Arnaldo Bologni returns to Jumping Verona 17 years after his last appearance in the only Italian leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™: «Well, I think I’ve grown wiser in these years…».
While he jokes about the time passing, Arnaldo, 64, will be the ‘senior’ competitor in this 23rd edition of Verona CSI5*-W, that he strangely attended only twice before: in 2001 and in 2007.
«First of all, to be competitive at a certain level, you need horses that are up to the job: I have them now, so here I am again thanks to the Italian coach Marco Porro. Moreover, you enter the arena of such important only if you’re well set in mind and body. And this is so true for both riders and horses. In the past, this was the end of the sports season, but now there are no breaks in the competition calendar».
In 2024 Arnaldo Bologni was in the limelight thanks to two horses: Tailormade Mequilot PS, Oldenburg 10 years old, and Mark D 2, Hannover 15 years old.
«With Giovanna Trenti, a friend and veterinarian who looks after my horses, we took Mark from Massimo Grossato at the end of 2023. It was my son Filippo, a keen observer of competitions and horses, who brought Mark to our attention. Mark has a very special character and Filippo thought that with me he would have been able to give the best of himself. And he really did… We were fourth in the GP 3* in Arezzo, we scored a double clear in the Nations Cup in Prague, we attended Hickstead, we were first in the GP 3* in Cervia and we performed the clear round that qualified him for the barrage of the GP 5* of the Longines Global Champions Tour in Rome».
Arnaldo is delighted with Tailormade too.
«Tailormade doesn’t have Mark’s experience, but he has a lot of scope. He is owned by Andrea Riffeser Monti. There is always great understanding with him and it is a pleasure to have such a horse owner. In any case, both Mark and Tailormade arrive in top condition for the Verona event: we are ready to take our chance».
For 30-year-old Bologni Jr. it will instead be his 10th participation in Jumping Verona: «Filippo will be back from Lyon – explains Arnaldo – and he will compete with two young horses: C-Willie and Trusilla».
In the picture, Arnaldo and Filippo Bologni with Marco Porro
