Seville - horse abuse

[Travelling3]

I’ve just left Seville and while it is absolutely beautiful I will never return because of the awful abuse of horses. They have horse drawn carriages as a tourist attraction and the horses have no access to water, food or proper shelter. They’re very thin and tied so tightly to the carriages that when they aren’t being used they can hardly move to get comfortable and rest. They’re used all day and into the night. Apparently it’s the same in July and August when the temperature can reach between 40 and 50 degrees!!
Im absolutely appalled that this cruel and outdated “tradition” still continues in 2025 and if I’d have known about it I would never have visited Seville. I’ve tried to post about it on facebook and been blocked each time which is why people aren’t aware until they actually arrive. Being there just left me feeling so sad and helpless

Please report it to this organisation. Often they can’t act without a report from a member of the public.

www.protectapet.eu/report-animal-abuse

Thank you I will. I also emailed the town
hall. These carriage rides have been banned in Malaga recently so there is hope if enough people complain

I went on one in Málaga. My cousin who lives there organised it. I can't believe I didn't think about how cruel it must be for the poor horses. It was July and absolutely ridiculously hot.

I hope they ban it across the whole country.

I think because I have a horse I’m very sensitive to them and their needs but honestly it was glaringly obvious to anyone. They have a miserable life of service and abuse and in this day and age it’s just not necessary. Why can’t they have people cycling tourists around in tuktuk style carriages or else electric carriages.

I wouldn't bother reporting it, because it will already have been discussed many times. See for example here. (There is a similar problem in other Spanish tourist cities.)

In some cases the city council wants to abolish them, but the drivers have paid the city a lot of money for their licences to operate and are not unreasonably asking to be bought out... but the city doesn't have X million Euros down the back of the sofa. (The drivers would win in court in 10 seconds if the city unilaterally closed them down, so creative solutions are needed.)

In other cases, the politicians don't see the problem as being hugely important, or don't dare do anything about it. Spain is not big on animal rights. Bullfighting is still legal everywhere because of a national law on "cultural heritage", which trumps attempts to bring in regional bans. The current (left of centre) central government could try to amend that law, but it might not get a majority, and it is also afraid of pushing yet more idiots into the arms of the pro-Franco party.

I visited Seville a few years ago and saw the horse carriages. The horses didn't look thin, but they were still working in stifling heat. Our guide who was a local warned us to take care as it was a heatwave. As much as I love Spain and its culture, their animal welfare policies leave a lot to be desired. It's appalling that bull fighting hasn't been confined to the history books.

I’m reading as much as I can to try and understand the situation but it has been banned in other places like Malaga so how can it stop there but not in Seville? Obviously it’s a regional decision which must involve the local Mayor I should imagine. Presumably if it wasn’t profitable for the carriage owners it would soon stop so spreading the word to tourists about the cruelty is the only way to go. Like I said it’s not mentioned on Facebook, I love Seville, type threads so I had no idea before visiting and I certainly wouldn’t have visited if I’d have known and I’ve been blocked from those threads when trying to highlight the problem.

If anyone feels strongly about the horse cruelty then I suggest emailing the town hall to let them know how you feel, that’s what I’ve done. I’ve also started supporting the charity “A Better Life for Horses” which is based in Spain and has taken in two of the rescued Malaga horses.