06/07/2019
(6 July 2019) The Regional Administrative Tribunal (TAR) has annulled the decision of Roma Capitale to ban the use of the so-called “botticelle” (horse-drawn tourist carriages) Horses: victims of a confused and contradictory system IHP appeal to tourists: do not finance the abuse of horses In this torrid summer, Italian horses that are forced to pull carriages through the city centres are victims of the institutional and legislative chaos, which ends up protecting the rights of those who exploit them, at the expense of the horses’ welfare. IHP or the Italian Horse Protection NPO calls upon all tourists: “If you are visiting Rome or other Italian city centres, do not use carriages pulled by horses as the owners do not guarantee the welfare of the animals used”. In short, when it comes to the protection of horses, the interests of those who exploit them still play a major role and the picture is confused, as usual. In summary: For the Ministry of Health, in accordance with the European Community rules, horses must not be moved by road with temperatures exceeding 30 °C, but can safely pull carriages and tourists around hot cities: we do not understand the logic behind this decision which is most likely due to the fear of confronting the coachmen. Even an institutional decision, which would not be binding, would certainly play a role. For the Traffic Code, with 2020 on the horizon, horse-driven carriages are still considered a means of transport like all other vehicles. The competent Ministry knows very well that this has nothing to do with current transport systems, as it used to be in the past, but only facilitates coachmen and those involved in horse training with sulkies for harness racing… For the Municipality of Rome, the “botticelle” should be abolished, but the municipal authorities have not (yet) been able to get the draft regulation – which could put an end to such exploitation – signed off. For the TAR of Lazio, horses have no problems pulling carriages all day long even with temperatures higher than 30 °C. And even if they do have problems, the interests of coachmen are more important. For the Penal Code, it is prohibited, for cruelty or without any reason, to subject animals to abuse or oblige them to perform work considered unacceptable or dangerous for their ethological characteristics, yet, the Public Prosecutor’s Offices are not lifting a finger to defend horses which are obviously forced to perform such unacceptable and dangerous work. Until ethologists step forward to point out just how serious the problem is, it is likely to remain. RELATED ARTICLES: Botticelle: First positive steps taken by the Municipality of Rome Botticelle: yet another equine victim of an anachronistic and uncivilised practice Carriages four tourists in towns: an exploitation to ban