An animal welfare group in Gran Canaria has called for an end to a popular event on the island following the death of a horse at the weekend.
The horse was put down after suffering a broken leg when taking part in a race held on Saturday in La Atalaya de Guía and the tragedy has prompted a flurry of protests, particularly by the PACMA party, which is urging sponsors of the controversial event to withdraw their support.
According to PACMA, the tarmacked road used for the race is highly dangerous for the safety of the participating horses. Video footage of the fall, in which the rider was also injured, has gone viral on Internet and sparked a flood of complaints.
Sponsors of the annual race include the Canarian government and Gran Canaria Cabildo, together with companies such as ferry operator Fred Olsen and insurance broker Howden.
Although the organisers stress in the advance publicity that the race between pairs of riders on horseback is a way of showcasing the equestrian culture and traditions of the area and the Canaries generally, opponents insist it is a form of animal cruelty as horses are not born to run on hard roads and an appropriate racing track should have been used.
In addition to demanding that the sponsors pull out of future events, PACMA has requested the veterinary report justifying the decision to out the stricken horse down when alternatives should have been explored.
