| Tournament of blood: The sheer horror of horse-fighting |
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| Animals | |||
| Written by Danny Penman | |||
 The crowd roared its approval as the chestnut coloured stallion sank his teeth into the throat of his opponent. The terrified victim reared up on its hind legs and veered away in a desperate bid to escape.Blood was pouring into his eyes and he could no longer see. His right ear was torn and bloody. Froth bubbled from his nose. The bigger horse moved in for the coup de grace and repeatedly kicked the weaker animal in the head with his front hooves. The horse soon collapsed and lay panting on the ground. It was an all too typical end to one of the Philippines hugely popular horse fighting tournaments. “These tournaments are truly barbaric,” says Andrew Plumbly of the welfare group Network for Animals. “Our vets have seen horses being kicked in the head so hard that their eyes have popped out of their sockets. Other horses have had their ears ripped off. “It’s straight out of the middle-ages.”  Thousands of people turned out to watch the bloodbath, including hundreds of children. Many of the adults were drunk and spent their time gambling and jeering at the animals as they battled over a female horse in heat. The tournament began when a young and vulnerable looking mare was staked to the ground in the middle of a muddy arena. Two stallions were led into the ring. They went wild as soon as they smelt the mare – overwhelmed by desire they attacked each other like fighting cocks. Each animal repeatedly reared up on its hind legs and attempted to ‘box’ its opponent into submission with its front hooves. If that failed they would veer around and try to bite their opponent’s tail or grab them by their genitals. Many of the creatures were soon covered in huge bruises, gashes and bites. Others limped around the arena with a glazed look in their eyes as they pathetically tried to escape. The tournament was equally traumatic for the mare used as ‘bait’ for the stallions. Not only was she was repeatedly hit by misaimed blows from the duelling horses but the poor creature was also forced to have sex with the victorious stallions. All told she was mounted - some might say raped – over thirty times. For the crowd, this was all part of the ‘spectacle’. Those competing in the Don Carlos tournament were in some ways the lucky ones. In other tournaments, horses have lost eyes and ears in fights that can last for many hours. One fight witnessed by Network for Animals lasted an agonising six hours. “The only reason it ended was because one of the horses was so badly injured that he collapsed and could not get up,” says Andrew Plumbly. “Horses often die in the ring from exhaustion or their injuries.” Veterinary care for injured horses is rudimentary at best and frequently too expensive for their owners. As a result, wounded horses are often killed for their meat and the choicest cuts barbecued and sold to the crowd.  A similar fate awaits those horses deemed too old or weak to fight. These are ‘sacrificed’ by pitting them against much larger and stronger stallions who will often inflict horrific injuries on the unfortunate creatures. Many suffer from huge gaping wounds or vicious bites. Some break their legs as they try to escape. Inevitably, the bloodier the injuries, the louder the crowd cheers and the longer the queue at stalls selling barbecued horse flesh. Although horse fighting is illegal in the Philippines, corruption and lack of enforcement ensures that the tournaments continue almost unhindered. Matches are featured on television and local businesses sponsor horses and tournaments. Local authorities compete to offer prize money. The tournaments are promoted as a cultural tradition but this is little better than a lie. They continue largely because of the money earned from gambling, which is inevitably controlled by organised crime syndicates. Thousands of pounds are bet on each fight – a small fortune in a desperately poor country like the Philippines. “They would love us to believe that it is an ancient tradition but it is not,” says Andrew Plumbly. “Traditional fights were on a much smaller scale and were far less vicious. The traditional horses were also far smaller and lighter.” The charity Network for Animals wants to build clinics to treat injured horses and to educate local people about caring for animals. They are also encouraging tourists to avoid the southern Philippines whilst horse fighting continues. “If people want to help stop these tournaments they should write to the Embassy in London and tell them that they will not visit these islands,” says Mr Plumbly. “The threat of a loss of tourism money will help bring this despicable blood sport to an end.” Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites          
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written by Andy, November 16, 2008 Looks like Lesley is off to Hell aswell for being such a racist. ...
written by Andy, November 16, 2008 All told she was mounted - some might say raped ?? over thirty times." A horse can't rape another horse. ...
written by Dave wallis, November 15, 2008 This behaviour is also a part of their culture, like underground boxing in the UK. Barbaric as it is stopping it would also be another form of control, admittedly for the best but still, infringement nonetheless. One has to realise that people are NOT the same, culture is about being different and being free within it, I don't agree with it but then again I also don't think that it is my place to throw an opinion as I do not live there. ...
written by Jennifer galick, November 11, 2008 As long as I live I will never understand how people can take pleasure in the suffering of animals. It seems to go on all over the world. When will people stand up to the world and say this is enough. I'm ready to. Who will join me. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ...
written by cerrie lang, October 22, 2008 THIS IS VERY DISTURBING TO HEAR ABOUT.....THOSE POOR ANIMALS...HOW ON EARTH CAN ANYONE STOP AND WATCH THIS HORRIFIC EVENT....THIS ISN'T SPORT....I HOPE TO GOD THOSE ANIMALS GET THE HELP THEY DESERVE...AND OTHERS ANIMALS......THOSE PEOPLE WHO WATCH AND BET ON THE FIGHTS HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE....THEY ARE JUST SICK PEOPLE......EVERY TOURIST SHOULD BOYCOTT THE PHILLIPINES...CHINA....AND OTHER COUNTRIES THAT ARE CRUEL TO ANIMAL NATURE...AND MANKIND..... ...
written by Lesley, August 28, 2008 Well, Ron is on his way to hell so no worries there. People of decent mind and hearts must oppose this terrible cruelty by any legal means available. Write to your MPs even if it doesn't appear to have much effect. Keep away from the bloody Philippines. These dusgusting, barbarous "people" also like to eat unhatched ducklings in their shells, for God's sake! The Philippines does not deserve a place in today's world. Send all the maids back, we'll do out own housework! ...
written by lolly, July 16, 2008 this is disgusting how could people treat beautiful creatures like this i ask everyone to sign a petiton or send a complaint comment 2 the phillapines goverment i ask u from my heart if u feel as passionate as horses as i do then please help the poor helpless creatures please!!! have a heart for a poor horse!!i beg u god put us on this planet 2 look after animals not make the fight and have sex! ...
written by parakeet5, March 09, 2008 this is just sick!!! those poor animals. it makes me want to cry thinking about what happens to them, and chickens and dogs too! and the mare that is out there for bait, being mounted-raped is more like it-up to 30 times! it is just so sad what people will do for entertainment. :( :( :( :( ...
written by Rita, February 23, 2008 Yes they are animals, but so are we, Ron, and as so called Superior beings, should have compassion towards our fellow creatures. Animals naturally would be able to run away from aggression. Sad that we have learnt nothing. Just glad I not an animal in your household. ...
written by Ron, February 21, 2008 I almost fell over laughing when I read about the poor mare being forced to have sex with the victorious stallion and called it rape. They are animals people!!!! I've eaten horse before and have no problem with this. If I was hungry enough I'd serve up my cat or dog. |
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