ROME – Over 60 officers conducted a surprise inspection on Monday at dawn of the stables where some 70 horses are kept in the Testaccio area of Rome.

 The horses who work pulling the popular tourist carriages, or “botticelle”, across the city centre have long been the target of animal rights groups’ campaigns.

 Controversy soared after an 18-year-old horse had to be put down next to the Colosseum in 2008. The investigation at the time found that the horse was in fact one of the “best looked-after in the stables of Rome” and the accident was caused by a lorry travelling at high speed which spooked the horse and caused it to slip.

 In 2012 a bylaw was passed prohibiting drivers from accepting passengers whenever the temperature exceeded 40C. Such initiatives championed by animal rights lobbyists have been fiercely opposed by the carriage drivers’ union.

 The latest development in the long-drawn out issue came on Monday with the surprise inspection of stabling conditions.

 The search was conducted by officers from the Forest Guard, and organised by Roman officials in conjunction with Nirda, the Italian organisation for the investigation of animal abuse crimes.

 UPDATE (Oct. 28):

 The surprise inspection found no evidence of mistreatment, officials revealed.

 President of the Carriage Drivers’ union, Angelo Sed, announced, “we are happy to have demonstrated once again –as our certification confirms – that our horses are in excellent health, and that they receive all of our attention, our care and our love.”