----- Original Message -----
From: Maria Lopes
Subject: Expose about bullfights published in a Horse Magazize of New Zealand

Dear Friends,
15 days ago we came across an article about Lusitano's horses that also talked about Portuguese bullfights. The paragraph was a piece of misinformation so we complained to the editor. He replied to us apologizing and informing us that he had taken that part of the article. We thanked him and offered to write an article exposing bullfights which he accepted. Below is the article that was published today.
For the Animals
Maria Lopes

Horses - the forgotten victims of bullfighting

This photo is from 2001 in the bullring of Madrid.

What is a bullfight, and who suffers in this bloody so-called sport?

by Maria Lopes

Co-ordinator of the International Movement Against Bullfights
Article © 2006
This article may not be reproduced in any form without prior permission.

A horse is blind-folded before being used in a bullfight.

In Anglo-Saxon countries it is regarded as a sport, perhaps due to lack of knowledge.

It is, after all, banned throughout the UK and the Commonwealth nations, as well as most of Europe. In countries where bullfighting is allowed it is increasingly becoming recognised as sheer barbarity. This savagery involves two beautiful animals, bulls and horses. While the bulls are guaranteed to die, the future of the horses is often no brighter.

Bullfights take place in three European countries, France, Portugal and Spain and in some parts of Latin America. In some states of North America a form of bullfight is permitted but the animal is covered with velcro and the spears used are imitation.

It's commonly believed that in Portuguese bullfights bulls or horses don't suffer unlike the Spanish versions. This is unfortunately a myth since the suffering is the same in both bullfight styles.

The only difference is that in Spanish bullrings the bull is killed in the ring instead of in the slaughterhouse when the "entertainment" is over.

Every year more than 50,000 bulls are killed in bullfights in Europe alone. Countless horses die or suffer severe injuries.

Bullfighters claim that bulls bred for bullfights are aggressive and fearsome animals. This is also untrue. They fight because they are fighting for their lives.

This photo was taken during a bullfight in Spain. The horse was killed.



Spanish bullfights also employ "picadors", men on horseback armed with spears.

These horses are often gored even though they are protected by what is termed a "peto", or a protective cape. These petos often do little more than hide the horses wounds.

Scene from a Portuguese bullfight.

The horses are blind-folded to prevent them from becoming terror stricken at the charge of the bull. It is commonly believed that their ears are stuffed with cottonwool to prevent them from panicking and their vocal cords cut to stop them screaming with fear at the bull's attack.

As little as 12 days ago in Madrid another horse was gored by a bull and had to be killed.

This is the fate of these beautiful animals. To be used to entertain a crowd that lusts for blood and claims that bullfighting is a tradition and "cultural heritage".

What about the brave matadors, picadors and their ilk? Bullfighters are rarely injured and seldom killed in the ring. With their armoury of weapons to weaken the bull until it can no longer fight, their lives are not at great risk. In fact, in the last 50 years only 10 bullfighters have been killed worldwide.

Should you ever find yourself in a country where bullfighting is practiced, please do not be tempted to attend one of these sadistic displays. The continuation of bullfighting depends on government subsidies and the tourist industry. Don't be an accomplice to this savagery by supporting it with your dollars.

Further information:
Take a look at the
International Movement Against Bullfights website.
We suggest you read the "
ongoing campaigns" section.