ROME CONVERTING COACHES TO TAXIS
The city of Rome is phasing out the characteristic horse-drawn carriages, known as “Botticelli” that offer tourists rides round the historic centre. Animal welfare organizations have been campaigning for some years to have the service eliminated, saying the modern traffic situation is too stressful for the animals. The service is also considered anachronistic with only 16 coachmen still plying the traditional trade.
As a solution, the city council is offering taxi licences to those who agree to give up their animals and negotiations are ongoing with an international car manufacturer to provide them with cars for the job.
The horses will be put up for adoption in the hope that they will be able to live out their lives in a natural environment.
The welfare of the working horses in Rome has been an issue for some time, partly triggered off by a film written and directed by celebrated Italian actor Alberto Sordi. Entitled “Nestore, the Last Trip” in which he portrayed the drama of an elderly coachman who has to go into a home and cant find anyone prepared to take his old companion, Nestore, the Horse. Alas, the film ends tragically, with Nestore carted off forcibly to the slaughter house. Until his death, Sordi continued to rescue old horses from a similar fate.
Info: www.horseprotection.it - a charity that also runs a programme for distance adoption
