04/02/2026

On the occasion of the first opening masked parade of the Viareggio Carnival, a pitiful spectacle took place, with horses forced to perform on asphalt in a parade that was meant to be entertaining but turned into a scene of outright abuse. The event was heavily criticized on social media and is strongly condemned by IHP Italian Horse Protection.

The Municipality of Viareggio decided to hire, for this farce, the “Giona Show”, a group that offers circus-style equestrian performances in various parts of Italy. The horses were forced to perform on asphalt with unnatural and coerced movements, even walking on two legs, as can be seen in a video circulating online and available at the following link:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1227502498806618

“These are shows that most of public opinion no longer wants to see, as demonstrated by the comments posted by users in reaction to that video. By now it is clear to everyone, also thanks to our work, that for horses this is nothing but exploitation, which can also result in suffering and damage to their joints,” explains IHP president Sonny Richichi. “The Viareggio Carnival is an extraordinary display of creativity and intelligence that amazes every year with its artistic quality and biting satire: we believe that respect for all living beings is essential, even if only for ethical and intellectual consistency.”

For this reason, IHP has invited citizens to write directly to the mayor to protest—politely and courteously, but firmly—so that these degrading scenes will not be repeated.