The Csinszka case, a race against time to save her life. To date no sign of a response from the Authorities


To date we have had no sign of a response from the Hungarian authorities, to whom we have appealed to save Csinszka, the EIA (Equine Infectious Anaemia)-positive mare, who we find has been unjustly condemned to death even though she is perfectly healthy.

Following the categorical ‘NO’ from the Ministry of Health, to our request to bring the horse to Italy, to be rehomed at our Rescue Centre in our special unit dedicated to EIA positive horses – N.B. all 8 of which are here with the full approval of the Ministry – we turned to the Hungarian veterinary services and other relevant people, as well as to the Hungarian media, the Foreign Ministry and the Hungarian Embassy, in order to try to save Csinszka from a pointless death.

Sadly, to date the appeals launched by IHP, Project Islander, ENPA, the Italian Dog Defence League, the Italian national dailies Repubblica and La Stampa, and an online petition which has gathered over 23,000 signatures, not to mention the desperate attempts of the owners of the 23 year old chestnut mare, Victòria Nagy and Tamás Roland Ale, who rescued Csinszka many years ago from mistreatment, and who are frantically trying to do so once again now, have been unsuccessful.

The battle for Csinszka would save not just one life from a totally senseless death, but represents a strong indication for the need for a change in the outdated and anachronous legislation in European countries which persist in considering EIA to be a threat. As IHP has painstakingly explained in its numerous appeals addressed to those involved in the Csinszka case, recent scientific studies have clearly demonstrated the very minimal danger of EIA to both the public and to animal health. The most recent of these studies has determined that the probability of contagion between equids is very close to zero.
Animal welfare associations, the media, leading figures in the animal wellbeing sector as well as in the Italian political world are united in their conviction that Csinszka should be allowed to live and to become the catalyst for change in outdated European legislation.