2:51am UK, Thursday October 23, 2008

Peter Sharp, in the Philippines

Thousands of horses in the Philippines are being maimed and wounded in illegal fights run by a crime syndicate betting ring.
"These tournaments are truly barbaric," said Andrew Plumbly, of the UK-based welfare group Network for Animals that has been campaigning to end the savage contests.

"Our vets have seen horses being kicked in the head so hard that their eyes have popped out of their sockets," he said.

Other horses have had their ears ripped off. It's straight out of the Middle Ages.

Network for Animals' Andrew Plumbly

Thousands turned up for a three-day fight festival at a market town deep in the jungles of Mindanao Island.

The government banned this spectacle 10 years ago but it is still widespread.

The horse fighting season lasts all year. Thousands of animals are maimed. Some die from their injuries.

Throughout the fight, a mare in season is tethered in the ring. Her presence encourages the sexual rivalry between the fighting stallions.

Thousands turned up for a three-day fight festival at a market town deep in the jungles of Mindanao Island.

The government banned this spectacle 10 years ago but it is still widespread.

The horse fighting season lasts all year. Thousands of animals are maimed. Some die from their injuries.

Throughout the fight, a mare in season is tethered in the ring. Her presence encourages the sexual rivalry between the fighting stallions.

After the fight, I saw one horse being led from the ring. His mouth was torn open and a series of deep gashes scarred his head.

Sky's Peter Sharp

Crime syndicates have taken over the gambling and rake in huge profits.

A corrupt local police force is openly involved in organising the events and receives a cut from the syndicates.

In the crowd, at ringside, veterinary surgeon Dino Yebron has campaigned for an end to these tournaments.

He said: "This is obscene. The horses are trained to fight, trained to bite and trained to kick. All this is manipulated by the trainers so they can win."

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