Animal rights groups express concern for viral horse tied to moving pickup truck

Netizens and animal rights groups expressed concern after a video showed a horse that appeared to be getting dragged by a moving pickup truck in Gingoog, Misamis Oriental. 

But in Kim Atienza's "Kuya Kim, Ano Na?" segment on "24 Oras" on Wednesday, the driver of the vehicle, who is also the owner of the horse, said that it was just part of "training." 

"He's very alive at walang any injury ang kabayo," said Jose Castro Jr., dispelling the rumors that his horse "Kabang" died following the viral video. 

("He's very alive and the horse doesn't have any injuries.") 

"Kabang is already a third-generation horse. Sobrang close ko sa kabayo na 'yan, kasi sa akin 'yan mula bata hanggang ngayon," Castro added. 

("Kabang is already a third-generation horse. I am very close to that horse because he has been with me from the time he was young until now.") 

Castro said that "Kabang" is already around three to four years old and is ready to undergo training. 

"So ideal time na talaga para mag-training. Tapos na kasi siya sa training sa riding. Ngayon, tine-test ko naman 'yung endurance niya and 'yung familiarity niya sa road," he said. 

("So it really is the ideal time for training. He is already finished with riding training. Now, I am testing his endurance and his familiarity with the road.")

"Slowly, ini-introduce mo sila sa daan para hindi sila magulat. Nilalakad mo and until such time na nilalagay ko sa moving vehicle. Pero, of course, with maximum care," Castro also said, adding that horses can move at a maximum speed of 71 kilometers per hour and travel at a maximum of 120 kilometers per day. 

("Slowly, you introduce them to the road so they don't get startled. You walk them until such time that I [lead them with] a moving vehicle. But, of course, with maximum care.")

Castro also said that in the viral video, he was driving at between 10 to 20 kilometers per hour while checking the horse's condition.

Further, in the video where "Kabang" was seen lying on the ground, Castro said that his horse was just resting.

"Ang nangyari is humiga 'yung kabayo. Nagpahinga. Ang kabayo lang talaga isa sa resting position nila eh para talagang patay kung tingnan mo," he said, adding that it was "taken out of context." 

("What happened was the horse laid down. He rested. One of the actual resting positions of a horse really makes them look like they are dead if you look at them.")

However, animal welfare group PETA said that what Castro did to "Kabang" can be considered as a form of abuse.

"Towards the end of the video makikita natin na nag-collapse talaga 'yung kabayo and it's very obvious it is from exhaustion," said PETA Senior Campaigner Jana Sevilla.

("Towards the end of the video, we can see that the horse really collapsed, and it's very obvious it is from exhaustion.") 

"Cruel ba to na maituturing? Yes, kasi hindi naman natin dapat pinapagod ng ganyan yung mga kabayo. Hindi natin sila dapat tinitignan bilang isang tila para bang isang makina. Ang mga kabayo ay mga gentle animals, very sensitive," she added. 

("Can this be considered cruel? Yes, because we shouldn't exhaust horses like that. We shouldn't view them as if they are some kind of machine. Horses are gentle animals, very sensitive.") 

Likewise, a veterinarian said that lying on the ground is a sign of exhaustion. 

"'Yung kanyang paghilata dun sa ah road is a really sign of exhaustion. Hindi normal 'yung reaction ng kabayo, kasi ah in a normal setting ng training, pinagi-standby sila, standing position and resting position talaga," said Glenn Almera.  

("His lying flat on the road is a real sign of exhaustion. The horse's reaction isn't normal because, in a normal training setting, they are made to standby—it's really a standing position and a resting position.") 

But Castro maintained that there was no abuse that happened. 

"If they think there is an abuse then they have all the right to do that. Kilala ko ang kabayo ko and alam ko kung ano 'yung capacity niya," he said.

("If they think there is abuse, then they have every right to [feel] that. I know my horse and I know what his capacity is.")

"You have to be careful what you read and what you see on social media. Fact-check lang talaga before kayo maniwala." 

("You have to be careful about what you read and what you see on social media. Just fact-check before you believe [it].")

Meanwhile, horse fighting remains part of tradition for some tribes in the country despite being a violation of the Animal Welfare Act. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/MGP, GMA Integrated News