ERIKA TESSAROLO: WITH WOMEN WE ARE ON AN EASY WAY

‘Genius without ingenuity is a boat without oars’.

This aphorism fits like a glove for a young and talented girl from Lombardy, from Manerba del Garda (Brescia), who has managed, thanks to her extraordinary abilities, to carve out a prominent role for herself on an international level. Erika Tessarolo has a strong-willed, determined and brilliant character that makes her unique. She is the only one in the world to build Bull Riding machines, known in Italy as ‘professional mechanical bulls’, entertainment machines that can be used by everyone: simulators that faithfully reproduce the physical structure of animals.

Erika, have you been a genius since childhood?

Yes, I enjoyed doing experiments. I loved exploring the world of animals. I was always on the move and I always like to put myself out there. Idleness is not part of my character.

Who do you take after?

Definitely from my father, who was a creative person, an artist. He had a ranch and loved everything related to American traditions: he had horses with western mounts and organised theme nights. Inventiveness was never lacking in my house.

You have a flair for mechanics, art and electronics. What degree do you have?

I interrupted my studies in my third year of high school to help save the family business from the economic crisis of 2008. I do everything myself: from the initial idea, to the design, to the finishing touches. I only get support for certain parts of the production, in quantity or for the final prototyping, from external craftsmen, thus also supporting other local businesses.

From mechanical bulls to horses, how did you come up with it?

Over the years at Fiera Cavalli, given the growing interest in simulators, thanks to the synergy between myself, Fiera Cavalli and Masaf, the idea was born to create a prototype that would realistically reproduce the riding of a horse, simulating the stride, trot, gallop and jump. The aim was to create a single device for all disciplines. The prototype is equipped with a control panel where one can choose the speciality and speed of the trots. It is an exciting challenge because it brings the general public closer to a new sensory experience: visual, auditory and tactile.

What is your way of working?

I focus on quality, safety, longevity and products that can be recycled or repurposed. My machines are unique and follow technological evolution. Each machine is a unique piece of art.

Who can use these machines?

This mechanical sports machine can be used by people who want to overcome, for example, their fear of riding a real horse. It could easily be installed in a riding school, racecourse or entertainment venue. The horse, in this case, is so realistic that one can experience the same feeling. Maybe one day someone will decide to buy a real one if they like the experience.

What do you think of the renewal plan for the Directorate General?

I think Dr Chiodi is a visionary and has understood the importance of the product, which belongs to the excellence of Italian labour. It could be brought into the racetracks and beyond. Masaf seems inclined to promote, through a more advanced and evolved vision, the use of these mechanical means within sporting events. Those who ride on them can even understand what jockeys or drivers feel during a race. Accessibility is a way to bring the public closer to the sport and to enthuse young people in particular to horse racing.

When will we be able to see it at the racecourse?

I am focused and committed to finishing the final prototype as soon as possible and I hope to be able to exhibit it as the first stage at the Gran Premio Arno in Florence. However, I cannot guarantee that it will be usable by the public, but in any case it will be perfect for display as a demonstration, attracting the general public to the event where the Equestrian Horse Experience will be usable by everyone. The date will be fixed soon.

Who do you currently work with?

I work mainly with mechanical bulls and all multi-ride games, especially with the United States, which has always been the home of these instruments, but also with the Arab Emirates, which are very interested in Italian products. The Americans, in particular, are open-mouthed when they see these carefully crafted structures arrive.

Are you fussy?

I don't leave anything to chance. I am a person who seeks perfection. The horse looks real, soft, hand-coated. Each piece is different. The base is always fibreglass, but it is then moulded in foam rubber finished in leather, which can only be worked by hand, are what give each piece its uniqueness.

Were you inspired by a particular horse?

Yes, from a female that my father had on his ranch.

You mentioned a female. Is there also a romantic part in this project?

Yes, it is my heart that dictates the expression of the horse's eyes. The light in the gaze, the detail of the jaw, the shoulder, etc. The most sensitive and artistic part is what makes my works unique. When my mechanical bulls arrive to American customers, they are always enraptured by how real they look. Let's face it: we women have a superior sensitivity in bringing out the soul of a living being.

What is your dream?

In addition to creating new machines and designs, distributed all over the world, I would like to set a good example to future generations. I would encourage them to believe in themselves and never limit themselves. I work 12 to 16 hours a day, but I always have a goal in mind.

And women, could they be an added value in this profession?

Women have a lot of sensitivity to detail, which is what makes the difference. I would like to give them the emotional charge and the entrepreneurial spirit. I would like to make a female mare in honour of all women: a light grey, with a sweet, bright and pure eye. I choose ‘simulacra’ in honour of the inner strength that only women can have. And, no small thing, even in front of a mechanical device, one always manages to retain one's femininity.

In the end, we realised one thing:

you would rather walk alone in the dark than follow someone else's shadow. Congratulations, Erika.