THE HORSE RIDER’S JOURNAL THE HORSE RIDER’S JOURNAL

30 |INTERVIEW

The ItalianRenowned 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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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’

small 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 – in-deed, 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.

Italy’s most successful dressage rider is no stranger to the absolute top level and champi-onships; 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.

Though her father is a successful dressage judge, valentina has by now established herself in her own right. Having started

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 Champions-hips 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

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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.”

In daily life, valentina runs her parents’ equestrian centre, Centro equestre monfer-rato, 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. septem-ber 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.”

Hard 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

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.”

Now 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 competiti-ons 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.”•

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

euro dressage.co mhttp://www.eurodressage.com/equestrian/2013/09/30/berni-mauro-citelli- truppa-win-2013-italian-dressage-championships

Berni, Mauro, Citelli, Truppa Win 2013 Italian DressageChampionships

The podium f or the 2013 Italian Technical Grand PrixChampionship: Ester Soldi, Valentina Truppa, MicolRustignoli Photo © FISE

2013 Italian Dressage Championships

Pony rider Lucia Berni, junior rider Camilla Mauro, youngrider Simone Citelli and Grand Prix rider Valentina Truppacaptured the most important t it les in their divisions at the2013 Italian Dressage Championships which were heldduring the 2013 CDI Arezzo at the Arezzo EquestrianCentre on 26 - 29 September 2013.

In Italy the national dressage championships are splitbetween a technical championship and a f reestyle championship, so per age division two tit les are to beearned. The f irst two technical tests (team and individual test f or the youth riders and Intermediaire II andGrand Prix f or the seniors) count towards the "normal" championship, whereas simply the f reestyle countsf or the Kur championship.

The organization of the 2013 Italian Dressage Championships caused quite some commotion the pastmonth because of very late date changes. The normal and kur championships were originally scheduled f ortwo separate events but the kur championship all of a sudden was rescheduled to collapse with the normalone, so that some riders were short in t ime to have a new f reestyle made, putting other well prepared orbetter inf ormed riders at an advantage. Furthermore at the event itself judges were being swapped classesf ive minutes bef ore the start of a test adding to the conf usion. Also, to have enough riders participating inthe Nationals the perf ormances of the Italian riders in the CDI classes were counted towards the nationalchampionship alongside the scores of the Italian riders in the national tests, in which they f aced lesscompetit ion. Despite all the turmoil a good collection of riders presented itself at the starting line and themost seasoned Italian competitors surf aced at the top.

In the pony division Lucia Berni and her bay pony Blakt's Thomas won the technical (70.200%) andf reestyle championship (73.000%), with the silver going to Valentina Remold on her second, younger ponyPrince of Gory (69.910 and 72.542%). The bronze in the pony technical championship went to Italian 2013European 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 pointsf rom CDI tests to create one big conf using cocktail of scores f or the ranking. The nationally competingjunior 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 championshipsaboard Don Farino. She scored an average of 66.100%. The internationally riding Annachiara Menin earnedtechnical bronze (64.640%) and kur silver (66.875%). Kur bronze went to Irene Fabris on Rocko Barockowith 66.792%

Simone Citelli, who didn't compete in the CDI Young Riders classes, became the technical 2013 ItalianYoung Rider champion aboard Dustin VII with an average score of 67.240%. The silver went to CDI riderClaudia Brambilla on Wiona. She scored an average of 67.000. National rider Vittoria Zaniboni grabbed thebronze on Saf f ierduna with 66.800%. In the Young Rider Kur championship, Claudia Brambilla won gold with69.583%, 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 wasthe Grand Prix "Assoluto" of which most riders competed at CDI- level, though several rode the nationaltests. The 2013 Italian Grand Prix Champion's t it le was won by Valentina Truppa on her Danish warmbloodChablis. She won the technical championship with an Intermediaire II score of 71.132% anbd a Grand Prixscore of 72.872%. She also won the f reestyle championship with 75.550%. Ester Soldi and Harmonia wontechnical silver with 65.816% and 64.809% and kur bronze with 68.150%. Micol Rustignoli and Corallo Nerowon technical bronze with 66.342% and 63.362% and kur silver with 68.250%.

