Among the uniformed departments, the brass bands, the horses and the Frecce Tricolori who accompanied the celebrations today for the 80th anniversary of the Italian Republicthere was also a special protagonist. He didn’t wear a uniform and didn’t carry a saber, but along Via dei Fori Imperiali he was now a familiar presence: Briciola, the small cross-breed mascot of the 4th Carabinieri Horse Regiment, paraded for the last time in the June 2 parade before retiring.
Tiny next to the imposing horses of the Army, with her custom-made ordinance cape, Briciola has become over the years one of the most recognizable faces of official ceremonies. A tender and at the same time solemn presence, capable of bringing a touch of spontaneity even in the most formal moments of institutional life.
Its story begins on June 5, 2013, a date that already seems like a sign of destiny: it is, in fact, the day on which the foundation of the Carabinieri is celebrated. Briciola arrives at the “Salvo D’Acquisto” barracks in Rome when she is still a puppy, donated by a family who attended hippotherapy activities in the facility.
After training, he officially joined the 4th Mounted Carabinieri Regiment in March 2014. A few months later, on 5 June of the same year, debuts as a mascot during the celebrations for the Bicentenary of the Army: a historic ceremony, which will return only in almost a century, and which also coincides with his first birthday.
Since then, Briciola has fully entered the life of the department. He lives in the Tor di Quinto barracks, participates in the daily routine of the military, attends the flag raising almost every day and accompanies the Carabinieri on horseback on the main official occasions. His most surprising trait is the naturalness with which he moves between horses, music and parades: she is not frightened by animals larger than her, nor by the trumpet blasts of the Fanfare.
It is precisely this lively and courageous character that makes her perfect for the role. Small, but full of energy, Briciola manages to stand next to the regimental horses as if she were one of them. For this reason, over the years, it has become much more than a simple mascot: a recognisable, affectionate, almost familiar presence for those who follow the ceremonies of the Army and the Republic.
The notoriety arrived in 2015, on the day of the inauguration of President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinale. In a context regulated by protocol and the utmost solemnity, Briciola anticipates the scene: he approaches the red guide reserved for the Head of State and performs a sudden somersault. An unexpected gesture that brings smiles and sympathy and that it transforms her into a small institutional celebrity.
From that moment on, his every appearance is noticed. Briciola takes part in the parade on 2 June, the changing of the guard at the Quirinale and the most important events of the Army. Over the years it also receives a symbolic rankthat of vice brigadier, assigned with affection to highlight his special place within the department.
His fame also reaches social mediawhere images and videos of the Carabinieri mascot on horseback made it even more popular. In a world made of impeccable uniforms, horses on parade and solemn ceremonies, Briciola has managed to become the detail that everyone is looking for: small, funny, disciplined when needed, but always capable of remembering that institutions also have a human face.
The tradition of the Army’s mascots, however, did not originate with her. It dates back to the late seventies and before Briciola there were other beloved dogs, including Trombetta, Birba and Lady. As per tradition, these are mixed breeds donated to the Carabinieri: a gesture considered auspicious and linked to a relationship of trust and affection between the force and the citizensthe.
Among the most remembered stories is that of Trombetta, donated by a boy who worked in the stables of the Agnano racecourse, in the Neapolitan area. Handing it over to a marshal, he allegedly told him: “It will bring you luck.” Since then, the presence of a mascot has become a small family ritual for the mounted Carabinieri.
Today, however, the time has come for Briciola to rest. At almost 14 years old, after more than a decade spent among stables, fanfares, official ceremonies and June 2nd parades, the dog says goodbye to her public role. However, she will not be removed from the world that welcomed her: she will be entrusted to a policeman who knows her well and will continue to live surrounded by the affection of her large family in uniform.
For the Army it will start now the search for a new mascot. But collecting Briciola’s legacy will not be easy. Because you can find another dog to parade alongside the horses, but replacing that little mongrel who conquered the Quirinale with a somersault is a completely different story.
