A horse died during the Feast of Saint Anthony in Anguillara Sabazia, it’s time to say stop to an old and cruel tradition

Tragedy during the Feast of Sant’Antonio Abate in Anguillara Sabazia, in the province of Rome. A horse is dead while pulling a cart, presumably due to an accidental fall. The episode, paradoxical considering that the festival celebrates the patron saint of animals, sparked the indignation of activists and associations for the protection of equids.

According to what was reported by Roma Today, the complaint came from the activist Enrico Rizzi. The horse slipped into another animal, falling to the ground and dying shortly after. The exact circumstances of the incident still remain unclear.

The Italian Horse Protection (IHP), the first Italian association committed to the protection of equids, has taken a clear position, declaring its intention to consider legal action against those responsible for such an intolerable episode.

Abusing animals and causing them to die in the name of a distorted idea of ​​human enjoyment is not acceptable. This is not tradition, it is cultural backwardness, says Sonny Richichi, president of IHP.

Richichi also launched an appeal to the spectators present at the event: “We invite anyone who witnessed the episode to contact us to describe the dynamics and provide us with useful information to proceed legally”.

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A post shared by Enrico Rizzi (@enricorizziofficial)

The IHP has made a contact form available on its official website for anyone who wants to contribute to the investigation.

Stop anachronistic traditions

Another, yet another, tragic accident that cannot fail to reopen the debate on the use of animals in popular events. Many traditions linked to religious holidays in Italy see the direct involvement of horses, donkeys and other animals, often in inhumane conditions that pose serious risks to the animals’ welfare.

Often, however, everything is resolved again and only with the controversy of the day, without ever making concrete decisions that save innocent animals.