Photo © FISE

Related LinksScores 2013 CDI ArezzoItaly Bends Own Rules and Sends Team of Four to 2013 European Dressage ChampionshipsOnly One Italian Junior to Compete at 2013 European Junior and Young Riders ChampionshipsItalian Tragedy: Italian Equestrian Federation's Board of Directors DisbandedValentina Truppa Sweeps the 2011 Italian Dressage ChampionshipsPierluigi Sangiorgi Wins 2008 Italian Dressage Championships

ho rsemagazine.co m http://www.horsemagazine.com/thm/2013/10/bella-dressage-perfetto /

The Horse Magazine – Australia's Leading EquestrianMagazine

There were lots of highlights at last year ’s London Games, and one standout memory is of ValentinaTruppa 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, visit ing Valentina, and her f ather – andtrainer – Enzo Truppa, at their home…

There’s a Hawaiian saying that goes something like, “The weather doesn’t make a day.” This proved true onthe unseasonably cold, wet Spring day I visited the Truppas at Monf errato, their northern Italian base halfway between Turin and Milan. Valentina, at only 27 years old, is one of the most beautif ully ef f ective ridersI’ve seen. Her f ather and coach, Dr Enzo Truppa, himself an O level judge and f ormer international GrandPrix rider, is a walking encyclopedia of classical equitation. My visit is like a personal masterclass, sogenerous were they in sharing their knowledge.

When I arrive, Valentina is warming up Fixdesign Chablis. The 15-year-old chestnut she rode to manysuccesses in young rider classes, including two of her record three European Championships. Chablis isaf f ectionately known as Valentina’s ‘boyf riend’… Enzo explains: “Chablis was the most dif f icult horsebecause he was so dominant. Even some of the top trainers couldn’t f ix his problems. I wanted to sell himbut Valentina wouldn’t let me. Only Valentina can teach him. He accepts only her.”

Valentina and ‘her boyfriend’ Chablis

Enzo Truppa helps Valentina with Eremo del Castegno

The training is sof t and correct, the curb shank isvertical and the exercises are used to shape thehorse. “We work always at making loose the horse.This is our mantra,” Enzo emphasises. Contraptionsare unheard of in the stable. “Valentina has never seendraw reins in her lif e. She would not know how to f ix aproblem with them. She is only 160cm and just over50kg, and look at the horse. So I can’t believe ourmethod is too wrong.”

Working pirouettes, a couple of big trot extensions tof inish and many “molto buenos” f rom the trainer,Chablis has done everything asked of him so thesession is short and he is put away af ter being f ed alot of sugar!

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 isactually the best wine growing region in Italy,” and like all good Italians, Enzo is a wine connoisseur.

The horses range f rom three years old (Eremo’s f ull sister) to 15-year-old Chablis. Treadmills are used f orexercise and to keep the young horses moving when the Truppas are away at shows. There is also anindoor 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 LondonOlympics the owner of the two showjumping mares stabled next to him was a litt le worried, until she wasassured he is a gelding…

Valentina is riding in new boots and a new prototypesaddle and laughs through her pain, “Ah…it has tobe done!”

Five minutes of walk at the beginning and thenloosening canter work. Enzo continues to explain thetraining: “We never get so concentrated on thecollected work that we f orget the looseness andrelaxation. How long we do it f or depends on thehorse.”

All the training is individualised f or the particularanimal. Some are warmed up in the trot, some thecanter. Some are stretched long and some not. “TakeEremo, a German magazine once called him ‘TheGladiator ’. He was so over-motivated but now he understands that we do the work together.

The Truppas do a lot of interval training. If an exercise is done properly, there is a pat and a walk. Thebiggest punishment is to repeat the exercise when it is wrong. They believe that if you punish a horse, hewill never f orget it and that horses give everything back… with interest.

Now 12, Eremo was chosen as a six-month-old weanling. The Truppas don’t buy trained horses butpurchase them very young. They like to own the horses, so the training can progress at a speed suitablewithout the pressure of owners pushing the horses too quickly through the system.

Valentina in teaching mode

Once the big bay has loosened up, it ’s t ime to train what Enzo believes is perhaps the best piaf f e in theworld. The whip is taken away f or the piaf f e/passage as it can’t be used in competit ion. It is indeed perf ect,showing why the horse usually gets awarded 9s and 10s f or the pace. “Fantastico!” enthuses Enzo, “Howdo you like that?” he laughs.

The O level judge explains a situation that occurred at Stuttgart CDI, “One of the judges awarded a 7.5 f orthat piaf f e without a comment. I believe marks below 8 should have a comment. Valentina asked me, ‘Howdo 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 VanTruppen!”

