End Horse Wrestling in Spain
By Jennifer HartmannTarget: President of the Government of Spain, Mariano Rajoy Brey
Goal: Outlaw the practice of horse wrestling in Spanish festivals.
Every July, a Spanish operation called Rapa das Bestas (translated as “shearing of the beasts”) takes place in Spain, whereby hundreds of men and women pit themselves against wild horses, wrestle the animals to the ground to assert bravery and dominance, shear their manes, and mark them bare handed. The ordeal is more than stressful for the hundreds of wild animals, many of whom have not experienced contact with humans before. Urge the Spanish Government and the President of Spain to find humane ways to celebrate Spanish tradition that does not involve terrifying these beautiful wild creatures. Horse wrestling carried out in such a manner should not be allowed.
The yearly process begins when the horses are released down a mountain in Sabucedo, in northern Spain, and let loose to run through the hills of the area while hundreds of participants chase after them. Young foals are separated from their protective mothers, and horse fights frequently break out in response to the traumatic situation. In addition to combating fellow horses, these animals struggle in vain to stay afoot when humans charge them in mass and pull them to the ground. Once captured, they are thrown to the floor and grabbed by the head, neck, and nose if they try to struggle, a usual result of the practice. They are then sheared and tagged amidst a chaotic environment.
Rapa das Bestas is a 400 year old tradition, and not one likely to disappear overnight. While cultural traditions are important, societies that grow more progressive are obligated to find ways of celebration that do not infringe on the wellness of sentient beings. Wild horses are unused to being handled, and it is certainly distressing for them to be chased and wrestled by hundreds of people in unfamiliar circumstances.
If tagging is necessary for reasons known to the Spanish people, then this can be done humanely and in as noninvasive a manner possible. The shearing of horses is merely a tradition, and one practiced at the expense of a wild horse’s well-being. Appeal to the President of Spain, Mariano Rajoy Brey, and urge him to help make the festival humane and stress-free for horses by outlawing wresting.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear President Mariano Rajoy Brey,
The celebrated tradition of Rapa das Bestas must be altered in order to comply with standards of humanity in today’s modern culture. It is beastlike that humans chase after hundreds of wild animals for sport and subject them to suffering and torment merely for pleasure. Wild horses are tagged and sheared at the hands of Spanish festival goers, and it is unreasonable that such a tradition should endure when there are alternative methods to celebration. If a horse must be tagged, it can be done humanely and in a noninvasive manner. There is no reason that these creatures should suffer trauma because due to “tradition.” In addition to the stress of being wrestled to the ground by humans, the close-quartered nature of the event forces these animals to rebel against another out of anxiety, inflicting bites and wounds.
I urge you to outlaw the invasive practice of horse wrestling and encourage the people of Spain to instead revere and respect wild animals. While they are not likely inflicting serious or long-term harm, such a practice does not display compassion and should be replaced with a humane alternative.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: WritingofRiding.com
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38 Comments
Hard to understand these atrocities against innocent, defenseless animals, who have done nothing to deserve such treatment.
Thursday February 28, 2013, 4:52 pm
Noted & Signed! Don’t these people having anything better to do with their lives than to commit cruel acts to animals! Whenever people show cruelty to animals, it does nothing but debase them and the culture that perpetuates this!
“Cruelty to animals is one of the distinguishing vices of low and base minds. Wherever it is found, it is a certain mark of ignorance and meanness; a mark which all the external advantages of wealth, splendour, and nobility, cannot obliterate. It is consistent neither with learning nor true civility.” – William Jones, (English Philologist and Jurist)
Ignorant morons with small dicks, do these animals come rushing at you and displaying such ruthless aggression… No, they have none of your aggression and disgusting cruelty, barbarians!
Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things -man will not himself find peace.-Albert Schweitzer.
You are so right
I AM OUTRADGE OVER THIS CRUELTY OF THESE HORSES HOW WOULD THE MAN OR WOMEN LIKE IT IF SOMEONE DID THIS TO THEM? THESE IS A CRIME IN MY EYES, THIS NEEDS TO BE STOPPED RIGHT NOW
Basta!!!!muita covardia com os animais!!!!
Absolutely another stupid fucking cruelty to animals stunt!!!!!
The man is terribly stupid and really bad, their should do the same
They just can’t get enough on abusing animals. What’s the mindset? They have to rough them up/abuse them and THEN slaugher them.
Incredible !!!!! So shit the crisis is innocent get even with Horses?
I cannot believe the cruelty that humankind bestows upon the animal kingdom…why are they just ignorant? Don’t they know that this treatment of God given animals is cruel? The animal in pain, abused. You get what you give out in this law of God. What does go round does come back around to you. We owe animals more than this. We are suppose to be protectors of what cannot protect themselves. I only hope that this shall come to an end with this country and others TODAY!!!
What is with these Spainards? First they have to torment Bulls, and now Horses? Isn’t there any sanity in the whole country? I thought they were more civilized than all this cruelty. Guess Not!!! This kind of thing has to stop, it is’nt acceptable. It makes you all look like raging animals yourself. Right up to the Leaders of it!!! ;-((
You’re so right. I don’t care if it is a 400 year old tradition or not: Animal abuse in any form – and the Spaniards do a lot of it – is a mirror of their own souls. Spain should finally move into the 21st century.
All animals are equal and must be treated with respect, love and compassion. They cannot be put into categories of pets, entertainment and food. All animals deserve a life free of suffering, just as humans want for themselves. They must be protected, not exploited as is the case worldwide. First step – go vegan, you will feel wonderful
Stop wrestling horses. Its
all nonsense and in humane.
