My neighbours have recently bought a splendid new Sussex bull. He has much to live up to having been named Sinatra!
He is a splendid chap who was, when I dropped by, contentedly keeping an eye on the cows with whom he will shortly become better acquainted, once they are turned out for the summer. Sinatra will live a charmed stress free life along with his harem, in the heart of Sussex. Had he been born in Spain things could have turned out somewhat differently.
There for unknown reasons it is considered acceptable to watch harmless bulls being hacked to death, for entertainment. It seems hard to believe that in this so-called civilised age, this cruel spectacle continues to flourish.
Bullfighting has a very glorified public image in Spain. It is presented as a contest between the ‘brave’ matador, who boldly risks life and limb to tackle a mad ferocious beast. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Just imagine if the South of England Agricultural Show, in a bid to boost numbers attending, had ‘Bull Fighting’ as its main attraction this year, and Sinatra was one of the bulls being prepared to entertain the public.
Instead of spending his days calmly grazing amongst the buttercups and his cows, he would be horrendously abused during the weeks running up to the show, and would arrive at Ardingly, not as a normal healthy bull, but weakened, half-blinded and mentally destroyed. His chances of harming his tormentors would be virtually nil.
If prepared as they do in Spain, his ears would be stuffed with wet newspaper, and Vaseline would rubbed into their eyes. A strong caustic solution would be applied to his legs to throw him off balance, and a needle stuck into his genitals.
He may also have been given strong laxatives in his feed to weaken him, and have drugs administered to pep him up or slow him down.
He would be kept in a dark box for the last few days before facing his adversary in the ring to disorientate him. And, when he is let out he will run desperately towards the light where he thinks his suffering will end – instead, he runs into the ring to face his killers and a jeering mob.
The Picadors on horseback will aim to exhaust him, by cutting into his neck muscles with a pica, leaving a large wound, which will start the process of him bleeding to death. Then the Assistant Matadors will plunge harpoon-like banderillos into his sides, causing him to bellow in pain.
Finally the Matador will approach the exhausted and terrified Sinatra who in agony is probably now on his knees. But before landing the fatal blow, his ears and tail will be cut off, possibly when he is still fully conscious.
Finally his broken bleeding body will be dragged around the arena by donkeys allowing the frenzied crowd to jeer and boo this once mighty gentle beast.
Without question the Ardingly crowds would not be cheering the Matador, they will be appalled and deeply traumatised.
The police and RSPCA would be summoned, the showground closed down, an enquiry opened and without doubt the chairman, staff and those involved in staging this cruel spectacle, would quite rightly, be locked up and the keys thrown away.
Why is this brutal ‘sport’, allowed to take place in Spain and other so called, civilised countries? It is not just the bulls which suffer, but also hundreds of horses endure long agonising deaths as they are gored by the pain-crazed bulls. They too have their ears stuffed with wet newspaper, they are blindfolded, and have their vocal chords cut so they are unable to scream in pain.
It is not uncommon for them to fall over their own entrails when they have been gored, only to be led out of the ring to be crudely stitched up before being sent back in again.
The excuse is that bull fighting is ‘part of their culture’. Can this vile and barbaric ‘entertainment’ be acceptable in the 21st century?
He is a splendid chap who was, when I dropped by, contentedly keeping an eye on the cows with whom he will shortly become better acquainted, once they are turned out for the summer. Sinatra will live a charmed stress free life along with his harem, in the heart of Sussex. Had he been born in Spain things could have turned out somewhat differently.
There for unknown reasons it is considered acceptable to watch harmless bulls being hacked to death, for entertainment. It seems hard to believe that in this so-called civilised age, this cruel spectacle continues to flourish.
Bullfighting has a very glorified public image in Spain. It is presented as a contest between the ‘brave’ matador, who boldly risks life and limb to tackle a mad ferocious beast. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Just imagine if the South of England Agricultural Show, in a bid to boost numbers attending, had ‘Bull Fighting’ as its main attraction this year, and Sinatra was one of the bulls being prepared to entertain the public.
Instead of spending his days calmly grazing amongst the buttercups and his cows, he would be horrendously abused during the weeks running up to the show, and would arrive at Ardingly, not as a normal healthy bull, but weakened, half-blinded and mentally destroyed. His chances of harming his tormentors would be virtually nil.
If prepared as they do in Spain, his ears would be stuffed with wet newspaper, and Vaseline would rubbed into their eyes. A strong caustic solution would be applied to his legs to throw him off balance, and a needle stuck into his genitals.
He may also have been given strong laxatives in his feed to weaken him, and have drugs administered to pep him up or slow him down.
He would be kept in a dark box for the last few days before facing his adversary in the ring to disorientate him. And, when he is let out he will run desperately towards the light where he thinks his suffering will end – instead, he runs into the ring to face his killers and a jeering mob.
The Picadors on horseback will aim to exhaust him, by cutting into his neck muscles with a pica, leaving a large wound, which will start the process of him bleeding to death. Then the Assistant Matadors will plunge harpoon-like banderillos into his sides, causing him to bellow in pain.
Finally the Matador will approach the exhausted and terrified Sinatra who in agony is probably now on his knees. But before landing the fatal blow, his ears and tail will be cut off, possibly when he is still fully conscious.
Finally his broken bleeding body will be dragged around the arena by donkeys allowing the frenzied crowd to jeer and boo this once mighty gentle beast.
Without question the Ardingly crowds would not be cheering the Matador, they will be appalled and deeply traumatised.
The police and RSPCA would be summoned, the showground closed down, an enquiry opened and without doubt the chairman, staff and those involved in staging this cruel spectacle, would quite rightly, be locked up and the keys thrown away.
Why is this brutal ‘sport’, allowed to take place in Spain and other so called, civilised countries? It is not just the bulls which suffer, but also hundreds of horses endure long agonising deaths as they are gored by the pain-crazed bulls. They too have their ears stuffed with wet newspaper, they are blindfolded, and have their vocal chords cut so they are unable to scream in pain.
It is not uncommon for them to fall over their own entrails when they have been gored, only to be led out of the ring to be crudely stitched up before being sent back in again.
The excuse is that bull fighting is ‘part of their culture’. Can this vile and barbaric ‘entertainment’ be acceptable in the 21st century?
RSS Feed