Science and Performance: Nico Sicuro on Avantea, Reproductive Biotechnology, and the Future of Reining

When discussing the sport of reining, the name Nico Sicuro is among the first that comes to mind. A leading rider of the Quarter Dream team, he has built his career in the saddle of extraordinary horses—many of which were born thanks to the reproductive biotechnology techniques developed by Avantea.

His is a direct and practical experience, defined by tangible results and champion horses, demonstrating how science and passion can work together to shape the future of our sport.

A Collaboration Born More Than Ten Years Ago

The decision to rely on advanced reproductive technologies is not a recent one.

“Pietro was one of the first to use Avantea’s services,” Nico Sicuro explains. “Since then, it has become something we do every year with a large number of mares.”

The work is constant and carefully planned. Each season, numerous mares are selected for oocyte retrieval using the OPU (ovum pick-up) technique, which are then used for ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) and subsequent embryo production.

Sicuro explains that every mare responds differently to the procedure and has her own timing, but experience with Avantea has shown that this variability does not represent a real obstacle.

Welfare and Sport: Mares Return to Competition Without Issues

One of the aspects breeders and riders care about most is the impact that reproductive procedures may have on sport mares. Nico Sicuro’s experience is reassuring.

“I have ridden at least four or five mares that underwent the procedures required for oocyte collection, and I have never noticed any difference in their sporting performance.”

After the procedure, mares are given a recovery period necessary for physiological restoration. Once this phase is complete, they gradually return to work and can resume normal competitive activity without negative consequences.

“When they come back home, some of them return to their normal routine after just a couple of weeks,” Sicuro explains.

From Salento to Cremona: A Long Journey Managed with Care

Quarter Dream is based in Puglia, in the heart of the Salento region, and reaching the Avantea clinic in Cremona requires journeys of up to twelve hours.

It is a long trip, but one that does not create difficulties for the horses thanks to careful organization and the high standards of care at the facility.

“The mares are doing perfectly well; the place is wonderful,” Nico says. “They have adequate space, carefully managed nutrition, and they are followed in every detail.”

Some mares remain at the clinic for about two weeks, while others stay for one or two months depending on reproductive needs and scheduling.

“But they all return home in perfect condition and ready to resume either their sporting or reproductive careers,” he emphasizes. “I have never had a problem with any mare. They have always gone back to their normal routine.”

Success Rates and Tangible Results

The effectiveness of Avantea’s techniques is also confirmed by the numbers.

“I do not deal with the technical side directly,” Sicuro says, “but I know how things work. The results are excellent: the average success rate is around 75 percent. Occasionally something may not go as expected—that is part of nature—but for me this percentage is synonymous with professionalism.”

Champions Born Through OPU-ICSI: The Case of Colonel Dancing Gun

Avantea’s impact on Quarter Dream’s breeding program is measured not only in statistics but, above all, in sporting achievements. Many of the stable’s top horses were born thanks to the OPU-ICSI technique.

The most emblematic example is Colonel Dancing Gun, now considered one of Europe’s top reining horses.

“He was born through this technique,” Sicuro explains.

“He has won more than $250,000 in prize money and practically everything he could win. Trained by Marcus Gebert and later ridden by Gennaro Lendi, he won the European Futurity, the German Futurity, and the Austrian Futurity. When he came to me at six years old, I won the European Derby, the American, the World Championship in Givrins, and the NBC World Championship with him. He is a phenomenal horse.”

And Colonel Dancing Gun is far from an isolated case.

“We have many full siblings that perform extremely well, as well as other horses born from different crosses that always live up to expectations—at least within the average that you would expect from their sire and dam.”

Dance Little Spooky: From American Prospect to Broodmare Queen

Quarter Dream’s story is also closely linked to Dance Little Spooky, a mare purchased by Pietro Marseglia at an auction in the United States when she was only 18 months old.

After arriving in Europe, she quickly proved her worth by winning the Three-Year-Old Futurity.

Her most significant contribution, however, came as a broodmare.

“She has produced foals that have earned over $500,000 in prize money,” Sicuro explains, “and all of them were born thanks to ICSI.”

Among them is Colonel Dancing Gun, along with many other horses that today compete at the highest international level.

Avantea: A Strategic Partner for Growth

Nico Sicuro’s testimony shows that Avantea is not simply a biotechnology center, but a genuine strategic partner for breeders who aim to develop their programs and achieve top sporting results.

Professionalism, measurable outcomes, and respect for the horse are the pillars of a system that, year after year, makes it possible to breed and develop the champions of tomorrow.

By Alessandra Ceserani
Photos: Wanted Photography

© Rights Reserved.