Valentina hasn’t needed to resort to such tactics. She has had a great season on the World Cup circuit, andis headed to the World Cup f inals af ter f inishing in second place in the Western European League. It ’s justf ine-tuning now and a stress-f ree 20-minute session is all that is needed today, bef ore the obligatorysugar.

Valentina’s two top students enter the arena, and arewrapped up in a horse rug, the young rider takes on thecoaching role. Frederica Scolari and Micol Rustignolihave already represented Italy as young riders withValentina and now the young trainer wants her girls tomake up the Italian team that goes to the EuropeanChampionships in Herning later in the year. They bothhave their f irst qualif ying marks, so it ’s a reasonablegoal. Although both are active and f orward, Frederica’shorse is kept up in f ront while Micol is stretching herslong and low, “But never deep”, enf orces Enzo, “I don’tbelieve in deep. But every horse is dif f erent and riddenaccordingly.”

Micol’s horse has a short and theref ore slightly t ightback. She is tall, so she works to help him lif t his backsomewhat. Enzo explains again: “This is very interesting.The passage gets a bit t ight, so then she trots toloosen 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 aNorman king, the big bay eight-year-old has justsuccessf ully begun his international career at VidaubanCDI. Enzo tells his story while Valentina loosens him up.“He is the f irst horse I have allowed Valentina to ridef rom three years old. Usually I don’t allow her to ridethem until they are f our; bef ore that it can be too dangerous plus it ’s not really training. But Valentina wouldsay, ‘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 litt le dog. He is a f unny horse. I ride him sometimes without the saddle orbridle, the same as Eremo.” Valentina has started to do some Parelli work with her top horses to changetheir routine a litt le and give them mental relaxation. They play with big balls, walk over tarpaulins and getridden in just a halter about every two months.

But today it is strictly dressage. Ranieri warms up in the canter. The quarters are engaged and thestraightness checked then leg yield into half pass. “We do tonnes of counter-canter here,” Enzo explains.There 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. “The main danger to our horses here isdiabetes. I had to stop standing next to the arena when Valentina competes this one as he used to stop allthe 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.The rising six-year-old is so similar to his big brother in looks, but not in temperament; he can have his‘moments’. The trot and canter are just so naturally swinging and the neck and back so correct, the youngbay is on his best behaviour today. “We think the piaf f e will be amazing too, but we’re not touching thatyet”, says Enzo.

“Look at this horse, with such balanced paces it is easy to sit back and do nothing, but you must controlthe tempo. It is like a car with f ive gears, you have to use them, you have to control and master the tempo.This 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 ofperf 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 strongin her posit ion 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 proudf ather, who is also her biggest crit ic. “I’m more severe than the most severe judge. I have to commendValentina f or being so patient as I’m very picky.”

Other top trainers are sometimes brought to the stable to conf irm the training. They have worked withGeorg and Monica Theodorescu, Wolf ram Wittig and Klaus Balkenhol. Valentina also spent some monthswith Hubertus Schmidt, an experience that changed her att itude towards the sport, not so much in thetraining, 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 GeorgTheodorescu. The lunging is the horse’s 10 minutes where he can do what he wants. Then it is the rider ’s20 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 menand German to my horse.’ This 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 anincredible 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. The horses are given all the timethey need to develop, are treated as individuals and are never f orced. Their system is kind, creative andclassical and the results in the competit ion arena speak f or themselves.

VALENTINA INTERVIEW

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 Eremotoo.

What was the highlight of the London Olympics?

Well being my f irst Olympics it was a really big experience. The main thing was the atmosphere. Everycompetit ion we do the same tests, but at the Olympics there were so many people watching. Also, I stayedin the village f or three days and being there with all the other dif f erent sports was very excit ing.

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 whatcompetit ions I have coming up. I give lessons to students three to f our days a week as well and f inish theday around 17:30. Six clients are enough f or me with my competit ions.

As well as work, the young horses go into the paddocks when there is not so much rain! If this is notpossible, 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. This can beusef ul f or riding. I started it with the older horses af ter the Olympics but have been doing it with the younghorses 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 canride 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 doeverything. Sometimes during the week with Eremo and Chablis I do just basic work so the piaf f e/ passageis 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 makeyour 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, bothjumping 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, “That she gets f romthe 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 rsesint ernat io nal.co m http://horsesinternational.com/sport/valentina-truppa-not-to-compete-in-the-world-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 theItalian Dressage Championship to be held in Arezzo f rom the 26 to the 29 of Septemberand the concomitant 3*CDI.

