His method is based on the study of horses behaviour, on the deep knowledge of their nature and the way they communicate, on mutual trust and understanding. This method has led him to achieve the highest competitive goals with his life companions, his horses. Little understood in his early days, due to using a system outside the traditional schemes, today Luca Maria Moneta has many followers and fans who follow him and attend his seminars. Many top-level international riders ask him for advice and entrust their horses to him, as well as approaching his method.
Luca Maria Moneta was born in Milan on December 23, 1967. Last of twelve brothers, he began to ride horses at twelve. At the time he lived with his family near Benevento where his brother Pietro, world champion and great winner, as well as leading figure in the discipline of endurance, had a stable where he trained endurance horses: "I used to go visit my brother and helped him train the horses. I had no teachings, I just rode in the field, and then out in the country - says Luca Moneta - My parents did not approve my choice, so I had to work to pay for some lessons. I continued that way until I turned 21, when I decided to move to northern Italy to specialize and gain experience." In short, Luca became a riding instructor; he worked as an instructor and rode in competitions until he took the second degree.
[caption id="attachment_74409" align="aligncenter" width="960"]
Luca Moneta[/caption]
In 1999, his life as a rider took a decisive turn. "At some point I realized that I was losing the passion that had supported me until then because I realized that my limited knowledge of the time prevented me from practicing clean equitation where no tricks were used to achieve results - says Luca - In order to be competitive, I had to adjust to the systems of the times and resort to tricks. The thought of that took away all joy and enthusiasm, I did not want to accept it, and I decided to change. I started attending the courses of the Parelli method and for two years I hosted the Parelli instructor Franco Giani at my centre. Then I left for America in 1999 or 2000, where I met Pat Parelli and stayed three months, and where I return regularly even now". Then Luca had another encounter that was crucial to his career: the one with the French champion Michel Robert.
With this great champion, Luca established a relationship of deep friendship and professionalism: Michel taught Luca the refinement of his method and of his technique and Luca taught Michel the relationship of communication between horse and rider based on the lessons of the natural method, which is now called Horsemanship. Luca Moneta has then grown technically, but always following his system based on the respect of the nature of the horse, as well as on the cooperation which derives from the intimate relationship that is first created on the ground, before riding. At least once a month, Luca reaches Michel in his stable and they work together.
At the stable of Luca Moneta, located in Uggiate Trevano in the province of Como (Italy), the horses spend most of the time in the paddock in groups of friends and they are free most of the time. The work is done on the ground and the horses are ridden according to the rules of natural riding and of the method that Luca now adopts with all his horses. Luca can bring to the highest levels horses that other riders are not able to ride. Many horses, in fact, are entrusted to him to solve mental problems and fears, to forget bad experiences. At his stables they find a new life thanks to the trust they gain back in humans, a confidence that allows them to give their best and surpass themselves competing alongside their riders and not against them. Luca and his horses make an unbeatable pair, able to go beyond their limits. Luca Moneta can count on an exceptional team, made up of riders who mount horses in the competitions, trainers and ethnologists, such as Pietro Borgia, Nora Kuznik, Eleonora Borra, and Francesca Savarola, who deals with the management of the stables, as well as professionals from all sectors who care about the welfare of horses (massage therapists, osteopaths...).
Since 2013, Luca Moneta has established a working relationship with Team WOW, a sports evolution of Basini Breeding (Alessandria, Italy). Born in 2013 from the idea of Vittorio Garrone, founder and owner of Basini Breeding, as well as team president, Team WOW is based on unexceptionable ethical values, which are the core around the various activities and the basis of all the choices and synergies that are created around the team, values that can be summarized in one word: respect. Respect for the horses, intended as wellness and quality of life, physical and optimum psychological growth, training and sport entrusted to the best professionals, as well as respect for the rules of equestrian sport. Team WOW has found full unity of intent with the Italian champion Luca Moneta and his team, fully embracing the principles of ethological equitation based on deep knowledge of the horse, communication, and horse natural lifestyle.
Luca Moneta achieved excellent results at the highest international levels with victories in Grand Prix and Nations Cups of the most prestigious competitions. He took part in the European Championship in Herning in 2013, where he finished with an excellent 10th individual place riding Neptune Brecourt, in the World Championship of Caen riding Neptune Brecourt, and in the Finals of the World Cup held in Las Vegas in 2014 with Connery, closing in 21st place. He took part in four finals of the Global Champions Tour. In 2015 he obtained 17 victories, including the Nations Cup CSIO of Lummen with Neptune Brecourt.
Among his peak horses are Neptune Brecourt, Jesus de la Commune, Connery, Bonheur S, Salomon, and many others, as well as a few excellent young horses to which Luca gives plenty of time to grow peacefully by respecting their times, so as to bring them to their highest level and allow them to best express themselves and become his future companions of adventures.
