The breeding centre of Razza del Velino is situated in the province of Rieti and covers an area of 48 hectares. This region is characterised by a microclimate which favours the horses’ wellbeing and maintenance of the fields. It is enclosed by two rivers: the Velino and the canal of Saint Susanna.
The centre is made up of the following:
- One walker
- 52 spacious box stalls spread across 4 barns
- A ring for taming the foals
- Paddocks
This structure currently holds about 65 foals. During the breeding process 2 types of services can be distinguished:
- Foal boarding - From the middle of October until the middle of December every year foals arrive at the breeding centre from both national and overseas breeding centres. The foals live outside 24 hours a day and are fed a mix of cereals and core ingredients which have been carefully studied and selected by an expert nutritionist. A large quantity of hay is also included within this diet. Every week 2 or 3 groups of foals are brought into the stables to be examined and every forty days the foals receive a vermifuge treatment and are visited by a blacksmith. The foals are regularly weighed to carefully track their growth. From the middle of January of the following year the foals are divided up on the basis of their sex and physical characteristics. Right from the very first day each foal is closely monitored on a daily basis.
- Preparation for auction - from the beginning of July groups of horses are selected to participate at auctions which take place at the end of September. During the daytime these foals are protected from the heat in their box stalls, whereas during night time they spend their time in the meadows. To ensure that the foals arrive at the auctions in excellent physical condition, they spend their mornings walking and in the ring. In the afternoon, the foals are cleaned. In October, a year after their birth, the foals are transferred to the racing stables to be tamed.
Many of the foals reared at our centre have gone on to become champions, which have included: Awelmarduk, Voila Ici, Blessed Luck, Crackerjack King, Le Cadre Noir, Dagda Mor, Cherry Collect, Jakkalberry, Sneak a peek, Kidnapping, and many more.
