09/11/2011

(2011, November 9th)

Italian Horse Protection present at Fieracavalli, held at Verona on November 3- 6, with its own stand in Pavilion 1 (Istituzioni e Salone del Turismo).
While taking its distance from the animal trade and the exploitation of animals in spectacular events, Italian Horse Protection was present at the fair to explain to the very numerous visitors what we consider “sick” aspects in the horse/man relationship. We believe, in fact, that the cultural progress we are striving for should come partly from within the very world we want to change.

A great many visitors to our stand asked to sign the petitions to limit the transport time of animals to the slaughterhouse to a maximum of 8 hours (www.8hours.eu) and to ban the use of animals in Italy’s folklore festivals (www.nopalio.it).

Among these visitors were Roberto Paciotti and Catia Brozzi, the President and ex-President of TAST Cavalli, one of the most important companies in Italy specialized in transporting horses, who publicly affixed their signatures to the petition for limiting the maximum time allowed for transporting animals to the slaughterhouse. And Monica Pendin, well-known instructor as well as judge of jumping competitions, an outstanding horsewoman and Italian champion of jumping competitions in 1998, raised her voice to support banning horses from palio races. These are very important signatures, since they come from people who know everything about the world of animal transport and competitions, and so are well aware of the often sickening reality of these sectors.

During the fair, the pressure group “A lifetime friendship” was also founded, aimed at creating a sense of responsibility in people for the horses they decide to buy or raise, even when the animals are no longer suitable for being ridden or used in competitions.

Italian Horse Protection is opposed to the buying and selling of life, and does not consider the horse a sports animal. But since these practices are admitted, IHP believes people should at least be educated to see their horse as a companion and not an instrument that, once its athletic ability is gone, can be simply sent to the slaughterhouse or abandoned.

The pressure group was founded in a live program on Class Horse TV by representatives of the institutions, of animal rights, sports veterinarians, sports journalism, social rehabilitation with horses and even the veterinarian pharmaceutical industry. Never before have worlds of such different sensitivity, often moved by conflicting interests, joined together in a common battle, showing how this subject is unanimously viewed as a battle of civilization. Present for IHP were Antonio Nardi-Dei da Filicaja, President, and Sonny Richichi, Organization Manager.