Davide Mariani

Horse training and handling is a demanding profession for a man or a woman. However, Davide Mariani from Italy is undaunted. His love for horses is overwhelming to the extent of spending twenty-four hours with the most elegant animal in the world. Davide lives in Sarsina, near Forlì-Cesena, Emilia Romagna, where he owns and runs the well-known Mariani Arabians. 1. Hello, Davide. Just to set the scene with our readers, will you please give us some background to you and your family? How and when did this passion for Arabian horses begin? 1.My passion for the Arabian horse was born at a very young age as my uncle owned several horses, including an Arabian mare that became my favourite. With the purchase of my first Arabian horse in 1996, my dream came true. You ask me about my family. Family is everything to me. Always there to support me in this job that I love so much. If I hadn't had it around me, it wouldn't have been possible to realize what I have now. Since I stepped into the Arabian horse world, my life has changed. I have had the opportunity to travel the world and get in touch with different civilizations and ideas. 2. When were Mariani Arabians founded? Which bloodlines are bred there? 2. Let's start from this assumption, I like all Arabian horses. Beyond the pedigree, a horse must be as balanced and correct as possible in all of his aspects. The perfect horse does not exist, but from a morphological standpoint, the harmony of the body lines, elegance, and floating supple movement are qualities or characteristics that an Arabian horse must necessarily have. Mariani Arabians were founded in 2010 when I was still in the United States, where I lived and worked at Raymond Mazzei's Furioso Farm. There, I bought the foundation mare of my breeding program, Cedars Bellavia by Laheeb, a straight Egyptian female. I had met her sire Laheeb in 2006, on a business trip to the same stables. Since that day, I have always thought that my main goal had to be to buy a daughter of him. Laheeb had something special about him that made him look so different from all the other stallions. So, I made up my mind, and I bought this mare in 2010, which marked the beginning of the Mariani Arabians breeding program. 4. Davide, have you developed a systematic program for handling Arabian horses at Mariani Arabians? Can you describe this program? Is there a limit to what you can teach an Arabian horse through handling? 4. When it comes down to training, handling, and everything related to the show performance, I have developed the method that I have perfected over the years. Not all horses are the same, each horse needs a particular approach, so there is no standard job. There are several approaches, but the basic concept is to educate the horse without using coercive methods. The horse must learn the teachings without stress, it is necessary to establish a connection with the animal. The final goal is for the horse to recognize you as a fellow. 5. What, in your opinion, really defines a good Handler? What do you need to become a successful one? 5. First of all, it is necessary to acquire the basics and gain work experience at specialized centres. In Italy, there are many. I would strongly suggest doing some experience in the United States. For me, it proved to be a decisive one. I came into contact with different schools, different methodologies, and approaches. Not less important, I had the opportunity to work with great experts in the sector. 6. Which show have you been to as a Handler most recently? 6. One of the last shows I attended was at Fieracavalli Verona where I won a gold medal with my stallion Jameel MD and a silver medal with another stallion, not of my own. 7. How important are the Fairs of Arabian horses? 7. Shows play a crucial role as they give all fans and experts the chance to meet up, exchange ideas, compare breeding strategies and start new projects. In recent years, the industry has become very specialized and highly professional. Things have changed compared to the past, and to keep up, you need to have plenty of resources today. Nothing wrong with this. I only think that more support should go to smaller breeders and professionals in these Covid-19 times. 11. How and where do you see yourself in ten years? 11. I hope I will continue to breed my horses as I am doing right now, but my next goal is to become a judge. Thank you, Davide. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors. And may all your dreams come true!