Due mondi differenti? L’allevamento di cavalli da tiro o per l’artiglieria in Italia dall’Unità all’alba della prima guerra mondiale

This study examines the role of horse breeding in Italy from the time of Unification until World War I, with a particular focus on the dual use of horses for agricultural and military purposes. After an initial analysis of the statistical data on horse breeding and use in Italy, the article highlights the tensions that emerged between the needs of agriculture and the demands of the military. The army preferred lighter horses for cavalry and artillery, while farmers and agricultural workers required strong and resilient animals for fieldwork. The Equine Council (Consiglio ippico), established in 1887, attempted to mediate between these two needs but faced strong resistance from both sides. Considering this, the study examines printed sources available to shed light on efforts to standardize a dual-purpose agricultural-military horse breed that could serve both functions, minimizing the sector’s management costs while meeting some common needs of the two sectors, particularly pulling and hauling. This objective remained unachieved until World War I, but with the rise of Fascism, the idea of a versatile horse regained momentum, culminating in the introduction of the “agricultural-artillery horse” during the 1930s.