Fabio Magni
Siena, 14 agosto 2017 - Many are the figures that contribute to the Palio success, among them there are: the jokeys, the horses, the contradas. However, one of the most important roles during the race is played by the ‘’Mossiere’’; this figure is responsible of the regularity of the Mossa. In fact, he is in charge of the control of the entrance order of the horses in the Canapi, and he manages the processes of the Mossa (wich is the start of the race) and it is placed on the Verrocchio which is collocated beside the Vicolo della Costarella dei Barbieri.
During this first step, the Mossiere receives from an agent of the Polizia Municipale, the envelope containing the order of the horses which is chosen randomly and kept secret until the last minute. At this point, the Mossiere calls the contradas according to the established order. Nine out of ten stay between the two Canapi, while one, named the Rincorsa, stays out and behind them. However, attention should be paid on the fact that the Mossiere does not decide the beginning of the race, but just its regularity. Indeed, it is the Rincorsa that determines it, by getting into the Canapi. Obviously, the rincorsa is also the figure that makes more strategies.
The perfect line-up of the horses is unusual so, the role of the Mossiere is essential because he evaluates if a Mossa is regular or not. He is the only judge who cannot be contradicted and connected to this fact, there is a curiosity; he never sees any race because immediately after the beginning of the competition, he goes away escorted by a policeman, who take him to an unknown place. The choice of this figure is made each year during the winter by the municipality through the indications of the captains of the contradas according to the trust they feel regarding him. Usually, the Mossiere comes from the equestrian world; he can be a coach, a jokey or a competition judge.
For instance this year, both in July and in August, the role of the Mossiere has been played by Fabio Magni an athlete in the discipline of equestrian dressage who participated to four editions of the Olympic Games. He recently declared that this August horses and jokeys reassure him about his work, given that both of them are strong and calm. Based on this, it is clear that the Mossiere has such an important role for the Palio; he is just like Atlante who carried on his shoulders the weight of the Earth.