Riccardo Boricchi, from Tuscany, has always been involved in the world of horses as a rider and breeder – but above all as an organiser of top-level international events. He has been in charge of technical-sporting staff of Jumping Verona since 2019. The many new features and improvements to the event already introduced under his coordination over the last few editions are now joined by other for the coming edition number 23.
“We are ready to host this new leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™,” said Boricchi, “ensuring everything needed for perfect organisation of such technically high-level competitions. Registrations are about to close but we can already emphasise the impressive calibre of the riders currently signed up for the event. Mention need only be made that four of the Top 10 in the FEI ranking will enter the competition ring: Swiss rider Steve Guerdat (no. 2 and reigning European champion), Briton Ben Maher (no. 3), Austrian Max Kühner (no. 7) and Frenchman Simon Delestre (no. 9). Maher won the 2023 Verona Grand Prix with Dallas Vegas Batilly, a horse which he successfully saddled for Great Britain to win team gold at the Paris Olympics. The CSI5*W competitions in Show Hall 8 – the flagship events of the programme – will be joined by more resent yet well-established events such as the Fieracavalli GP 126×126 and the finals of the Italian Champions Tour.”
“Over and above ensuring that the competitions are held in line with the highest technical and organisational standards,” Boricchi went on, “we are as always committed to ensuring maximum attention to the well-being of horses competing in Jumping Verona events. New aspects this year include attention to the intense work of grooms – a key category for the success of each event and in close personal touch with the beautiful athletes that are horses. Last year, we made a bar available to them with free food and drinks inside the stables: this space has been improved this year so that grooms can further optimise their breaks from work during days of always intense activity. Another new feature,” Boricchi summed up, “is the installation in the upper part of the hospitality area in the grandstand of five skyboxes – full-scale lounges – where sponsors and their guests will be able to eat and follow the event while also enjoying themselves and promoting public relations in an even more comfortable setting. This approach is already widespread in other sporting fields. It also ensures greater visibility for sponsors themselves and provides even better opportunities for entertaining their guests.”
Ph. Riccardo Boricchi and Ben Maher, Jumping Verona 2023 – JV/ S.Grasso