The letter thanks Andreotti for sending him the photo and biography of Federico Caprilli , a famous Italian jockey. Cavalry Captain Federico Caprilli (Livorno, April 8, 1868 – Pinerolo, December 6, 1907) was an Italian soldier and rider, the creator of the Natural System of Equitation.
Evidently Reagan, a great lover of horses and horseback riding, wanted to ask Italy for a memento of Caprilli.

The system perfected by Federico Caprilli was designed to produce, during the brief period of military service, horses and riders capable of being effectively employed in military action. The riders, often men with no prior riding experience, needed to be taught not to impede the horse's natural movements, making the ride spontaneous and harmonious. Caprilli's goal was to remove horsemanship from the riding arenas, freeing the work of the horse from the refinements of academic riding school. This, devoid of practical utility, made the art of equestrianism inaccessible to riders lacking the time, resources, and adequate knowledge. The Caprilli System proved so effective that, within a few years, it was adopted by the world's leading cavalry forces and shaped modern horsemanship.