As she announces on her website she will start the indoor season with Eremo delCastegno 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 theEuropean Championship in Herning with a 21st place in the Grand Prix Special good f or the individualmedals without qualif ying f or the f inal Freestyle.

Source dressage-international.com

pf erdewo che.ch http://www.pferdewoche.ch/news/ausgaben/charmante-frohnatur/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 schnitt igeUnif orm.Aktuelle Themen von Birgit Popp //

Mit schnitt iger, schwarz-roter Unif orm, zackigem Gruss, charmantem Lächeln, rasanten, schwierigen Küren zum gute Laune verbreitenden Bella- Italia-Medleypiaf f ierte und passagierte sich Valentina Truppa in die Herzen der Zuschauer.

Immer mit dabei ist ihr Hund Pepy, den sie von Sissy Max-Theurer geschenkt bekam.

Seit der Deutsch-Italienerin Pia Laus, die in ihrer Jugend zahlreiche Medaillen bei Europameisterschaf ten f ürDeutschland sammelte, im Seniorenalter aber in den 90er-Jahren f ür das Heimatland ihres Vaters beiinternationalen Championaten an den Start ging, gab es in der Dressur keine so erf olgreiche Vertreterin ausunserem südlichen Nachbarland mehr, wie die in der Unif orm der Carabinieri reitende Italienerin ValentinaTruppa. Schon f rüh trumpf te die zierliche Amazone auf und gewann neben zahlreichen Titeln (den ersten2004) und Medaillen bei Europameisterschaf ten ihrer Altersklasse dreimal den Weltcupf inal der JungenReiter 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 allemmit dem bereits als Fohlen von ihrer Familie erworbenen, in Italien gezogenen Eremo del Castegno, einRohdiamant-Weltmeyer-Sohn. Das erf olgreichste Jahr des durch seine herausragende Piaf f e-Passage-Tour besonders auf f älligen Paares war bisher 2012. Gleich zu Beginn wurden sie beim Weltcupf inal imholländischen ’s-Hertogenbosch hinter Adelinde Cornelissen mit Parzival und Helen Langehanenberg mitDamon 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 MastersKür-Final bei der Pf erd International in München-Riem und bei den Olympischen Spielen in London gelangihnen der Einzug in den Kür-Final, wo sie mit 78,214 Prozent 15. wurden. Im Weltcupf inal 2013 imschwedischen Göteborg ritten Valentina Truppa und der zwölf jährige, braune Wallach mit ihrer neuen Kür zueinem Medley von Stücken aus Verdi- und Rossini-Opern auf Platz sechs. Beim diesjährigen CDI4* Fritzensauf dem Schindlhof in Tirol gewann Valentina alle vier Grand- Prix-Prüf ungen des Turniers: Grand Prix undGP 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 zuverdanken. Der Mailänder Jurist, der als angesehener Fünf stern-Dressurrichter bereits auf mehrerenChampionaten im Einsatz war, ist selbst erf olgreich international bis Grand Prix geritten. Er setzte seineTochter bereits im zarten Alter von einem Jahr vor sich in den Sattel und ist von Anf ang an ihr Trainer undCoach. Ins Nähkästchen geschaut hat Valentina Truppa aber auch bei berühmten Trainern wie KlausBalkenhol, Jean Bemelmans, Hubertus Schmidt, Monica und Georges Theodorescu, Morten Thomsen undWolf 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 undzu reiten: «Ich mochte das sehr gerne, weil ich Tiere und besonders Pf erde sehr mag. Für mich war es alsKind mehr ein Spiel als Sport. Richtig begonnen zu reiten habe ich mit sechs Jahren auf einem Pony, dasGeorges Theodorescu f ür uns gef unden hatte. Mit ihm nahm ich auch schon an meinen erstenWettbewerben teil. Mit meinem ersten Pf erd habe ich mit elf begonnen, Turniere zu reiten. Zu Beginn meinerJunioren-Lauf bahn verbrachte ich mit 14 schon einige Zeit mit Monica und Georges Theodorescu. Späterf olgten Lehrgänge und Trainingsauf enthalte auch bei einigen anderen Trainern wie Hubertus Schmidt undMorten Thomson.» Manche mögen denken, dass viele Köche den Brei verderben