04/09/2026

IHP today filed a formal complaint with the Carabinieri Station of Amatrice and the ASL of Rieti – Prevention Department, demanding immediate intervention to halt the horse branding announced for tomorrow, 5 September, as part of the event "Amatrice A Cavallo", taking place in Torrita di Amatrice.

According to the organisers' public announcements, on 5 September from 9 a.m. the branding – by hot iron or freeze branding – of horses belonging to the CAITPR–ANACAITPR studbook is scheduled to take place in the presence of the public and potentially of minors. IHP considers the practice to constitute the criminal offence of animal cruelty and has asked the Authorities to seize the equipment prepared for the purpose and to report those responsible.

A PRACTICE PROHIBITED UNDER CURRENT LAW

The ministerial decree of 30 September 2021 on equid registration establishes that the microchip is the only identification method permitted for entry in the National Equid Database. The ANACAITPR studbook regulations, which allow branding "at the owner's discretion", cannot override a higher-ranking national law.

Branding – regardless of the method used – is a painful and traumatic act inflicted on the animal, without any justifiable necessity. It therefore constitutes the offence of animal cruelty. With the entry into force of Law no. 82 of 6 June 2025, which introduced criminal liability for animal suffering even in the absence of direct physical injury, any conduct imposing avoidable pain is criminally prosecutable. Branding falls squarely within this definition.

The fact that the practice is to take place in public, with the potential presence of minors, further aggravates the situation: it would amount to a harmful spectacle, detrimental to the dignity of animals as sentient beings, in conflict with the values enshrined in Article 9 of the Italian Constitution.

"Branding is a cruel and legally unjustifiable practice: the microchip exists, it works, and it causes no suffering," said Sonny Richichi, President of IHP. "Presenting it as a tradition or as a technical requirement of the studbook holds no weight either legally or ethically. We have asked the Authorities to intervene before a criminal offence is committed. If the branding goes ahead regardless, IHP will immediately file criminal charges to identify those responsible."

Through the complaint filed today, IHP has asked the competent Authorities for immediate action to halt any branding practice; the seizure of equipment prepared for that purpose and the reporting of anyone in possession of it; and the enforcement of the current legislation on equid identification, which designates the microchip as the only legally permitted method.