The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis is a linguistic and psychological theory emphasizing how our language and word choice affect our behaviors and attitudes. Using “it” to refer to a horse may have once been appropriate, but in Italy today, a horse is recognized as far more than property or an object — it is recognized as an athlete.

In the book Horse as an Athlete: Protections and Prospects, presented by FISE, many points demonstrate that a horse’s natural build is that of an excellent athlete, so it is only right to treat them as one. This means going beyond minimum care to provide extra monitoring and observation, creating a system focused on injury prevention rather than just medication.

Now, in Italy, a horse is not a product to be consumed, but a partner to be cherished. As the authors of Horse as an Athlete affirm:

“Il cavallo atleta è un partner, non un oggetto: la nostra responsabilità è custodire la sua salute e dignità.”

“The horse athlete is a partner, not an object: our responsibility is to safeguard its health and dignity.” — Domenico Perillo, Emanuele Di Paolo & Massimo Cavallo

The YHM team is proud to collaborate with international suppliers and partners, and we extend our congratulations to FISE and our Italian associates on reaching this significant milestone.

– Co-Founder of YHM