Endurance: 100 days to the world challenge in Verona

Bologna, July 11, 2022 –  Ambassador of the Verona area, the horse acts as the special meeting point between sportsmen and enthusiasts. This is the leitmotiv set by Veronafiere 100 days ahead of the FEI Endurance World Championship Verona 2022 (19-23 October).

Endurance, with its roots dating back in history, is ready to celebrate its 18th edition of the World Championship.

The first ‘official’ long distance ride took place on November 6^th in 1860, when Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States of America. His first speech to the nation took only 7 days and 17 hours to travel from Washington Dc to California thanks to an extraordinary Pony Express service.

Pony Express duty was organized in relays. Each courier used to ride a maximum of 160 kilometres per day. Which is the same distance that is awaiting, in the Verona area, the world’s best endurance riders competing for the world title.

A ‘royal’ discipline

The remarkable expansion of endurance riding in the 1990s was due to the passion of Sheiks, Sultans and Kings. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, SH Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Dipertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin – just to name a few – signed the roll of honour of the discipline.

A special invitation to have fun

The Palariso in Isola della Scala will showcase the world Gotha of the discipline with a championship that brings along the flavours of its hosting territory: from food and wine to handicrafts. The password for the FEI Endurance World Championship Verona 2022 will be… ‘made in Italy’.

An organized area will host many activities aimed at children: Coccolasino, Asinobus, first saddle experience, equestrian educational, art workshops, and playroom.

Entrance is free.

Riding on the ‘Strada del Riso’

If we consider the horse as the ambassador of the territory, then Riso Nano Vialone Veronese I.G.P. is the titled host.

During the World Championship, the Municipality of Verona will unveil of one of the four urban riding tracks, the Strada del Riso’, in the midst of the biodiversity of the Adige riverbanks.

The trail, that leads from Verona to Isola della Scala, touches historic mansions such as Villa Giuliari – dating back in the 17th century with frescos by Maccari and Marcola – and Villa Balladoro – home to a rich library on the history and legends of the area. On the itinerary, organized by ASD Horse Valley, there are also some industrial archaeological findings dating back to 1650. They are conserved at the ‘Pila Vecia’ of the Ferron’s rice mill (in Saccovener, Isola della Scala).