ENGLISH TEXTS
IN THE EYE OF
MARIE-ODILE COLATRELLA
BY HERMANCE CLERON
An experienced rider and holder of the Galop 7 certificate, Marie-Odile Colatrella has always maintained a close bond with the horse. Self-taught in drawing and painting, she naturally chose this animal as her preferred subject. She complements her practice with photography and works from her own shots, extending her attentive gaze through painting. Since 1985, she has created more than 300 animal portraits, mainly of horses, now found in private collections in France and abroad. Her style, classical and timeless, is inspired by nature and the balance between man and animal. For her, the horse is“ a model balanced in its forms, sensitive and intelligent, offering an extraordinary variety of attitudes and colors.” Among her favorite breeds is the Akhal- Teke, whose elegance she admires. She notably painted the Akhal-Teke stallion Gend Jim, presented to François Mitterrand and encountered in Deauville. Since 2013, she has developed a second style through geometric drawing. Convinced that all construction is based on geometry, she uses it to structure her sketches and analyze lines and curves, thereby improving composition and color. This approach, which has become an artistic practice in its own right, lies at the heart of her book Let’ s Draw Horses, in which she shares her method for learning to draw step by step, with a clear and rigorous construction of forms.
EDITO
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IT IS THE SEASON OF FIRSTS
Spring is here, and with it the dreams awakening in the paddocks and the first Classic hopes beginning to take shape on the morning as well as the afternoon tracks. It is that slightly euphoric period when winter fades away, the days grow longer and the sun returns. It is also the prelude to the sales season ahead, with the two-year-olds set to parade from the month of May. In 2026, the market leader celebrates its 20 th anniversary within a competitive environment that has profoundly evolved and remains closely linked to the balance of the global economy. A significant milestone for this Deauville-based organisation which, over two decades, has shaped the market and contributed to the worldwide influence of FR horses. So many reasons to explore, in this issue, the central role of sales in the economic ecosystem of racing: the evolution of the French and
European market, the emergence of new players, but also the dynamics at work in other spheres, from trotting to sport horses. Sofiane Benaroussi Publishing director
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OUR CONTRI- BUTORS
They refine the pages of GALORAMA for your enjoyment and our.
Bérengère Rossignol Born among horses and cows, she has always been passionate about breeding. Her daily life is split between caring for ten broodmares alongside her husband Thomas and her vocation as a teacher. Their three children drew her into the world of pony gallop racing four years ago, and since then, she has dedicated some of her time— and her writing— to supporting the energy of the association.
Cécile Adonias After contributing for 5 years to the international promotion of French racing with the FRBC, Cécile founded the brokerage agency Cava Associates in 2019. She also co-founded the sales agency AUCTAV in 2021. She has a solid portfolio both in France and abroad, with expertise in all three racing disciplines: flat racing, jumps, and Arabian thoroughbreds.
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