Talking to Gian Annibale Rossi di Medelana (to give him his full name), you immediately realise how much horses have meant to him since he was a boy and used to go out riding on his familyÕs farm. In fact, horses have always been part of his life.
At the age of 56, he is nowadays, one of the most successful breeders of sport horses in Italy. After a tragic fall from a young horse in 1981 terminated his brilliant career as an eventer (he competed at Burghley in 1979), he has been forced to live his great love for horses through breeding and, since 1988, he has been spending most of his time looking after his stud farm ÔIl TerriccioÕ located in northern Tuscany in the centre of Italy. A beautiful hilly domain, not far from the sea, with a mild climate - a perfect setting for horses to grow healthy and strong.
... Q Which bloodlines do you use?
My two stallions, Risketou (Lord Gordon - Fanny x Laurier) and Calife di lÕHermet (Lubumbashi - Calinka di la Cour x Fou di la Cour) are both Selle Franais. I have always used the French stud-book as my model because itÕs the one which has given me the strongest inspiration. I have always looked for stallions and brood-mares in France and all my breeding is nowadays based upon French horses crossed with some thoroughbreds. I think that the thoroughbred is very important in producing a successful sport horse, mainly through the mares, even if it is very difficult to achieve the right balance. You cannot ignore it, but you have to be careful not to exaggerate it, which is what has happened in Italy in the past 20 years.
Q What are the basic rules you apply to breeding successful sport horses?
I donÕt think IÕve discovered any miraculous recipe, but I think there are a few ingredients that you have to look for in order to produce potentially talented sport horses. You must have a good mare, a balanced diet - especially for the young horses - and wide, hilly spaces. The possibility of having big paddocks is, in my opinion, one of the biggest problems in Italy and some breeders think they can breed sport horses like they can breed chickens. In my stud, I reserve 200 hectares just for the horsesÕ paddocks. ...