The craftsmanship that developed over the centuries — or, in the case of Ivrea, one could say millennia — around the importance of the horse is a fully integral part of Eporediese identity. From the ancient Roman relay stations to the saddlers, from the cart-builders to the cavallanti, and on to the contemporary craftspeople who preserve those same techniques, the thread of tradition has never been completely broken.
Since antiquity, a dense network of specialist trades developed in this corner of land. Among the most important were the saddlers, who built and repaired saddles for riding and for work, and the craftspeople who made the harnesses — bridles, reins, breastplates, collars and leather trappings essential for guiding and harnessing horses. These were highly skilled trades requiring deep knowledge: of selecting hides, of tanning, of cutting and stitching leather, of decoration.
Equally important were the cart and carriage builders — essential in a society built on animal-drawn wheeled transport — and the cavallanti, the breeders, traders and drivers of horses. In the pre-industrial era, their work was indispensable not only for transport and communications, but for the functioning of agriculture itself.
All of this rich tradition was reduced in scale by the arrival of the motor vehicle, but it did not disappear. Specialist craft workshops remain active in the Ivrea area, having redirected their work toward the restoration of historic carriages, the preservation of traditional leather-working techniques, and the creation of pieces destined for historical re-enactments and civic celebrations. The traditional events of Ivrea, in particular those tied to the San Savino Festival and the Historic Carnival of Ivrea, continue to keep this heritage alive, offering tangible evidence of a body of knowledge that for centuries has contributed to the economic and cultural identity of the city.
