The Italian Horse Protection Association (IHP) is the only rescue center in

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

for mistreated and confiscated

equines ''Equus'' , is a genus of mammals in the family (biology), family Equidae, which includes horses, donkeys, and zebras. Within the Equidae, ''Equus'' is the only recognized Extant taxon, extant genus, comprising seven living species. Like Equida ...

, based on Law 189 of 2004 ( Mistreatment of animals).

Mission

Mistreated equines

The main goal of the Italian Horse Protection Association is the psychological and physical recovery of equines, subjected to sequestration under Law 189 of 2004 (Mistreatment of animals). Beyond that it strives to raise awareness of the

ethological Ethology is the scientific study of animal behaviour, usually with a focus on behaviour under natural conditions, and viewing behaviour as an evolutionarily adaptive trait. Behaviourism as a term also describes the scientific and objective ...

characteristics and the specific needs of the equine species. In IHP’s view equines are very often misunderstood by their

human Humans (''Homo sapiens'') are the most abundant and widespread species of primate, characterized by bipedalism and exceptional cognitive skills due to a large and complex brain. This has enabled the development of advanced tools, culture, ...

counterparts, resulting sometimes in unintentional mistreatment due to this lack of understanding. EIA infected horses

Equine Infectious Anemia

Another very important aspect that the IHP addresses is linked to the challenge of educating horse-owners and the general public on the realities related to

equine infectious anemia Equine infectious anemia or equine infectious anaemia (EIA), also known by horsemen as swamp fever, is a horse disease caused by a retrovirus (''Equine infectious anemia virus'') and transmitted by bloodsucking insects. The virus (''EIAV'') is en ...

, a disease that the association considers to be misunderstood and less dangerous than what is generally believed. To this end it started a scientific collaboration with the Faculty of

Veterinary Medicine Veterinary medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, management, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, disorder, and injury in animals. Along with this, it deals with animal rearing, husbandry, breeding, research on nutri ...

at the

University of Perugia University of Perugia (Italian ''Università degli Studi di Perugia'') is a public-owned university based in Perugia, Italy. It was founded in 1308, as attested by the Bull issued by Pope Clement V certifying the birth of the Studium Generale. Th ...

. With the authorization of the competent veterinary AUSL (Local Health Agency) and according to Italian norms, the Italian Horse Protection Association is the only active isolation center in Italy that allows freedom of movement for horses who were found positive to the Coggins test (agar immunodiffusion).

Animalism

The IHP has been striving for recognition of equines as animals of companionship rather than just a source of income or pleasure. Such recognition would, once approved, amongst other things, help enforce a ban on equine slaughter. Above all, IHP is an

animal rights Animal rights is the philosophy according to which many or all sentient animals have moral worth that is independent of their utility for humans, and that their most basic interests—such as avoiding suffering—should be afforded the sa ...

association and the only association of its kind in Italy that deals exclusively with equines. It also supports

vegetarianism Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slaughter. Vegetarianism may ...

.Official website - IHP's aims
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Location

The Italian Horse Protection Association is located in the

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...

Montaione Montaione is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Florence in the Italian region Tuscany, located about southwest of Florence. History The ''frazione'' of Filicaja was the starting point of Antonio da Filicaja for the invasi ...

, in the

province of Florence The province of Florence ( it, provincia di Firenze) was a province in the northeast of Tuscany region of Italy. The city or ''comune'' of Florence was both the capital of the Province of Florence, and of the Region of Tuscany. It had an area of ...

. The equines live in open pastures on about 100 ha of land, under constant monitoring of the many volunteers and veterinarians of the association.

Scientific collaborations

The IHP collaborates with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Perugia for the research on Equine Infectious Anemia and equine

ethology Ethology is the scientific study of animal behaviour, usually with a focus on behaviour under natural conditions, and viewing behaviour as an evolutionarily adaptive trait. Behaviourism as a term also describes the scientific and objectiv ...

, and with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the

University of Pisa The University of Pisa ( it, Università di Pisa, UniPi), officially founded in 1343, is one of the oldest universities in Europe. History The Origins The University of Pisa was officially founded in 1343, although various scholars place ...

for internships on horses in freedom.

References

Animal welfare organisations based in Italy