Bardigiano Horse Show Market

A celebration of the Parma Apennines

The Bardigiano Horse Show Market is a regular spring event in Bedonia, a town in the upper Val Taro in the province of Parma, in the heart of the Emilian Apennines. Every year, in May, the town becomes the meeting point for breeders, equestrian enthusiasts, and families who come from all over the Parma and Piacenza mountains to celebrate the breed that symbolizes this territory.

The Bardigiano Horse is a native breed of the Apennines, with a docile temperament and a robust build, perfectly adapted to mountain pastures. Its Stud Book was established in 1977 from local shows, which for over fifty years have represented a solid link between institutions and breeders committed to protecting the breed's genetic heritage.

Between conformation competition and popular festival

The event combines the zootechnical aspect with that of a village festival. During the day, the horses are presented to the public and judged in the conformation competition, the technical moment where judges evaluate the specimens according to breed standards. There are also equestrian performances, parades, and opportunities for breeders to meet, while the air fills with the sound of accordions and the neighing of horses.

Many participants arrive in Bedonia directly on horseback, while those coming from further away unload their animals from vans and trucks: when the ramp lowers, the splendid flowing manes of the Bardigiano horses appear. It is an authentic atmosphere, that of the rural roots of the Apennines, where different generations of breeders meet after the long winter.

Mountain flavors

Alongside the exhibition part, the fair offers the usual food stand with traditional Apennine dishes: polenta, homemade pasta, grilled meat, and wine accompany visitors' lunches. The afternoon is dedicated to equestrian performances with Bardigiano horses, showcasing the versatility and docility of this breed.

The Bardigiano circuit

The Bedonia show is part of a spring circuit dedicated to the Bardigiano, which visits several towns in the Apennines between the provinces of Parma and Piacenza, from Morfasso to Farini, culminating in the major summer event, the National Show of Bardi. For visitors, it is the ideal opportunity to discover an authentic corner of Emilia-Romagna, with its stone villages, forests, and an equestrian tradition passed down from father to son.