würden, aber ValentinaTruppa sieht das anders. «Ich habe mir von jedem Trainer das Beste abgeschaut und nicht jedes Pf erd istgleich. Mit dem einen Pf erd ist die Trainingsmethode des einen Trainers besser, f ür das andere Pf erde eineandere Art von Training. Man muss versuchen, f ür jedes Pf erd das Beste herauszuf inden. Auch heute nochsehe ich mir während einer Prüf ung immer an, wie die anderen abreiten, um dabei etwas Interessantes zuentdecken. Ich bin erst 27 Jahre alt. Reiter wie Edward Gal oder Isabell Werth haben viel mehr Erf ahrung alsich. Wichtig ist meinem Vater und mir bei der Pf erdeausbildung, dass sie pf erdef reundlich ist und wir denPf erden Zeit 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. Nocherf 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 beidenFolgejahren sollte sie, dann mit Chablis, diese Prüf ung dominieren. Bei der EM 2006 gewann sie mit ihmGold in der Einzelwertung. Ein Jahr später verteidigte das Paar erf olgreich seinen Titel und gewannobendrein 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, ihreEltern die Reitsportanlage Centro Equestre Monf errato bei Asti erwarben, deren Namen dem der Regionrund um Asti entspricht, und die Familie dort einzog. Seit 2007 lebt Valentina im Zentrum von Asti in einemkleinen Apartment. Seit drei Jahren immer mit dabei ist ihr Jack-Russell-Terrier Pepy, den sie von Sissy Max-Theurer geschenkt bekam. Als sie mit 18 die Schule beendete, trat sie den Carabinieri bei, einer speziellenmilitärischen Formation des italienischen Staatspräsidenten. Als Mitglied der Sportkompanie ist sie vomregulären 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 derModebranche gut vorstellen. «Ich liebe Mode, hübsche Kleider, Taschen und Schuhe, aber es war nie meinBeruf swunsch. Wobei ich mir am Ende meiner Schulzeit auch noch nicht vorstellen konnte, beruf lich mitPf erden zu tun zu haben, und ich studierte zwei Jahre lang Jura. Aber das ist von Asti aus etwaskompliziert, da ich es in Asti selbst nicht studieren kann. Zum Ende meiner Junge-Reiter-Karriere hin habeich mit dem Unterrichten begonnen und f estgestellt, dass es mir sehr viel Spass macht. Der Übergang vonden Jungen Reitern zu den Senioren war nicht so einf ach gewesen. Anf angs hatte ich nur Chablis undeinige Schüler, aber ein Jahr später begann ich Eremo im GP-Sport zu reiten und das veränderte die ganzeSituation. Als ich anf ing, mit ihm durch die Welt zu reisen, gab ich mein Jura-Studium auf . Ich habe vonmeinem Vater gelernt, dass Unterricht zu geben, eine gute Sache ist. Ich mag es sehr gerne. Ich binnervöser, wenn meine Schülerinnen starten, als wenn ich selbst eine Prüf ung reite. Wenn ich eines Tagesmit meiner aktiven Karriere auf hören werde, denke ich, werde ich eine gute Trainerin sein. Dressurrichter wiemein Vater möchte ich aber nicht werden.» Bei der Dressur-EM 2012 im dänischen Herning waren ausser ihrmit Federica Scolari auf Eremos Halbbruder Beldonwelt und Micol Rustignol auf Corallo Nero gleich zweiihrer 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 Unterrichtf ür die meist acht bis zehn Teilnehmer teilen sich Vater und Tochter und Mutter Anna sorgt in einem eigenshierf 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», soValentina. Neben Eremo del Castegno und Chablis ist dies der achtjährige Dänenwallach Ranieri DK, einSohn des Romanovs, den sie im selben Stall wie einst Chablis entdeckt hat und mit dem sie in der KleinenTour international bereits sehr erf olgreich ist; der siebenjährige Rappwallach Chardonée und der ein Jahrjüngere Nilo del Castegno, der aus Eremos Mutter Weltgirl mit dem Hannoveraner Hengst Stedingergezogen wurde. Weitere Hof f nungsträger sind der vierjährige Fuchswallach Sovignon als auch EremosVollschwester und ein Sohn von Painted Black, die beide zweieinhalb sind.

