Introducing the De Marchi's

Both Giovanni and Cristina De Marchi were born with a very strong passion for horses. Giovanni started to ride when he was just 10 and his first teacher was so impressed by Giovanni’s passion that he personally used to go to pick him up from the train station and drive him to the riding school. Cristina, started as a child to train (or at least try to train) any animal available ranging from hamsters, cats, dogs and even crickets, making them do show jumping! She inherited her passion for horses and horse back riding from her grandmother who herself was given the passion from her family. They met very young and 18 years ago they decided to dedicate their lives to their passion for the equestrian art. They moved from Milan to Tuscany in one of the most beautiful spots in the Chianti area  where they founded the equestrian riding centre Il Paretaio. 

Their brilliant career as trainers started in Milan with the meeting of a French master followed by the meeting of Albert Moyerson, a very reputable horseman and pupil for many years of the great Nuno Oliveira. At Albert Moyerson's centre they had the chance to meet the Master Louis Valenca, one of the chief riders in the Portuguese Equestrian School. Both Giovanni and Cristina started to study with this Master at his centre Leiziria Grande. After some time they were introduced to the technical director of the National Stud in Portugal, Mr Pedro de Almeida, with whom they studied for many years cooperating also to the training of the horses at the National Stud. Pedro De Almeida, who has been pupil of Nuno Oliveira, is still their main master.