Behind the Scenes at Scuderia La Caccia: Making Its Mark on the Longines EEF Series

Report: Emily Bevan

The Longines EEF Series welcomed a new venue to the competition in 2026 when Scuderia La Caccia, an impressive equestrian centre and horse breeding farm in northern Italy, became one of the newest hosts on the Longines EEF Series calendar.

Situated in Bedizzole, just a few kilometres from Lake Garda, Scuderia La Caccia combines world-class equestrian facilities with one of Italy’s most picturesque settings. In May, the venue welcomed 13 nations in the Region South qualifier, a testament to the hard work, dedication and commitment of the venue’s organising team.

Ireland were the inaugural winners, lifting the trophy on a wet day in the Arena Giulio Cesare after edging out the host nation in a thrilling jump-off.

“Joining the Longines EEF Series in 2026 was an important milestone for Scuderia La Caccia,” said event director Beatrice Guidi.

“It recognised the work carried out over the years to develop our venue and organise international competitions to a consistently high standard.

“At the same time, it represented a new challenge and an opportunity to become part of a series that plays an important role in the growth of European show jumping. It also encouraged us to keep improving and looking ahead.”

Beatrice cited the need to ensure that every aspect of the event reflected the standards expected of a Longines EEF Series qualifier as the biggest challenge when organising the competition.

“Beyond the competition itself, there are many elements that need to work together seamlessly,” explained Beatrice.

“Our priority has always been the horse, ensuring the best possible conditions throughout the event. At the same time, we want everyone - from riders and grooms to owners and officials - to feel welcome and at home at Scuderia La Caccia.”

Horses, riders and support teams have been at the heart of the venue’s investment in its facilities over recent years.

“From the competition arenas and stabling to the warm-up facilities, technology and services, every development has been made with one goal in mind: providing the best possible conditions for horses and riders, while creating a welcoming and efficient environment for owners, grooms, officials, staff and all those who contribute to the success of the event,” added Beatrice.

“We believe that a great event is about much more than the competition itself - it's about the experience people take home with them. We are also fortunate to be located close to Lake Garda, giving our guests the opportunity to combine top-level sport with everything the region has to offer.”

Delivering a successful Nations Cup also depended on providing a course worthy of the occasion, a responsibility that fell to experienced Italian course designer Paolo Rossato.

“The main objective was to find the right balance between technicality and fairness. The course should always be designed with the horse in mind, while still providing the technical and selective challenge expected in a Nations Cup competition,” explained Paolo.

“I try to build the course progressively, allowing horses and riders to gain confidence as the round develops. The course should be technically demanding, but without asking for excessive physical effort. The goal is always to find the right balance between technical difficulty and respect for the horse.”

The main arena, Arena Giulio Cesare, is large (80 × 150 metres), which allowed Paolo to create a flowing course with enough space to ask technical questions without compromising the horse’s rhythm.

“The final line proved to be the most influential, particularly fences 10 and 11: the oxer followed by the combination (vertical oxer). It required horses and riders to maintain concentration, balance and accuracy right to the end of the course,” said Paolo.

The successful staging of the Region South qualifier has already opened further doors for the venue. In addition to remaining on the Longines EEF Series calendar, Scuderia La Caccia has secured several major FEI championships over the coming years including the 2027 FEI Jumping Nations Cup Youth Final, the 2028 FEI Jumping European Championship for Veterans, and the 2028 FEI Dressage European Championships for Children, Juniors, Young Riders and U25.

“Our ambition is to continue growing in quality, always striving to improve every aspect of what we do,” said Beatrice.

“We hope that, over time, Scuderia La Caccia will become a remarkable and memorable venue on the international calendar - not only for the level of sport, but for the experience it offers to horses, riders, grooms and everyone involved. If, in ten years' time, Scuderia La Caccia is considered a must on the international calendar, then we will have achieved our goal.”

Where to Watch and Follow
For the latest updates, team announcements, and behind-the-scenes content throughout the 2026 Longines EEF Series, follow the Longines EEF Series website and the European Equestrian Federation. Join the conversation on the Longines EEF Series social media on Instagram and Facebook.

Download the Longines EEF Series press kit here.

Watch the all the live action and replays on ClipMyHorse.TV, the official livestream partner of the Longines EEF Series.

Full results from the regional qualifiers and semi-finals of the Longines EEF Series 2026 season can be viewed here.