The initiative with the aim of raising funds for the “in the saddle of life” project which helps young people with disabilities through hippotherapy.

Modena, 26 March 2024

“This year the students who have joined the “In sella alla vita” project through their schools have increased significantly, as a result the funds necessary for their transport are about to run out and we risk not being able to complete the cycle of lessons.”

This is the cry of alarm launched by Angela Ravaioli, coordinator of the initiative which, free of charge, offers children and young people with disabilities or mental distress a path of assisted interventions with horses capable of discovering a new dimension of the relationship with their companions and with nature.

A cry that was taken up by the communication and public relations company Nevent, which put its acquaintances and friendships online to create a musical evening with the aim of raising funds for the project. To underline the purposes of the event, jokingly, the organizers were inspired by the cult film “The Blues Brothers” who, as many will remember, are on a mission on behalf of God to avoid the closure of the orphanage in which they grew up. The “Semi-serious concert for a very serious cause”, this is the title of the evening scheduled for Friday 5 April at the Troisi Theater in Nonantola, will feature the doctor – musician Gustavo Savino with his band called for the occasion Wild Horses composed of Matteo Dondi, drums, Antonio Viola, guitar, Alfredo Barbieri, bass and Gianluigi Budriesi, voice, and as a guest star the histrionic singer and actor Lalo Cibelli.

The project “In the saddle of life”

“In the saddle of life“, now in its fifth edition, was born in 2019 from an idea of the Rehabilitation and Equestrian Tourism Association “Il Paddock“, developed in close and constant collaboration with the Amateur Sports Group “Il Centauro“. The initiative, which integrates the school path of students, aims to promote horse-assisted interventions aimed at minors with disabilities in primary and secondary schools in Modena and its province. “In the saddle of life”, which has obtained the patronage of the Municipality of Modena and the School Office of the Emilia-Romagna Region, has recorded exponential qualitative and quantitative growth over time so much so that, in the 2023-2024 school year, it is expected to involve about 250 young people, the highest number ever reached.

Decisive for the success of the initiative, in addition to the extraordinary collaboration of the teachers, is also the sensitivity and closeness of the management of the Ghirlandina Hippodrome which makes available the area where, biweekly, the “close encounters” with the horses take place. A total of four specialized instructors – Angela Ravaioli, coordinator of the initiative, Elena Tarantoli and Francesca Montanari of Meraki and Gabriella Bellandi – who take the field using as many horses, made available by the Meraki Amateur Sports Association, another irreplaceable cornerstone of “In the saddle of life”.

“The approach to the horse – explains Angela Ravaioli – is gradual and aims first of all to make young people become familiar with equines which, although accustomed to this type of situation, can instil fear for their size. Together with the boys, the camp is prepared, the equipment for cleaning the coat and hooves is set up and, at the end, the most exciting moment arrives, that is, when we get on the saddle. In many years of work we have always managed to complete the entire path and this is a source of great satisfaction for us”.

This year, however, as mentioned, the program of “In the saddle of life”, risks, paradoxically, not to be completed, given the scope, not to make a clear path, due to the considerable feedback obtained. “Especially in the case of primary schools, to promote inclusion, teachers have created larger groups than usual in which able-bodied children join their more fragile peers. This situation, however, forces us to resort to paid services and does not allow us to turn to volunteers who carry out the service free of charge; as a result, travel expenses have increased significantly,” continues Angela Ravaioli.

The concert

Hence the idea of the concert that for the charitable purpose is inspired by the Blues Brothers, on a mission on behalf of God. The appointment with “Semi-serious concert for a very serious cause” is for Friday 5 April, starting at 8.30 pm, at the Troisi Theater of the Municipality of Nonantola which has given its support to the initiative. Admission is free and what is donated will be collected directly by the Associations that make the project possible. Gustavo Savino with his band and Lalo Cibelli in the setlist created for the occasion have included some songs, starting with the enthralling Everybody needs somebody, which made director John Landis’ film unforgettable and which will certainly be able to warm hearts and make the audience dance.