'We know the world frowns but it's an ancient tradition': Chinese ignore critics to pitch horses into battle at annual festival



Driven mad by lust these two stallions are savagely pitted against each other infront of thousands of spectators.

The result is a bloody fight to the death with biting, kicking and rearing injuries killing some, while other horses simply drop dead from exhaustion.

Officials at the festival in Luizhou, in south China's Guangxi Zhuang region, have resisted pressure from animal rights groups to stop the event, which is opened by priests.

Bloody battle: These two horses were primed for their fight by an in season mare being paraded infront of them for days, driving them wild with lust

They say it is an ancient tradition dating back 500 years with owners training their stallions for months in advance.

Both stallions are first driven mad with lust by an in season mare parading in front of them.

They are then pushed into a pen and must fight for the right to breed with her in front of the baying mob.

Barbaric: These two horses fight to the death as thousands watch in southern China

Crowds: Thousands watch as the two horses viciously fight to the death, for entertainment

'We know the world frowns on this but for us it is an ancient tradition,' said one spectator.

This year families watched as a grey stallion tried to fights back, biting out the eyes of the chestnut stallion, but collapses in exhaustion only to be mounted by the confused victor.

And overlooking the bloody showdown, families with children laugh at the result as they gather on the hillside for a grandstand view.

'We will not stop these contests because they are part of our culture,' said one trainer.

Decorative dress: Although the horse festival is celebrated, animal rights campaigners have branded it 'barbaric'

While the 'sport' of horse fighting is enjoyed throughout China, it has been labelled 'barbaric' and 'bloodthirsty' by animal rights campaigners.

A spokesperson for PETA said: 'Torturing these magnificent animals in the name of entertainment is deplorable. Tradition never justifies cruelty and has no place in a civilised society.'