(16 June 2014)

We sent a report to ASL and the Corpo Forestale about some horses in the Comune of Umbertide (Perugia region) on 16 February, 2014.

During our inspection of these premises we had found a number of horses, some very thin, shut in a large American barn style construction (according to some witnesses they had been shut in for months, and one stallion literally for years). Among them was a few months’ old foal severely emaciated and separated from his mother (see photo); outside others were standing in a small dirt paddock, without food and extremely undernourished. To complete the picture, there was a dog chained up with no food or water, and clearly very agitated.

Four months on – notwithstanding numerous follow-up communications and a further report sent to the task force for animal welfare at the Ministry of Health with a request to involve the NAS – we were informed that only a civil action had been taken out against the owner.
It would appear that the general condition of the horses has improved and that he was ordered to reduce the number of animals in his possession.

Therefore, instead of having his animals seized for reasons of criminal neglect, he can sell off some of these horses and keep the rest, as if nothing had ever happened. This is in spite of Italian State Law number 189/2004 which provides for the prohibition of keeping animals by people responsible for serious mistreatment.

Meanwhile, on 10 March (therefore one month after our urgent report), we received the reply from the ASL, who did not agree with our evaluation that this was a criminal case of cruelty. And what were their arguments for arriving at this conclusion? We reproduce below excerpts from their letter, which need no further comment here:

“We wish to point out that almost all the horses are kept in stables within the barn, without windows, in order to reduce to a minimum external stimuli which could excite the animals and put them at risk of injury.”

“We are fully aware of the significant weather changes which already on 14 February have seen warmer spring-like temperatures, but there is still the remote possibility that at this time of year the weather can deteriorate suddenly, with changes of temperature which can cause horses kept out in the open (normal temperatures at this time of year would certainly have been one or two degrees below zero) to get colic because of the cold.”
“The foal born on 10/08/2013: The foal is thin and has been separated from its mother because, according to the owner, it has problems caused by a lack of milk in the mother and thus was weaned early. In spite of receiving several rounds of vitamin supplements he is still thin, although he is alert, stands up and moves independently around the box and outside.”

“Maremmano stallion: This horse, which for obvious reasons is not at liberty being the only entire together with three geldings and eight mares, is in our opinion in reasonable physical condition. He is not fat, but that is due to his role as a stallion and also to his age (circa 19) which probably slows down his metabolism and his capacity to assimilate food.”

“A gelding: This horse is very old (born in 1994)”

These statements become even more worrying when we find they were not supported by any veterinary visit, certification, or clinical examination.

Unfortunately this attitude is not an isolated case: some ASL units are professional and willing to cooperate with us for animal welfare, while others see Associations such as IHP as just nuisances rather than a valuable resource, even when those Associations amply demonstrate their competence and professionalism.

For this reason we call on the appropriate authority to change internal procedures so that evaluations of potential cases of mistreatment of animals should not be entrusted only to the ASL, as happens at present. It is in any case an urgent matter to provide relevant equine training courses for public animal health services.

We hope to be able to give better, more positive news about the Umbertide horses, but this cannot happen without the intervention of the relevant authorities.

“We appeal once again to the Ministry of Health, Department of Animal Health, to intervene decisively and order the seizure of these horses,” said Sonny Richichi, President of IHP “In the meantime we want to know which horses have been given away or sold by the owner since our initial report, where and how they are currently being kept, and what checks have been carried out to ensure their future well being.”