It's clear that I'm slightly behind on the horse fighting stories reported in the Daily Mail. Their first article appeared in July 2006 in reference to China's "barbaric" horse fights. Apparently, the Phillipines have their own horse fighting rackett going, despite it's being illegal in the country. Last week the Daily Mail had a new story, complete with horrifying pictures, on their horse fighting tradition.

I had never even concieved the thought of people purposefully pitting two stallions together to fight until one is injured so badly it may need to be slaughtered. Not to mention the rape and abuse the mare in season that is used to work the stallions into their crazed state is subject to. Gambling and crime syndicates keep the horse fights going.

Then again, why should I be surprised that people in third-world countries are treating animals barbarically when we here in the US aren't capable of treating our animals any better? When NFL quarterback Michael Vick is using "rape stands" to breed fighting dogs and killing them by the hundreds and Jaimie Foxx is saying that it's part of black culture so we should go easy on the guy?

The truth is it's part of gangster and drug dealing culture and an underclass that I hope to God is dying out. There are better things to do with your time and energy. One doesn't need to pit innocent animals against eachother, be they dogs, roosters, horses, or even camels.

There are a couple of things you can do to help the fighting horses of the Phillipines. You can stop travelling to these areas of the world that fight horses and let those officials know that they are losing your dollars. From the Network for Animals:

Horse Fighting, an illegal spectator blood sport where stallions are incited to fight one another, is widely practiced on the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines. Fuelled by cash prizes for the owners of the winning horses and extensive gambling, horse fighting is a cruel spectacle that results in serious injuries and often death for the horses.

Please send a letter to the Mayor of Davao City, the largest city on the island of Mindanao and the economic hub of the area. Inform Mayor Duterte that as a compassionate traveler, you choose tourism destinations that are committed to treating animals humanely. Only when all horse fighting has been ended, will you consider traveling to Mindanao.

Rodrigo Duterte, Mayor
Davao City Investment Promotion Center
Door 10, Ramon Magsaysay Park Complex, R. Magsaysay Avenue
Davao City, Philippines

You can also contact the International Fund for Horses. Their Mission Statement:

The Mission of the Int'l Fund for Horses (IFH) is to promote and safeguard the health, safety and welfare of equines worldwide, domestic and in the wild.

IFH is dedicated to ensuring that humane standards are set and kept relating to the working and domestic lives of all equines from the beginning to the end of their lives. IFH is particularly committed to ending horse slaughter for human consumption wherever it exists.

Additionally, IFH is devoted to the preservation of wild horses, mules, donkeys, burros and zebras in their natural habitats.

Protecting Horses through Intervention, Education and Legislation

You can go to their Take Action page to sign up to help by writing a letter, sending a fax, or making a phone call. Nothing fancy, just a simple action that can help save a horse's life.

Posted by: Ensie at 02:10 PM | Comments (15) | Add Comment
Post contains 579 words, total size 5 kb.

1 That's HORRIBLE!!! I never would have thought of it ... How can humans be so cruel and unkind? Thanks for posting this and making people aware of this... I just happened on to your blog, by the way... It's very interesting.. Take care, Leesa

Posted by: Leesa at February 28, 2008 05:34 AM (SLQ3E)

2 i hate it. i think it should be banned all around the world!!! it is a cruel sport which should end horses dont deserve to be forced to fight! please do something about it !!!!!! thanks Amy

Posted by: Amy Chester at June 10, 2008 07:02 AM (fl47x)

3 HI my name is eric and i thank that is sick i have six horse's myself and i would not do that

Posted by: eric shipman at November 13, 2008 02:19 PM (bcEg9)

4 i think this is f*c*ing dumb this shoud never happen when i be come a cop you better watch out ill find your a$$.i am just warning yall and if i ever see this shit again ill hunt you down and throw your a$$$$ in jail!!!!and save these wonderfull horses who were never made two do this stuff your making it do!!!its dumb!!!!they are made two be in the wild or trained by pros...this could of been some little girls only dream two own a horse than you guys have two do this shit wft

