CAS International
CAS International (Comité Anti Stierenvechten) is the biggest organization in the world which works exclusively on the abolition of bullfighting and cruel fiestas (festivals) during which bulls and other animals are tortured. Together with our colleague organizations, we want to end this animal abuse as soon as possible.
More information about CAS International.
Bullfighting
Bullfighting is one of the most cruel forms of animal abuse. Every year, more than 250,000 bulls and cows are tortured and killed worldwide during bullfights and similar events.
Also during fiestas ('village festivals'), tens of thousands of bulls and other animals are severely maltreated.
More information about bullfighting and fiestas.
2. Ridden by the picador during classic Spanish style bullfighting
During the classic Spanish style bullfight the main bullfighter is on foot, but in the first act, a picador holding a long lance (the pica) rides a horse for a few minutes. The picador provokes the bull, and when he charges the horse, the lance is stabbed in the bull’s neck. These horses, which tend to be big and old and have not been specially trained for the event, have a protected padding on their body, and are blindfolded.
In the past, such horses had no protection, so invariably each time the bull charged, he injured the horse, which would also die during bullfights. Today, however, they are armoured with padding, but this does not mean that the horses no longer suffer.
It is obvious that the impact of the heavy bull causes pain to the horse, but the worst scenario is when the horse falls down because of the impact, and the bull continues charging it when it is on the floor. This happens relatively often, and the behaviour of the horse - kicking continuously in panic in order to get rid of the bull - is a clear sign of suffering. In some occasions, the padding is insufficient to prevent the bull’s horns actually ripping the horse’s flesh.
The fact that the horse is blindfolded - so it does not see the bull charging and therefore tries to run away - contributes to the suffering. Since the horse cannot see the bull, the heavy impact appears from nowhere without warning, startling the horse.
There have been rumours that picador’s horses are 'treated' beforehand by putting cotton or wet newspapers in their ears or even cutting their vocal cords, but although we cannot confirm whether that has happened or is still happening, it is obvious that such horses are very expendable, so when they are injured in any way after the bullfight, they tend to be killed other than cured.
- The picador 'works on' the bull
3. Pulling the collapsed bull out of the arena during Spanish style bullfighting
During Spanish style bullfights - when the bull is already agonised on the floor, paralysed by the puntilla - horses or mules on a harness are taken into the arena to pull the bull away. Although their suffering may not be worse than that of any other horse in a harness forced to 'work' pulling coaches or logs, during bullfights of 'lower' categories (in mobile bullrings or with novillos) often instead of two or three horses or mules together, only one has to do the work, which may turn out to be too heavy and the horse or mule ends up being constantly hit to force it to do the job.
4. Testing cattle on bullfighting bulls farms
Many people do not know that on bullfighting bull farms, the mothers of the 'fighting bulls' are tested for their ‘bravery’ instead of their sons. During a testing event called acoso y derribo, cows are chased by men on horse and pushed to the floor with long sticks, to see how quickly they will stop running and turn towards the riders who attack them. During these events, and during other ‘tests’ the breeders may do with bulls (la tienta), sometimes horses are accidentally injured.
5. Ridden by the public during cruel fiestas
Some cruel fiestas with cattle where the general public (instead of specially trained bullfighters) interacts with bulls or cows, they do so on horses instead of on foot. Apart from the obvious risk of an accident occurring if the bull catches the horse, we have to mention the stress horses have to endure because of the chaos and the continuous shouting of the wild crowd.
- Bull Valentón, killed in Tordesillas in 2008
During the infamous Tordesillas fiesta 'Toro de la Vega' (Castilla y León, Spain), where a bull is stabbed to death by men with lances, often participants are riding a horse. Perhaps the worst fiesta with bulls and horses happens in Mexico, during an event which is known as saca tripas ('gutting'), where many riders on unprotected horses chase a bull in the confines of a closed bullring, and the bull charges the horses invariably, goring them to death.
Back to horses in bullfights...
Tips for tourists
CAS International has made a list of tips for tourists, so you can also help us abolish bullfighting and other cruel events with bulls and other animals as a tourist.
The main tip: never go to a bullfight or a cruel fiesta, like the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona!
Please take a look here for more tips.
Videos
Videos of bullfights, cruel fiestas and protests of CAS International and others.
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Photo album
In the CAS photo album, you can find photos of protests, bullfighting and cruel fiestas.
CLICK HERE for the photo album.
