One champions out of three: Astier Nicolas buys Paolo Belvederesi’s Steve N
7th December 2016
Eventing: it just ended the negotiations between Astier Nicolas (1989), eventing gold team and silver individual medalist at the last Olympics in Rio De Janeiro, among the best eventers in the world, and Paolo Belvederesi, Italian rider (2nd degree qualified eventer) currently residing in England, which saw the transfer of his Steve N (ZfDP 2009 by Salvanto x Amerigo Vespucci XX) to the French champion’s stables.
Astier Nicolas
With the young german horse, this year Belvederesi got a 2nd place in CIC1 * – Chilham Castle International Novice (UK), and debuted in the two-stars International Intermediate (CIC) category of British Eventing at Bicton Arena International Horse Trials (see cover photo of the article). It must be said that history repeats itself: before this important transaction, Belvederesi has indeed surrendered two of his horses: Verdi (Kwpn 2002 Indoctro Dutch Boy x) that with Clelia Casiraghi has recently won the Italian Championship Senior 2016 and El Kazir SP (BWP 2004; Capriano Katella x x Blanc Rivage XX) that has been property of Chuffy Clarke – promising young English rider – for one year now.
Belvederesi & El Kazir SP
Paolo Belvederesi & El Kazir SP
Paolo Belvederesi
[B.S.] Three champions out of three: your qualities as horse trainer, Paolo, are indisputable at this point.
[P.B.] I would say so. This sale of Steve N to Astier Nicolas, no. 2 in the world after Michael Jung, undoubtedly is a confirmation in this sense. The point however is another: any separation really costs me a lot because I always find myself forced to give up my horses, all with huge potential, because I’m going on alone … I do not have sponsorships that allow me to pursue my competitive career, I do another job for a living, in other words, I am a bit of an outsider in this world … however, I brought Elk (El Kazir SP) to compete profitably in CIC *** and CCI *** eventing competitions (Camphire, Hartpury, Breda and Boekelo). History repeats itself with Steve N, I spent with him a little less than a year, we began to build something – which attracted the attention of Astier Nicolas …
Belvederesi & Steve N
Belvederesi & Steve N
[B.S.] Of course, it must not be easy to struggle daily between the job you do for a living and the constant training to pursue your equestrian passion, which always aims to the highest competitive levels.
[P.B.]: No, it is not easy at all to do everything on my own, I believe it is not even imaginable. I do not have my own livery yard, I do not have personal grooms to assist me, I do not have subsidies of any kind; all efforts, financial ones included, to try to carry on my career, are on my shoulders – and I owe very much also to my wife’s patience- with the exception of Francesca Pollara’s and Andrea Verdina’s help for the daily work. (Steve N’s choice it is her merit!). The bitter taste and a heavy heart that are left after each sale of my horses, with which, I am sure, I could do better myself if I had more time, are unthinkable. Because the real matter is: I would not sell, if I was not forced to. But let’s move on …
Paolo Belvederesi & Steve N
[B.S.]: You certainly do not lack of a clinical eye in finding horses, determination, spirit of sacrifice, skills, knowledge nor great desire to emerge. What are the future scenarios about you, Paolo?
[P.B.]: Well, I hope that sooner or later someone will notice me … at the moment, first of all I will start looking for another horse (tickets for a trip to Germany with Francesca this weekend, are ready!); I am still keep on working with De Belle Reve, who I “converted” to eventing: daughter of Hermes de Reve, French showjumper, this 8-year-old mare is in fact now beginning to move her first steps. It is certain that I will not stop fighting: the horses are and always will be my life, and I would really like to devote them all my time, with less worries and concerns dictated by other daily necessities.
Belle de Reve
[B.S.]: I believe that many will join us wishing you and Steve N “good luck”: your finding each other and the subsequent separation is the evidence of a paradox, one of those paradoxes that will surely make possible for other good stories to be written; however, under different circumstances, just one story could have been written: yours.
© Barbara Scapolo – All rights reserved; photos by Blackheart Imagery – Gus Winterman[:en] 8″ width=”150″ height=”150″ /> Paolo Belvederesi[/caption][B.S.] Three champions out of three: your qualities as horse trainer, Paolo, are indisputable at this point.
[P.B.] I would say so. This sale of Steve N to Astier Nicolas, no. 2 in the world after Michael Jung, undoubtedly is a confirmation in this sense. The point however is another: any separation really costs me a lot because I always find myself forced to give up my horses, all with huge potential, because I’m going on alone … I do not have sponsorships that allow me to pursue my competitive career, I do another job for a living, in other words, I am a bit of an outsider in this world … however, I brought Elk (El Kazir SP) to compete profitably in CIC *** and CCI *** eventing competitions (Camphire, Hartpury, Breda and Boekelo). History repeats itself with Steve N, I spent with him a little less than a year, we began to build something – which attracted the attention of Astier Nicolas …
Belvederesi e Steve N
Belvederesi e Steve N
[B.S.] Of course, it must not be easy to struggle daily between the job you do for a living and the constant training to pursue your equestrian passion, which always aims to the highest competitive levels.
[P.B.]: No, it is not easy at all to do everything on my own, I believe it is not even imaginable. I do not have my own livery yard, I do not have personal grooms to assist me, I do not have subsidies of any kind; all efforts, financial ones included, to try to carry on my career, are on my shoulders – and I owe very much also to my wife’s patience- with the exception of Francesca Pollara’s and Andrea Verdina’s help for the daily work. (Steve N’s choice it is her merit!). The bitter taste and a heavy heart that are left after each sale of my horses, with which, I am sure, I could do better myself if I had more time, are unthinkable. Because the real matter is: I would not sell, if I was not forced to. But let’s move on …
Paolo Belvederesi & Steve N
[B.S.]: You certainly do not lack of a clinical eye in finding horses, determination, spirit of sacrifice, skills, knowledge nor great desire to emerge. What are the future scenarios about you, Paul?
[P.B.]: Well, I hope that sooner or later someone will notice me … at the moment, first of all I will start looking for another horse (tickets for a trip to Germany with Francesca this weekend, are ready!); I am still keep on working with De Belle Reve, who I “converted” to eventing: daughter of Hermes de Reve, French showjumper, this 8-year-old mare is in fact now beginning to move her first steps. It is certain that I will not stop fighting: the horses are and always will be my life, and I would really like to devote them all my time, with less worries and concerns dictated by other daily necessities.
Belle de Reve
[B.S.]: I believe that many will join us wishing you and Steve N “good luck”: your finding each other and the subsequent separation is the evidence of a paradox, one of those paradoxes that will surely make possible for other good stories to be written; however, under different circumstances, just one story could have been written: yours.
© Barbara Scapolo – All rights reserved; photos by Blackheart Imagery – Gus Winterman
