The Ivrea Horse Fair, held each year during the San Savino Festival, is another of those events that puts the city in the spotlight for a few days, drawing enthusiasts from well beyond the local area. Ivrea has been a city bound to horses since its very origins: since the time, in the Roman era, when it served as a “post and relay station.” Its original name, Eporedia, is believed to derive from the combination of the Celtic “Epo” (horse) and “Reda” (cart).
To this day, numerous riding schools, some affiliated with the FISE (Federazione Italiana Sport Equestri), allow young people to approach horse riding and equestrian culture. The Ivrea Horse Fair has become one of the most important in northern Italy. Born as an agricultural market for the purchase of working horses, it has over time transformed into a spectacular event, where visitors can admire single, pair and four-in-hand carriages, with artisanal harnesses of great distinction. The breeds on show have multiplied, moving from heavy draught horses to more elegant and rare specimens. During the fair, a qualified jury evaluates the horses in the rings, drawing up rankings by breed and category: the winners go on to compete in the “Best in Show,” where the finest horse of the entire event is crowned.