HORRIBLE CRUEL & DISPICABLE.. LIKE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ANIMALS IN SPAIN.. A HARD CORE OF PEOPLE TRY TO SAVE & HELP THE MILLIONS OF DOGS EVERYWHERE, THEN THERE IS THIS !!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE MENTALITY OF THESE PEOPLE ? JUST PUT THEM ON THE RECEIVING END TO ENDURE THE SUFFERING & PAIN INFLICTED !
I AM DISGUSTED & SADDENED !
All animals are equal and must be treated with respect, love and compassion. They cannot be put into categories of pets, entertainment and food. All animals deserve a life free of suffering, just as humans want for themselves. They must be protected, not exploited as is the case worldwide. First step – go vegan, you will feel wonderful
Really sad that men don’t have anything better to do than abuse and hurt horses. In the US, they enjoy killing predators like wolves, instead of their bare hands, they use guns, traps and poisons. The animals don’t have a chance.
This is not the dark ages for heavens sake. You are not brave, I am not impressed, Anyone who hurts animals for fun or tradition is backward.
Why would they do this…? How does doing this to a poor horse make them ‘brave’?
Por Dios! QUE INHUMANO!!!
I support animal rights and I demand all the horses in the World free in the mountains as the ones in Sabucedo (Rapa das Bestas). A real trauma is to have to live in a 3×2 meters stable your whole life doing whatever your owner wants. Come on! ahhhhh and please send the letter in Spanish as the Spanish President, Rajoy doesn’t speask English
Signrd.
Paulo
So does your logic apply to yourself as well or only to the horses.
Why are you living in a building doing exactly what your government tells you to whenever they make a new law, just like the rest of us?
If you prefer that why wouldn’t the horses prefer it?
This is just another form of animal abuse that people have dreamed up and like a previous blogger, I thought I had heard it all! However Canada and the U.S. are certainly not perfect. Just look at the horse slaughter statistics in Canada and most of these horses are shipped up from the U.S. We need to clean up our own back yards as well starting now!
What is wrong with the people of this world? Why in the name of God won’t they just leave the poor animals in peace? I thought it bad enough to to just discover that bear-baiting is going on in North Carolina, USA, and am now hearing about this! From my experience is almost always males who abuse animals – so must be something in their make-up. Why not begin by teaching the young boys of this world to have kindness and respect.for animals and all life – it cannot be that hard!!! But while different countries allow abuse to go on how much hope do we have!
Mother fuckers! I hope they pay for that..being tortured in a much worse way!
Stupid, pointless and cruel. Just because something is a tradition, doesn’t make it right. Real men (and women) are kind to animals.
It’s time Spain stops torturing animals. This is NOT tradition (like bullfighting). This is barbarity.
Spain is Europe and NOT an undeveloped country.
You people are so dumb. This is a ancient festival. Have any of you ever been to Estrada and witnessed the Rapa? No..thought not.
Amazing you can all make this awe inspiring statements. Presumably most of you are US citizens.
I suggest before you go putting up petitions about ancient festivals in far away countries you should petition the right to bear arms. Maybe you will save some of you kinder if you ever get success.
Fucking Americans. You invade other countries for greed and gain. Subject the inhabitants to inhumane conditions. Hypocrites.
THIS IS A BARBARIC AND A DILIBERATE ACT OF ANIMAL ABUSE CRUELTY AND TORTURE HOW DO PEOPLE COME UP WITH SUCH HEARTKLESS SADISTIC THINGS TO DO TO ANIMALS WHOEVER IT IS THEY’VE GOT A HIGHLY DISTRUBED MIND AND THEY VERY MUCH IN DESPERATE NEED OF HELP HORSE WRESTLING NEEDS TO BE BANNED EVERYWHERE IT IS BECAUSE IF IT STARTS ONE PLACE ITS IN MY LEARNING AND OPINION IT’S SOME SICK MINDED PERSON IS GOING TO START IT SOMEWHERE ELSE.
They have the same mentality as bullfighters! Cruel, sadistic people and that goes for the spectators as well!
People in Spain are moronic and demonic. They seem to HATE animals. Never want to go there.
What is wrong with Spain?? Are they ever going to join the modern world where cruelty to animals is just not acceptable? I would never visit Spain. The country and it’s people are just unacceptable in this day and age.
It shows what kind of people the Spaniards are – ignorant. If they knew what awaits them for all the actrocities and cruelty meted out to these poor defenceless animals they would cringe in fear.
TENÍAN QUE SER LOS ESPAÑOLES!! TODAS SU “TRADICIONES”, QUE NO SON TALES, IMPLICAN CRUELDAD CONTRA LOS ANIMALES, ESPECIALMENTE LOS TOROS Y NO SÓLO EN LAS CORRIDAS, SINO SIEMPRE QUE PUEDEN TORTURARLOS Y ATORMENTARLOS PARA FINALMENTE ASESINARLOS EN NOMBRE DE LA “CULTURA”. BANDA DE RETRÓGRADOS!! AHORA TAMBIÉN NOS ENTERAMOS QUE SIGUEN ALARDEANDO DE SU IGNORANCIA CONTRA LOS CABALLOS. POR QUÉ NO PRACTICAN SUS “TRADICIONES” ENTRE USTEDES EN LUGAR DE ATACAR SERES INOCENTES? NO, NO SE LE PUEDE PEDIR ESO A LOS COBARDES, QUE HASTA SALEN DE SU PAÍS A ASESINAR ANIMALES Y FOTOGRAFIARSE COMO SI HUBIESEN HECHO UNA PROEZA … SABEMOS DE QUIÉN HABLAMOS. PERO DIOS VE SU MALDAD CONTRA SU MÁS HERMOSA CREACIÓN, HARÁ QUE PAGUEN EN ESTA VIDA, Y LOS AMANTES DE LOS ANIMALES ESPERAMOS VERLO.
Maybe it is time to stop the ancient cruel festivals and become civilized.
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