A perturbed reader sent us this photo of two race-horses being ‘exercised’ on the Coast Road, limits of Salina, in December 2009.
The photo was taken through the windscreen of a moving car, which explains the slight distortion caused by light reflection on the perspex surface.
Nonetheless, a closer inspection of the photo (see insets) will reveal that this impromptu ‘race’ violates numerous laws concerning road safety and animal welfare.
For one thing, the jockey on the right can clearly be seen viciously whipping the horse, with his whip-hand raised well above his head. Furthermore, it is clear from the positioning of the horses’ hooves that they are being driven at full gallop on a busy thoroughfare: an activity which poses considerable danger to motorists, and is explicitly forbidden by the Highway Code.
To make matters worse, the area itself is a notorious ‘black spot’ for accidents, as can be attested by the roadside flowers, visible in the photo, commemorating the victim of a fatal motorbike accident on the same spot some years ago.
Commenting on this photo, Malta’s director of Animal Welfare, Dr Mario Spiteri, made it clear that the behaviour it illustrates constitutes unacceptable animal cruelty.
“Horse racing on the roads is illegal from the point of view of road safety,” he told MaltaToday. “From an animal welfare point of view this should not be allowed either, since the tarmac may pose a serious danger to the horses that can easily slip and injure themselves. The use of the whip on the horse in the picture is sheer cruelty and such action is punishable under the Chapter 439 of the Animal Welfare Act.”
According to this law, anyone found guilty of cruelty to animals may face a maximum fine of €46,587.47 (minimum: €232.94), and/or a prison sentence of up to one year.
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