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Chinese new year: Fighting tradition marks year of the horse Chinese new year: Fighting tradition marks year of the horse
(7 months later)
Hooves clash in mid-air, a stallion bites his opponent while Hooves clash in mid-air, a stallion bites his opponent while delighted spectators cheer wildly - in southern China some saw in the Year of the Horse by watching the animals fight.
delighted spectators cheer wildly - in southern China some saw in the For the residents of Tiantou, a remote village in the Guangxi region, the 500-year-old tradition which pits male horses against each other in a fight over a female was the only way to kick off the Lunar New Year.
Year of the Horse by watching the animals fight. "Without horse fighting it wouldn't feel like a new year," said Pan Jianming, whose horse Little Black reared-up on its hind legs and bit its opponent's neck to scoop victory in a competition this weekend.
For the residents of Tiantou, a remote village in the Guangxi
region, the 500-year-old tradition which pits male horses against each
other in a fight over a female was the only way to kick off the Lunar
New Year.
"Without horse fighting it wouldn't feel like a new year," said
Pan Jianming, whose horse Little Black reared-up on its hind legs and
bit its opponent's neck to scoop victory in a competition this weekend.
"He stood up and hit the other horse straight away," Pan, a 31-year-old air conditioner repairman, said."He stood up and hit the other horse straight away," Pan, a 31-year-old air conditioner repairman, said.
"If he likes the female horse, it doesn't matter how much pain "If he likes the female horse, it doesn't matter how much pain he's in, he won't run away," he added, his black and white shirt stained with blood which dripped from a gash on his horse's nose.
he's in, he won't run away," he added, his black and white shirt stained "We have medicine to treat his injuries, and he will gradually get better," added Pan, who claimed a champion's prize of 500 yuan ($80).
with blood which dripped from a gash on his horse's nose. Fifteen animals fought in bouts which saw horses jump into the air with their front hooves spinning before crashing down on their opponents and biting their head or neck, sometimes drawing hair and blood.
"We have medicine to treat his injuries, and he will gradually Horse fighting competitions held by the Miao – an ethnic group living in mountain areas of southern China and southeast Asia – date back more than five centuries, according to locals.
get better," added Pan, who claimed a champion's prize of 500 yuan
($80).
Fifteen animals fought in bouts which saw horses jump into the
air with their front hooves spinning before crashing down on their
opponents and biting their head or neck, sometimes drawing hair and
blood.
Horse fighting competitions held by the Miao – an ethnic group
living in mountain areas of southern China and southeast Asia – date
back more than five centuries, according to locals.
The first battle is said to have been held to settle a dispute between two brothers who both hoped to marry the same woman.The first battle is said to have been held to settle a dispute between two brothers who both hoped to marry the same woman.
But the fights, held in dozens of small mountain villages in southern China every year with prizes of up to 10,000 yuan, have been But the fights, held in dozens of small mountain villages in southern China every year with prizes of up to 10,000 yuan, have been condemned by animal rights groups.
condemned by animal rights groups. In 2010, Hong-Kong based Animals Asia called horse-fighting a "horrific spectacle", accusing the scraps of causing "abuse and suffering to animals in the name of entertainment".
In 2010, Hong-Kong based Animals Asia called horse-fighting a The stallions are encouraged to fight by the presence of a female horse, who is kept metres away from the clashing pairs by a villager armed with little more than a stick.
"horrific spectacle", accusing the scraps of causing "abuse and
suffering to animals in the name of entertainment".
The stallions are encouraged to fight by the presence of a female
horse, who is kept metres away from the clashing pairs by a villager
armed with little more than a stick.
The horse which successfully defends its position close to the female is declared the winner.The horse which successfully defends its position close to the female is declared the winner.
Animals Asia has said the female horses are sometimes "induced into season through the injection of hormones".Animals Asia has said the female horses are sometimes "induced into season through the injection of hormones".
In Tiantou, hundreds of spectators gathered just metres away from In Tiantou, hundreds of spectators gathered just metres away from the battling equines - without any barriers separating them from the action.
the battling equines - without any barriers separating them from the The animals squared up to each other like boxers before unleashing a flurry of backwards-directed kicks and bites. Most did not appear to sustain any visible injuries.
action.
The animals squared up to each other like boxers before
unleashing a flurry of backwards-directed kicks and bites. Most did not
appear to sustain any visible injuries.
Onlookers scrambled to escape when pairs of bucking mares periodically galloped towards them.Onlookers scrambled to escape when pairs of bucking mares periodically galloped towards them.
Others shouted: "Fight, Fight!" as the animals clashed but most insisted the contest was not cruel.Others shouted: "Fight, Fight!" as the animals clashed but most insisted the contest was not cruel.
"Sometimes the horses will be injured but it won't be very "Sometimes the horses will be injured but it won't be very serious, they have thick skin," said Di Zhai, a 16-year-old spectator. "
serious, they have thick skin," said Di Zhai, a 16-year-old spectator. " Some travellers from Chinese cities, which have seen a rise in concern for animal welfare in recent years alongside a growth in pet-ownership, seemed more concerned.
Some travellers from Chinese cities, which have seen a rise in "It's horrible to see the horses get injured, I don't like to watch," said 14-year-old Ma Jiasui, who had travelled to the village from a nearby province as part of a tourist group.
concern for animal welfare in recent years alongside a growth in
pet-ownership, seemed more concerned.
"It's horrible to see the horses get injured, I don't like to
watch," said 14-year-old Ma Jiasui, who had travelled to the village
from a nearby province as part of a tourist group.
However, she added: "It's the Year of the Horse, and my surname means horse, so its special to see horse fighting this year."However, she added: "It's the Year of the Horse, and my surname means horse, so its special to see horse fighting this year."
The contests are held year-round but peak following the start of The contests are held year-round but peak following the start of the Lunar New Year - the most important annual festival in China, which fell on Friday.
the Lunar New Year - the most important annual festival in China, which
fell on Friday.