro Equestre Monf errato bei Asti erwarben, deren Namen dem der Region
rund um Asti entspricht, und die Familie dort einzog. Seit 2007 lebt Valentina im Z entrum von Asti in einem
kleinen Apartment. Seit drei Jahren immer mit dabei ist ihr Jack-Russell-Terrier Pepy, den sie von Sissy MaxT heurer geschenkt bekam. Als sie mit 18 die Schule beendete, trat sie den Carabinieri bei, einer speziellen
militärischen Formation des italienischen Staatspräsidenten. Als Mitglied der Sportkompanie ist sie vom
regulären Dienst bef reit und kann sich ganz der Reiterei widmen. Wenn man die immer modisch gekleidete,
mit vielen Accessoires ausgestattete Reiterin sieht, könnte man sich aber auch eine Beruf swahl in der
Modebranche gut vorstellen. «Ich liebe Mode, hübsche Kleider, Taschen und Schuhe, aber es war nie mein
Beruf swunsch. Wobei ich mir am Ende meiner Schulzeit auch noch nicht vorstellen konnte, beruf lich mit
Pf erden zu tun zu haben, und ich studierte zwei Jahre lang Jura. Aber das ist von Asti aus etwas
kompliziert, da ich es in Asti selbst nicht studieren kann. Z um Ende meiner Junge-Reiter-Karriere hin habe
ich mit dem Unterrichten begonnen und f estgestellt, dass es mir sehr viel Spass macht. Der Übergang von
den Jungen Reitern zu den Senioren war nicht so einf ach gewesen. Anf angs hatte ich nur Chablis und
einige Schüler, aber ein Jahr später begann ich Eremo im GP-Sport zu reiten und das veränderte die ganze
Situation. Als ich anf ing, mit ihm durch die Welt zu reisen, gab ich mein Jura-Studium auf . Ich habe von
meinem Vater gelernt, dass Unterricht zu geben, eine gute Sache ist. Ich mag es sehr gerne. Ich bin
nervöser, wenn meine Schülerinnen starten, als wenn ich selbst eine Prüf ung reite. Wenn ich eines Tages
mit meiner aktiven Karriere auf hören werde, denke ich, werde ich eine gute Trainerin sein. Dressurrichter wie
mein Vater möchte ich aber nicht werden.» Bei der Dressur-EM 2012 im dänischen Herning waren ausser ihr
mit Federica Scolari auf Eremos Halbbruder Beldonwelt und Micol Rustignol auf Corallo Nero gleich zwei
ihrer Schülerinnen mit von ihr bis zu GP ausgebildeten Pf erden in der italienischen Mannschaf t am Start.
Valentina und ihr Liebling Eremo.
Einmal im Monat f indet auf der Anlage der Truppas ein Wochenend-Dressurlehrgang statt, den Unterricht
f ür die meist acht bis zehn Teilnehmer teilen sich Vater und Tochter und Mutter Anna sorgt in einem eigens
hierf ür eingerichteten Restaurant f ür die Verpf legung der Kursteilnehmer.
Auf der Anlage stehen 14 Pf erde im Alter von drei bis 18 Jahren. «Sechs davon sind meine eigenen», so
Valentina. Neben Eremo del Castegno und Chablis ist dies der achtjährige Dänenwallach Ranieri DK, ein
Sohn des Romanovs, den sie im selben Stall wie einst Chablis entdeckt hat und mit dem sie in der Kleinen
Tour international bereits sehr erf olgreich ist; der siebenjährige Rappwallach Chardonée und der ein Jahr
jüngere Nilo del Castegno, der aus Eremos Mutter Weltgirl mit dem Hannoveraner Hengst Stedinger
gezogen wurde. Weitere Hof f nungsträger sind der vierjährige Fuchswallach Sovignon als auch Eremos
Vollschwester und ein Sohn von Painted Black, die beide zweieinhalb sind.
Romantikerin
Wenn Valentina bei all den Pf erden und Schülern noch etwas Z eit f ür andere Dinge bleibt, dann läuf t sie
gerne, «oder ich f ahre an den Strand, um mich einf ach mal nur in die Sonne zu legen und mich an der Küste
zu entspannen. Ich lese gerne, komme aber nicht of t dazu, wenn, dann am liebsten romantische Romane
und zeitgenössische Literatur.» Obwohl die modebewusste Reiterin mit Fixdesign einen Modeproduzenten
als Sponsor besitzt, denkt sie bisher noch nicht daran, wie andere Reiter eine eigene Kollektion zu
entwickeln. «Die Z usammenarbeit hat erst in diesem Jahr begonnen. Bisher habe ich keine Z eit gef unden,
mich dort einzubringen, aber Fixdesign stellte bisher nur normale Mode her, sie haben jetzt erst Mode f ür
Reiter und Pf erd in ihrem Programm auf genommen. Es würde mich schon reizen, meine Ideen einzubringen.»
