The Rapa Das Bestas – Spanish tradition involving wild horses
I think it best to let the pictures speak for themselves as whether this is right or wrong…. ~ HfH
From: The Daily Mail
By: Steve Hopkins
Crazy horses: Fighters try to grab wild horses herded in to village from the mountains so they can trim their manes and tails.
Hundreds of wild horses have been rounded up and wrestled to the ground for a hair-cut, as part of a 400-year-old Spanish festival.
The Rapa Das Bestas, translated as Shearing Of The Beasts, takes place over four days in Sebucedo, which is 40kms from Santiago de Composetela.
The festival sees horses herded down from the mountains by Aloitadores, or fighters, who work in teams of three to overpower them.
While the foals are simply marked, the adults have their manes and tails trimmed.
Thousands of visitors descended on the small village to watch the fighters man-handle the wild animals into submission.
karen
Disgusting abuse. Headline calling the horses crazy is also disgusting. I hope these men get their brains, few they have, kicked out. Another tradition that is nothing more than animal torture. Just horrible. Sorry I looked at it.
kumadee
Fascinating and appalling.
Most people would look at these animals and be in awe – then some feel a need to terrorize and dominate just because they can.
What is it about humans that make them so ugly?
Machismo?? Hardly – more like losers.
Some traditions deserve to die – this is one.
Daryl
why would you do some thing to make a horse afraid, you need to get their trust. this is horrible for the animals, and I feel so wrong.
Maggie Frazier
Ever notice how often the word “tradition” pops up when there is abuse? I pity these horses when they get turned back out to deal with the flies – after all, its summer, right?
Lana Marie
This Country & it’s ‘traditions’ with the use of any animal, sicken me beyond words…