The article highlights a significant contemporary initiative positioning the horse not as a relic of the past but as a vital living heritage that connects territories, knowledge, institutions, and communities. On March 3rd at CNEL, a Promotion Committee was established to nominate Italian Equestrian Arts, Traditions, and Cultures for UNESCO Intangible Heritage status. This effort, led by the ICASTE Forum and involving eleven national equestrian bodies, underscores the horse’s multifaceted role in breeding, sport, entertainment, cultural promotion, and education. The initiative also carries a strong political dimension, with CNEL President Renato Brunetta pledging legislative support to protect and advance the sector, framing the horse as a driver of identity, economy, education, welfare, and territorial cohesion aligned with European priorities like sustainability and biodiversity.

The event revealed the equestrian sector’s broad social and cultural impact, emphasizing the educational and relational power of the human-horse bond, the narrative strength of equestrian entertainment, and the role of intermediary organizations as civic engines fostering institutional engagement. Key voices from the sector stressed the horse’s role as a bridge between cultures and a master custodian of traditions and landscapes. Far from nostalgic, the UNESCO candidacy aims to restore the horse’s historic role as an engine of civilization and social cohesion, demonstrating the sector’s capacity for networking, long-term vision, and cultural innovation.