Vielleicht gibt es eines Tages dann auch eine eigene Kollektion von Glücksbringern, diejenigen am
Handgelenk von Valentina Truppa nehmen in der Anzahl auf jeden Fall ständig zu. «Ich bin nicht wirklich
abergläubig, aber man kann ja nie wissen. Vielleicht bringen sie ja doch etwas. Für meine Psyche ist es auf
jeden Fall gut», lacht sie auf die Frage nach den vielen Bändern an ihren Handgelenken. «Meine Pf erde oder
ich, wir haben auch jedes Turnier etwas Neues an uns, so habe ich bei jedem Turnier neue Handschuhe
mit.»
Wenn sie in die Prüf ung einreitet, so sagt sie, sei sie weder nervös noch entspannt, sondern sehr
konzentriert: «Nur letztes Jahr in London war ich etwas nervös, aber ich glaube, das ist normal, wenn man
bei seinen ersten Olympischen Spielen reitet. Generell muss ich sagen, es ist nicht nützlich, nervös zu sein.
In der Dressur weiss man ja, was auf einen zukommt, man kennt die Anf orderungen. Wichtig ist, dass man
sehr konzentriert reitet. Ich versuche, jedes Mal besser zu sein als beim vorigen Mal. Wenn man einen Fehler
macht, kann einen das in der Platzierung weit nach hinten werf en. Mit Eremo ist allerdings jede Prüf ung
anders. Er ist nie gleich. Z uhause versuchen wir ihn ebenso wie die jungen Pf erde auf die
Turniergegebenheiten vorzubereiten, zum Beispiel mit lauter Musik. Viele Veranstalter und auch die
Verantwortlichen bei der FEI vergessen heute, dass Pf erde Fluchttiere sind. Wenn sie versuchen, vor so
etwas wie Kameras, lauter Musik usw. wegzurennen, weil sie Panik bekommen, kann man sie nicht
bestraf en. Ich versuche sie dann zu beruhigen. Manche Turniere sind einf ach zu viel f ür die Pf erde. Wir
müssen uns erinnern, dass Pf erde Pf erde sind. Sie kennen das alles nicht und wissen nicht, damit
umzugehen. Und ich bin der Meinung, die äusseren Einf lüsse sind auch f ür die Reiter nicht gut. Sie lenken
mich davon ab, mich auf meine Prüf ung zu konzentrieren, wenn ich über Dinge wie die Kamera am
Viereckrand nachdenken muss.»
Auch wenn Familie Truppa auf ihrer Reitsportanlage keine Pf erde züchtet, so ist Eremo doch quasi ein
züchterisches Eigenprodukt. «Wir haben den Vater Rohdiamant ausgesucht und die Mutter Weltgirl
gef unden. Als er zur Welt kam, waren wir erst einmal enttäuscht. Er war als Fohlen so hässlich. Nur Hals.
Aber mit sechs, sieben Jahren hatte er sich zu einem hübschen Pf erd entwickelt. Ich habe ihn schon
dreijährig in meinen Stall bekommen. An Eremo mag ich, dass er sehr schlau ist. Man muss die Lektionen
nicht of t wiederholen, bevor sie gut gelingen. Er erinnert sich sehr schnell. Seine Schwäche ist, dass er so
guckig ist. Im Grand Prix in diesem Jahr beim Weltcupf inal in Göteborg ist dies wegen der vielen Blumen
leider wieder der Fall gewesen. Wenn er so schaut, dann gerät er völlig ausser Kontrolle. Bis vor zwei
Jahren war er wirklich schrecklich, aber ich habe nie auf gehört, an ihn zu glauben. Für den GP-Sport braucht
man ein Pf erd, das ein bisschen verrückt ist. Ich wusste, dass er eines Tages ‘das’ Pf erd sein würde, aber
ich hatte auch gar keine andere Wahl, denn ich hatte bis anhin nur ihn.»
Die meisten Pf erde kauf t ihr Vater entweder als Fohlen von sechs Monaten oder als Drei- oder Vierjährige,
so auch Chablis, den er als Vierjährigen in Dänemark entdeckte. «Chablis», so Valentina, «war am Anf ang
völlig dumm und stand sich of t selbst im Weg. Mein Vater begann ihn erst zu reiten, als er sechs war. Ich
habe ihn siebenjährig erstmals in nationalen Junioren-Prüf ungen vorgestellt. Mit acht, neun Jahren ging er
Junge-Reiter-Prüf ungen und er war mein erstes Grand-Prix-Pf erd. Heute ist er 16, wir sind schon eine lange
Z eit zusammen. Ich nenne ihn gerne meinen Verlobten. Er ist das Gegenteil von Eremo, er guckt nie. Chablis
hat vor nichts Angst, da könnte selbst eine Bombe neben ihm explodieren. Manchmal muss ich ihn richtig
auf wecken. Wenn er etwas nicht machen will, dann macht er es nicht. Er entscheidet, was er machen will. Er
ist stur wie ein Esel. Was meinem Vater an ihm schon als junges Pf erd so gut gef allen hatte, sind seine
Bewegungen. Schon damals in Dänemark war er wie ein Gummiball.»
(Erschienen in der Pf erdeWoche Nr. 38/2013)
»