The International “Vets with HorsePower” Tour Comes to Ortueri

Vet with horsepower a Ortueri II

PRESS RELEASE

ORTUERI (NUORO) – The 13th edition of Vets with Horse Power, the charity tour featuring some of Europe’s most renowned equine veterinary specialists, is making a stop in Sardinia, in the town of Ortueri. Riding their motorcycles, these “professors on wheels” travel thousands of kilometers each year to raise funds for humanitarian and veterinary associations. The Sardinian stop, unique in its kind, will be entirely dedicated to the Sardinian donkey and will take place on Friday, July 11, from 12:30 PM to 8:00 PM at Mui Muscas Park in the Municipality of Ortueri, in the heart of the Mandrolisai region.

The seminar, free and open to students, professionals, breeders, and citizens, will feature internationally acclaimed experts such as Derek Knottenbelt, Jessica Kidd, Roger Smith, Caroline Hahn, Gunther van Loon, and many others, engaging in dialogue with Italian colleagues Luca Stucchi and Maria Grazia Cappai. The sessions will be held in English and will offer a multidisciplinary exploration of diseases affecting donkeys—an emblematic breed of Sardinian biodiversity and a heritage at risk of extinction.

The Sardinian stop is part of a broader collaboration between the Department of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Sassari, represented by Prof. Eraldo Sanna Passino, the event’s organizer, and the Municipality of Ortueri. The goal is to make the area a national hub for the promotion of the Sardinian donkey. In particular, the initiative aims to develop projects related to pet therapy, specialized training, and the use of donkeys in inclusive and wellness-oriented programs, as well as serving as a clinical training ground for veterinary students.

Reinforcing this strategic vision, the municipal administration recently secured funding through the PNRR Borghi program, which will enable the creation of new infrastructure and educational programs to support this sector. The event on July 11 thus represents a symbolic and practical moment within a larger plan for the social, economic, and cultural revitalization of Sardinia’s inland areas.

Thanks to the synergy between the University of Sassari – Department of Veterinary Medicine, the Municipality of Ortueri, and ASVI Sardegna (Agency for the Development and Promotion of Equine Activities), the seminar aims to promote a new vision for the Sardinian donkey. Today, this animal can play a key role in pet therapy, environmental management, school education, and sustainable tourism. The initiative is made possible with the support of the Fondazione di Sardegna, the Municipality of Ortueri, the four Veterinary Medical Associations of Sardinia, the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Sassari, the Italian Society of Veterinary Surgery (SICV), Multimage, ERSU, and ASVI Sardegna, with coordination by the agency Across Congressi.

The event is free to attend, and donations to support the fundraising campaign can be made via the official website: www.vetswithhorsepower.com

Press kit (press release and photos): Vethorsepower

For more information: esp@uniss.it