The number of palii and folkloristic events involving horses in Italy is huge. We know there are at least more than one hundred of them scattered along the country, but there could be more. IHP isn’t able to track and gather information about all of them: this is why we need your help. At the same time, the animalist association “Il Rifugio degli Asinelli Onlus”, is launching the same campaign, aimed to gather information about the palii involving donkeys. This is the link: http://www.ilrifugiodegliasinelli.org/en/node/702

Our aim is to gather information that will be used to draw up a report we would like to deliver to the Health Ministry, as we ask for an improvement of the current legislation. Starting from the Ordinance 21/07/2011 – which has the merit to have set a minimum of rules – we hope to reach to a more concrete protection of the equines involved, although we reassert our opposition to the use of animals in palii and folkloristic events.

We want to point out that in these days the Ministerial Ordinance is in great danger because of the appeal filed by ENGEA (the association of equestrian guides) and SEF Italia (School of Equestrian Formation), aiming to its revocation.
Should there two associations’ appeal be successful, the only tool currently in act to contrast the equines’ mistreatment in the palii will cease to exist. In any case, even if SEF and ENGEA should be successful in their intent to remove the current, minimal safety requirements for the equines’ protection in the folkloristic events, IPH will continue its battle against the use of animals in the palii.

Do you want to help us?
Please, send an email to ihp@horseprotection.it writing in the subject line “Palio of…” and the name of the place where the race will be run. If possible, include your name and surname in the email. Your address and telephone number would allow a quicker contact with you, but they aren’t mandatory. We will send you a list of the information we need.

With your help we can improve the situation!

Also remember the ongoing NOPALIO petition, launched by IHP and supported by many Italian and foreign associations: click here to sign it online, to download the paper form, and to see the list of the adhering associations.