The Cruel And Bloody Sport Of Horse Fighting Is Still Alive

Horse fighting is a cruel and bloody sport most prevalent on the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines. At present, thousands of horses are involved in hundreds of fights on the major island, as well as other parts of the world.

In a horse fight, two stallions are provoked to fight each other over a mare in season. The horses kick, bite, and beat each other with their hooves, causing serious injuries. Some of the horse fighting takes place at organized fiestas, with up to twenty fights per day over a three-day period.

The horse fight stops when one of them gives up, runs away, or is killed. Horses forced to fight sustain serious, and at times, fatal injuries, including gashes, gouges, and broken limbs.

Horse fighting events occur in city stadiums or large fenced in areas before large crowds who attend in hopes of witnessing intense fighting, gore, and even death. High stakes are involved, so most horse fighting involves large, aggressive, and sturdy trained horses.

Training for these violent and hostile animals is quite brutal. It involves the horses pulling heavy sleds up hills to build up their strength, and fights with other horses, which handlers control by tying long ropes around the horse’s necks.

The majority of time, horse fighting lasts about 15 minutes. However, some horse fights may carry on for up to three hours. A report by Network for Animals cites that one horse fight lasted six hours. The fighting ended because one of the horses was so brutally beaten and exhausted that it could not stand up any longer.

Veterinarians who observe horse fighting report that some horses are struck with such force that their eyes literally pop out of their sockets. Additionally, reports claim that a number of horses have had their entire ears torn off during fights. Horses lay dying — drenched in blood from their injuries.

In 1998, the animal welfare act outlawed all horse fighting. However, with penalties ranging from a minimum of $60, or 1,000 pesos, to a maximum of close to $300, or 5,000 pesos, horse-fighting organizers don’t pay much attention to the law and the horse fighting events take place in broad daylight in public areas.

In fact, not one single person has ever been prosecuted for engaging in horse fighting since the passage of Republic Act 8485 in 1998.

Horse fighting is considered a cultural tradition and is specific to indigenous communities. In some areas, horse fighting is so popular it warrants enough attention to be broadcasted on local television. It also receives municipal support via cash prizes and sponsorship from local businesses in some locations.

While horse fighting is promoted under the guise of tradition, the main reason for it is gambling — with bets reaching more than $3,000.

Attempts to discontinue horse fighting have been instituted by the national government’s Animal Welfare Division, but the well-intended efforts have been unsuccessful. In fact, local governments are intensely protective of the activity and they usually defy the national government’s authority on the issue, to the extent that local police are often hired by the promoters for crowd control. The power of organized criminal networks running these fights is a very clear factor in the prevalence of horse fighting.

According to Rappler, while gamblers and organizers are anticipating the promise of big winnings, the horses are in a state of fear and frenzy during a fight. For them, horse fights are a prelude to a tortuous death.

Huge profits are being made from horse fighting events, which guarantees the cruel and brutal practice will continue unless strong enforcement and political intervention puts a stop to this outdated spectator blood sport, which rejoices in pain and suffering.

[Photo by Jeoffrey Maitem/Getty Images]