Horse breeds / Sella Italiano
Photo: Steinfurth (Nordlicht8) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Horse breed
Sella Italiano
The Sella Italiano is an Italian warmblood developed after the Second World War from a mix of native Italian stock and imported sport and light-draft blood. Breeders aimed for a versatile riding horse that could serve the army, the farm, and the growing show ring, and the registry now centers on sport performance in dressage, show jumping, and eventing.
Sella Italianos are generally calm, willing, and attentive, with a balanced temperament that suits riders who want a dependable partner rather than a hot, reactive mount. Most have an athletic, forward way of going with good gaits and a sensible jump. Many are suitable for capable amateurs, though green riders will want an experienced trainer involved in the early years.
Day to day, they need regular ridden work, daily turnout, and steady routine. They do best with consistent handling and company, and they tend to thrive when their work is varied and their stable life is calm.
Good for: Amateur sport riders, dressage and jumping enthusiasts
| Size | large |
| Weight | 1102–1323 lb |
| Height | 63–67 in |
| Life span | 25–30 years |
| Exercise | about 45 min a day |
| Shedding | moderate |
| Origin | Italy |
Choose an experienced trainer or mentor, since this sport-bred horse needs consistent schooling and steady handling.
Living with a Sella Italiano
Exercise
Most healthy adults need four to six days of ridden or in-hand work each week, plus daily turnout. Without enough movement, they can become bored, stiff, or overly energetic when finally worked.
Grooming
Their short to medium coat is easy to maintain with regular brushing, and most are shown with neat, trimmed manes and tails. Feathers are not a feature of this breed. Regular hoof care from a farrier every four to six weeks is important, and clipping is needed only for heavy winter work.
At home
Sella Italianos usually live well with a mix of turnout and stabling, and daily time outdoors helps keep them settled. They are generally hardy in temperate climates but need shelter from extreme weather. Most do well in pairs or small groups. Their feed needs vary with work level, and many are moderate keepers, so body condition should be checked regularly.
Training
Sella Italianos learn quickly and respond well to clear, consistent training that builds gradually. They are often strongest in dressage, show jumping, and eventing, and they can adapt to trail work with patience. A green horse of this breed usually needs several years of schooling before reaching its full ability, so owners should expect steady progress rather than rapid results.
Health
Sella Italianos are not widely reported with breed-specific conditions in the sources available to us, so general horse health concerns such as laminitis, colic, and joint problems apply. Ask your veterinarian about a routine plan, vaccinations, and any screening appropriate for sport horses.
- Laminitis
- Colic
- Joint strain
Known tendencies, not a diagnosis: ask your vet about this breed.
The numbers for a Sella Italiano
Forage and water, adult
18–30 lb of hay a day
Forage at 1.5–2.5% of body weight at 1102–1323 lb, and 11–19 gallons of water, more in heat and on hay alone. Grain only for the work being done.
What a year costs
$3,300–$5,550
Hay about $2,102, plus farrier every 6–8 weeks, routine vet, dental and dewormer. Board, lessons and showing on top; US averages.
Weather
Watch above 80°F, stop at 90°F
Blanket or shelter below 10°F. Horses mind heat more than cold: with shelter and water most are fine to about 10°F unclipped, and above a heat index of 150 (air °F + humidity %) ride early or not at all.
Where a Sella Italiano is comfortable
Easy most of the year: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington, DC, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Summer needs care (early rides, shade, fans): Arizona, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah.
Winter needs care (blanket, shelter, water that is not frozen): North Dakota.
From typical July highs and January lows by state and this breed's heat and cold limits. Shade, shelter and water change everything; this is about turnout and work.
Right now
Latest feed recalls
Multiple Brand Names: Chicken Feed, Swine Feed, Cattle Feed, Horse Feed
ADM Animal Nutrition · Apr 1 · Specific lots may contain elevated levels of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium and/or chloride and may harm chickens, swine, beef cattle and equine.
Rescue a Sella Italiano
Shelters and breed rescues list Sella Italianos and Sella Italiano mixes every week. Search adoptable Sella Italianos on Petfinder → New to the breed? The first-horse kit →
Is a Sella Italiano right for you?
- Yes if you want a calm, willing sport horse
- Yes if you can commit to regular schooling
- Yes if you plan to compete in dressage or jumping
- Think twice if you want a fully finished horse right away
- Think twice if you can offer little daily turnout or work
Questions owners ask
Is the Sella Italiano good for beginners?
Usually better for intermediate riders. Its calm nature helps, but its sport training and athletic movement benefit from an experienced rider and trainer.
How much does a Sella Italiano cost?
Prices vary widely with age, training, bloodlines, and location. Young horses are often less expensive than started or competition-ready ones. Ask breeders for current details.
How tall is a Sella Italiano?
Typical adults stand around 160 to 170 centimetres at the withers, roughly 16 to 16.3 hands, though individual horses vary.
How long do Sella Italianos live?
Most live into their mid-twenties to around thirty years with good care, nutrition, and regular veterinary and dental attention.
What are Sella Italianos used for?
They are mainly used for dressage, show jumping, and eventing, and many also work as pleasure and trail riding horses.
Similar breeds
Written by Hoofdeck editors · updated Nov 13, 2026 · facts from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons; health notes are general veterinary guidance, not a diagnosis.