Equitation Science Italia: Massimiliano Floris

Massimiliano grew up in Sardinia, a land of ancient equestrian traditions. His journey with horses began at the age of six, a path he followed in parallel with a distinguished musical career as a Professor of Trumpet. This dual background, built on a constant search for precision and rigorous discipline, laid the foundation for a methodical, harmonious training approach that is deeply respectful of horse welfare.

Beyond music, Massimiliano has cultivated profound body awareness through the practice of Martial Arts (Judo, Karate, Aikido), swimming, and athletics. These disciplines, Aikido in particular, forged his ability to manage dynamic balance, the center of gravity, and the principle of non-resistance; elements he now transfers to equestrianism to optimize the rider’s seat and the horse’s response.

As a competitive rider, he achieved success in Show Jumping and Eventing before specializing in Dressage. He graduated at the top of his class in the Federal Instructor program and spent seven years as a student and first rider for Olympic Gold Medalist Mr. Mauro Roman, reaching the Grand Prix level in Dressage. He currently holds the title of Level III FISE Instructor, the highest certification for all three Olympic disciplines.

A pivotal meeting with Andrew Mc.Lean in Rome in 2015 introduced him to Equitation Science -the “missing link” that allowed him to combine tradition with objective scientific principles. As a student member of the International Society for Equitation Science (ISES), Massimiliano believes that clarity of communication stems from self-mastery: through diaphragmatic breathing, a skill acquired through the rigor of musical studies and the deepening of Sophrology techniques – he teaches his students to manage performance anxiety and emotional tension.

In parallel, his training as an instructor, his experience in martial arts, and the integration of the Alexander Technique allows him to transmit solid and conscious management of the body and center of gravity, refining superior proprioception. This balance between emotional control and motor precision eliminates physical interference, ensuring that signals are clear, minimal, and immediately understandable to the horse, fostering true harmony within the dyad.

His studies in human posturology, natural hoof care, and biomechanics, further deepened through ESI studies, complete this vision, allowing him to analyze the horse-human dyad with extreme precision. In this field, Massimiliano was the first student to officially complete the ESI specialist unit on biomechanics, dedicated to the correlation between the musculoskeletal system, conformation, and movement: a fundamental specialization that grants him advanced expertise in evaluating the horse’s static and dynamic postural balance and suitability for intended disciplines. With thirty years of experience as a FISE Instructor, Massimiliano has also served as a FISE Trainer for 18 years, educating future federal instructors, and leads teams as a Regional Youth Dressage Technician.

Today, as an ESI Instructor, his goal is to integrate an evidence-based approach with the vast wealth of expertise gained over decades of his career. His mission is to promote an ethical methodology that enables the creation of safe, technically excellent partnerships, where traditional equestrian art meets the rigor of modern science.

SERVICES:

• Holistic Coaching & Training: From foundation to Grand Prix
• (Dressage & Jumping).
• Static & Dynamic Postural Assessment: Individual and interactive
• analysis of horse and rider.
• Breathing & Anxiety Management: Specialized diaphragmatic
• techniques derived from professional musical training.
• Behavioral Assessment & Modification: Resolving training conflicts
• and handling issues.
• Instructor Education & Professional Mentorship.
• Clinics & Lectures: On Learning Theory, Evidence-Based Training,
• and Biomechanics.
• Horse Trailer Loading & Retraining: Specialized training for safe and
• stress-free loading.