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