Why go
The tight turns and temporary track in Piazza del Campo make horse safety more than a side issue. Siena has introduced veterinary checks and track protections, while campaigners question whether those measures are enough. Knowing both positions helps you assess the event beyond its spectacle without relying on old accident totals as current evidence.
The full story
Falls and injuries have made the Palio's treatment of horses a subject of sustained criticism. Animal welfare groups have challenged the race, while its organisers and supporters point to safeguards developed over recent decades. Measures described in the historical record include veterinary examination, rules against certain substances, changes to the temporary track surface and protective barriers at a dangerous bend. Some of these were introduced or revised in the 1990s and 2000s. Their existence does not settle the debate about risk, and old figures drawn from different groups are not directly comparable measures of current safety. For a visitor, the important physical context is visible at the Campo: horses race around a temporary course with sharp turns, in a setting built as a civic square rather than a modern racing ground. Consult current municipal rules for today's specific measures.