WATCH: Hard-hitting video of animal abuse released by political party in Spain

PACMA, a Spanish political party that works for the rights of animals, environmental protection and social justice have released a shocking video of animal abuse at  cart-pulling festivals across Valencia that pulls no punches.

The Partido Animalista have called for the banning of the ‘drag and pull’ events for the “systematic mistreatment” to which horses are subjected and the party has filed several complaints before the Valencian Government and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport.

The ‘sport’ consists of subjecting one or several horses to drag a cart loaded with sacks that can weigh up to 3,500 kilograms.

But the graphic video shows animals being subjected to blows to the head, stomach and testicles to ‘encourage’ the animals to make them go quicker across the courses.

Meanwhile, the tripartite government of the Generalitat Valenciana has just subsidised the Ferderación de Tiro y Arrastre with a €9,000 euros grant.

A PACMA spokesperson, Raquel Aguilar,. said, “It is shameful that a government that defines itself as progressive and sensitive to animal abuse continues to subsidise an obvious form of abuse towards horses, which proves once again that for animals everything remains the same despite political change.” 

PACMA says these competitions started in the 1940s so are nothing to do with Spanish traditions.

The Ferderación de Tiro y Arrastre  says it has strict rules which had to be adhered to and went on to say that the mistreatment of the horses is not allowed and  the association would take action against anyone using cruelty.