Romantikerin

Wenn Valentina bei all den Pf erden und Schülern noch etwas Zeit f ür andere Dinge bleibt, dann läuf t siegerne, «oder ich f ahre an den Strand, um mich einf ach mal nur in die Sonne zu legen und mich an der Küstezu entspannen. Ich lese gerne, komme aber nicht of t dazu, wenn, dann am liebsten romantische Romaneund zeitgenössische Literatur.» Obwohl die modebewusste Reiterin mit Fixdesign einen Modeproduzentenals Sponsor besitzt, denkt sie bisher noch nicht daran, wie andere Reiter eine eigene Kollektion zuentwickeln. «Die Zusammenarbeit hat erst in diesem Jahr begonnen. Bisher habe ich keine Zeit gef unden,mich dort einzubringen, aber Fixdesign stellte bisher nur normale Mode her, sie haben jetzt erst Mode f ürReiter 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 amHandgelenk von Valentina Truppa nehmen in der Anzahl auf jeden Fall ständig zu. «Ich bin nicht wirklichabergläubig, aber man kann ja nie wissen. Vielleicht bringen sie ja doch etwas. Für meine Psyche ist es aufjeden Fall gut», lacht sie auf die Frage nach den vielen Bändern an ihren Handgelenken. «Meine Pf erde oderich, wir haben auch jedes Turnier etwas Neues an uns, so habe ich bei jedem Turnier neue Handschuhemit.»Wenn sie in die Prüf ung einreitet, so sagt sie, sei sie weder nervös noch entspannt, sondern sehrkonzentriert: «Nur letztes Jahr in London war ich etwas nervös, aber ich glaube, das ist normal, wenn manbei 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 mansehr konzentriert reitet. Ich versuche, jedes Mal besser zu sein als beim vorigen Mal. Wenn man einen Fehlermacht, kann einen das in der Platzierung weit nach hinten werf en. Mit Eremo ist allerdings jede Prüf unganders. Er ist nie gleich. Zuhause versuchen wir ihn ebenso wie die jungen Pf erde auf dieTurniergegebenheiten vorzubereiten, zum Beispiel mit lauter Musik. Viele Veranstalter und auch dieVerantwortlichen bei der FEI vergessen heute, dass Pf erde Fluchttiere sind. Wenn sie versuchen, vor soetwas wie Kameras, lauter Musik usw. wegzurennen, weil sie Panik bekommen, kann man sie nichtbestraf en. Ich versuche sie dann zu beruhigen. Manche Turniere sind einf ach zu viel f ür die Pf erde. Wirmüssen uns erinnern, dass Pf erde Pf erde sind. Sie kennen das alles nicht und wissen nicht, damitumzugehen. Und ich bin der Meinung, die äusseren Einf lüsse sind auch f ür die Reiter nicht gut. Sie lenkenmich davon ab, mich auf meine Prüf ung zu konzentrieren, wenn ich über Dinge wie die Kamera amViereckrand 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 Weltgirlgef 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 schondreijährig in meinen Stall bekommen. An Eremo mag ich, dass er sehr schlau ist. Man muss die Lektionennicht of t wiederholen, bevor sie gut gelingen. Er erinnert sich sehr schnell. Seine Schwäche ist, dass er soguckig ist. Im Grand Prix in diesem Jahr beim Weltcupf inal in Göteborg ist dies wegen der vielen Blumenleider wieder der Fall gewesen. Wenn er so schaut, dann gerät er völlig ausser Kontrolle. Bis vor zweiJahren war er wirklich schrecklich, aber ich habe nie auf gehört, an ihn zu glauben. Für den GP-Sport brauchtman ein Pf erd, das ein bisschen verrückt ist. Ich wusste, dass er eines Tages ‘das’ Pf erd sein würde, aberich 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 angvöllig dumm und stand sich of t selbst im Weg. Mein Vater begann ihn erst zu reiten, als er sechs war. Ichhabe ihn siebenjährig erstmals in nationalen Junioren-Prüf ungen vorgestellt. Mit acht, neun Jahren ging erJunge-Reiter-Prüf ungen und er war mein erstes Grand-Prix-Pf erd. Heute ist er 16, wir sind schon eine langeZeit zusammen. Ich nenne ihn gerne meinen Verlobten. Er ist das Gegenteil von Eremo, er guckt nie. Chablishat vor nichts Angst, da könnte selbst eine Bombe neben ihm explodieren. Manchmal muss ich ihn richtigauf wecken. Wenn er etwas nicht machen will, dann macht er es nicht. Er entscheidet, was er machen will. Erist stur wie ein Esel. Was meinem Vater an ihm schon als junges Pf erd so gut gef allen hatte, sind seineBewegungen. Schon damals in Dänemark war er wie ein Gummiball.»

(Erschienen in der Pf erdeWoche Nr. 38/2013)

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