Across Italy, from north to south, horse meat is still considered a part of the country’s culinary tradition—a gourmet dish in Piacenza, a local specialty in Catania and Lombardy. Yet many Italians now believe it’s time to put an end to the slaughter of horses—a practice that leads to the death of around 21,000 animals each year in Italy. Behind this brutality lies a supply chain often shrouded in secrecy, marred by illegal trade and clandestine slaughterhouses.
But now, things are beginning to change. Animal Equality has launched a new campaign demanding a nationwide ban on horse slaughter. With nearly 200,000 signatures already collected and a public demonstration held in Milan’s Piazza Duomo, activists are giving a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves.
A cruelty we can no longer ignore
Over the years, Animal Equality has documented the cruelty of horse slaughter in countries such as Spain, Mexico, and Italy. Their investigations have revealed horses being struck while still conscious, transported for hours without food or water, and treated like inanimate cargo rather than sentient beings capable of suffering. For these animals, the torment begins long before they reach the slaughterhouse.
This treatment is at odds with the sentiments of the vast majority of Italians. According to a recent Ipsos survey carried out in collaboration with Animal Equality, 73% of respondents said they empathize with horses and consider them no different from cats and dogs. And yet, their fate remains in limbo.
While consumption of horse meat is declining—only 17% of meat-eating Italians report eating it at least once a month—Italy still holds a troubling distinction: it remains the leading country in Europe for both the consumption and import of horse meat.
Legislative steps forward
In light of the more than 100,000 signatures collected through the petition (now nearing 200,000), political action is beginning to follow. MP Carmen Di Lauro, a member of the Social Affairs Committee, has submitted a parliamentary question to the Minister of Health, calling for horses to be officially recognized as pets. The initiative has also been endorsed by MPs Andrea Quartini and Gaetano Amato.
Meanwhile, animal rights advocates have welcomed the introduction of two new legislative proposals that would prohibit the slaughter of all equines in Italy—bringing national legislation in line with Greece, where since 2020, horses and donkeys have been legally granted the same status as cats and dogs.
