03/05/2024

In Florence, it’s not enough to keep the city’s traditional carriages running: instead of abolishing them, as has been done in decidedly more civilised cities, they’re upping the ante with the Cocchi del Marzocco, a parade of vintage carriages from all over Italy and abroad, organised by the Arciconfraternita di Parte Guelfa in collaboration with the Italian Carriage Driving Group, scheduled for tomorrow and Sunday.

This is yet another event touted as a preservation of tradition, a nod to the past, elegance, and taste, but with the significant flaw of being based on the use of horses. It is astonishing that the organisers and officials fail to see the harmful message conveyed by such displays: that animals can be used at will in any context, disregarding their natural behaviours, as long as it is wrapped in scenic elegance and given medical care. Equally troubling is that these events never address the welfare of the horses, particularly the fate of horses at the end of their careers who often vanish without a trace. There is only a constant push to use more horses, deliberately ignoring the complex issues surrounding the management of elderly or unwell horses, those no longer fit to pull carriages or perform in competitions.

What happens to these animals when they can no longer be exploited for such purposes?

(photo: La Nazione)