Posted by: megan at November 15, 2008 01:27 AM (uBmCy)

5 I think I just died a little by reading this... Theres no words for it. It's horrible.

Posted by: Ellie at November 22, 2008 03:02 AM (nB64V)

6 Awful...

Posted by: Micaela at December 02, 2008 02:43 PM (fL4Q0)

7 WTF ARE THESE PEOPLE'S PROBLEM THEY SHOULD MAKE THEM SELVES GO MENTAL AND ATTACK AND KILL EACH OTHER!!! BUT THEY SHOULDN'T PULL THIS SHIT ON THESE BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS!!!! I'M SORRY BUT YOU CHINESE AND PHILLIPENO'S DISCUST ME YOU ARE REPULSIVE TERRIBLE TORTOROUS HORRIFIC PEOPLE THATS JUST F***ING SICKNENING find another f***ing way to make money you assholes

Posted by: caitlyn at December 05, 2008 09:42 AM (VCImj)

8 that's mean and wrong. SAY NO TO HORSE ABUSE AND ANIMAL CRULETY!

Posted by: Brianna at December 07, 2008 05:53 PM (5Rjpi)

9 hi you shoud STOP HORSE FIHTING EVERY ONE SAID THAT YOU SHOUD STOP IT RIHT NOW

Posted by: COURTNEY at January 10, 2009 11:08 AM (ZvVqo)

10 You´re all fuckt up !!! How can you take pictures like this, and put it on the internet. You must missed something in you´re head !! You´re crazy .. BIG TIME ! You´re fucking PICS ! If i had one wish, you who had taked this pictures and puted them on the internet, you would DIE like a hoe... I realey hope that somebody will shout you big time with a gun, or that some horse will kill your ass, and your fucking stupide head, a wonderfull day .. EAT MY SHIT, AND FUCK OFF, bitches ! You stupide "pokerface".. -DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE.. DIE LIKE A HOE... DIE LIKE YOUR MOM WILL!! - From 10 people in Denmark !!!! !!!

Posted by: sandra at January 28, 2009 06:36 AM (++SA6)

11 I'm going to save the most recent comment, just because it might be the most awesome comment I've ever received. Totally non-nonsensical and missing the point of my post entirely. Even if it's spam, it's really impressive spam.

Posted by: ensie at January 28, 2009 08:06 PM (9fZ6r)

12 This is awful x it needs to be stopped, it is a barbaric action, that should be stopped everywhere, they should make the people who host these fights to be cruelly treated as ell to show them what the animals felt like. evil monsters!

Posted by: Beckiie at October 07, 2009 09:43 AM (rWEF3)

13 Why are ppl doing this to horses?! Let alone any animal. I am not a peta person but breeding or beating any animal to make them mad and fight is just crap. Who ever is making this cruel event happening around the world is a sick person that don't care about animals. I am mad right now and about to kill all the people who let these events happen!!!!!!!

Posted by: Jamie at October 23, 2009 09:39 AM (eY/8p)

14 I really, really hope that whoever takes pleasure in watching these poor animals gets what is coming to them.. they should be treated exactly the same as they treat these horses. This is disgusting, I don't understand how people can watch this sort of thing and not feel any shame or sadness.

Posted by: adele at November 06, 2009 05:07 AM (YbwSv)

15 this is very wrong!! i have horses of my own,, and this is know way to treat this breatiful animals. if peolpe think they can do this? heck no! that it bull!

Posted by: kalie gardner at November 11, 2009 12:33 PM (UJvTI)

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Frinklin and I attended the Lipizzaner performance at the Tacoma Dome on Friday night. I forgot the camera, so I have no photos, but can link to these great pix posted by ResQdog51 on flickr.

The performance was pretty good. I was disappointed that they didn't perform all of the Airs Above the Ground. The Courbette, which is my favorite, was not included. I'm sure it's an issue of what horses they have available to perform at certain shows, still, I was bummed.

I could have done without the cheesy announcer and his bad jokes, but overall I recommend the show to anyone who loves horses, and especially to those who are dressage enthusiasts.

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