Luana Scirè, President, instructor, and horse co-therapist at the Athenarum Equestrian Center in Scordia (CT), has brought her expertise to the 126th edition of Fieracavalli. At her center, she provides support to children with autism spectrum disorder through equine therapy programs, with the help of horses like Akira, Aiko, Gelsomina, and the donkey Nespolina.
Today in Verona, she is demonstrating how the horse can be a symbol of inclusion by sharing the story of Gioele, a sweet 8-year-old boy. A year ago, Gioele arrived at the center with autism level three, which involves significant challenges in communication, social interaction, and daily life activities.
“Today, Gioele is a completely different child compared to when he first came to me,” says Luana. “Our presence here at Fieracavalli has a very important goal: to send a strong message, that the horse is a symbol of inclusion. Months ago, Gioele was non-verbal, uncommunicative, detached from our world. But thanks to the horses, he has been able to open a door—the door to the world—which, at first, was only blue, but now it’s full of colors. Now Gioele talks, smiles, and every time he gets on a horse, he’s happy.”
But Gioele is not alone. With him are his mother, the students, the Athenarum team, and especially Benedetta, a sweet 7-year-old girl who, through her passion for vaulting, has opened new doors for Gioele to explore. Today, they will perform “Beauty and the Beast” to illustrate Gioele’s transformation into a little prince.
“Benedetta has helped him so much,” says Luana. “Thanks to her passion for vaulting—a beautiful and elegant discipline involving gymnastic exercises performed on a horse—we decided to create a routine with Gioele. They are each other’s support, and they will perform together to show their incredible bond, which is something words cannot explain. Through the fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast, they will convey the message that even something seemingly different can, with the right key, shine. And today, everyone will see how Gioele has become a beautiful prince.”
Dr. Michele Marconi, the operational manager of the Riding The Blue project at Fieracavalli, has also observed significant improvements in Gioele:
“We’ve noticed substantial changes in how Gioele relates to the horse in a therapeutic way, especially regarding the reduction of dyspraxia—neurological difficulties in movement coordination and simple daily activities. When we are thirsty, we have the intention to simply grab a glass of water; however, an autistic child experiences a need but doesn’t know how to manage the actions to satisfy that need. Since Gioele has been interacting with the horse, he’s learned to express his needs, and his story shows how this interaction has turned into a real relationship, as the families, the eyes, and the hearts of those around him can testify. We would like to expand the Riding the Blue research project—born here at Fieracavalli—at the Athenarum center and support realities like Luana’s through specific research and technical practices for autism. We believe this collaboration will lead to bright paths and horizons.”
