Horses have once again been made to leap and hurtle through fire by human beings as part of an annual religious festival in the name of Spain’s patron saint of animals.
Horses and riders were seen charging through flames several feet high in the streets of Vilanova D’Alcolea, in Castellon, eastern Spain, as part of an annual festival celebrating Saint Antoni.
The saint, canonised more than 790 years ago, is well-loved in Spain, and days-long festivals are held the country in his honour.
Participants believe that horses who leap through the flames of specially constructed bonfires will be purified during the coming year. Organisers claim that the festival dates back some 500 years.
Legend holds that Saint Anthoni was visited by the Devil, dressed as a woman, while he lived in a desert.
Horses and riders were seen charging through flames several feet high in the streets of Vilanova D’Alcolea, in Castellon, eastern Spain
According to the region’s tourism board, the horses are blessed, and a procession begins marching through the streets of the village
Following the procession, a race known as the ‘tropell’ takes place, which sees riders racing their horses without saddles to a finishing line
Keen to avoid temptation, he walked across the burning embers of a fire to distract himself
According to the region’s tourism board, the horses are blessed, and a procession begins marching through the streets of the village.
There, horses and riders are forced to leap over ‘spectacular barriers of fire’ set up along a predetermined route, known as the matxà.
Following the procession, a race known as the ‘tropell’ takes place, which sees riders racing their horses without saddles to a finishing line.
Pastries known as ‘coques’ are give to participants who make it to the finishing line, and the distribution of the pastries are meant to display the strength of each horse and the rider’s skill in handling them.
While local groups have for years defended the practice, rights groups have condemned the festival as animal abuse
A man jumps over the fire during the Matxa portion of it during Saint Antoni festival
The rider with the most coques is given alive chicken as a prize, and a dance is held afterwards.
While local groups have for years defended the practice, rights groups have condemned the festival as animal abuse.
The town’s mayor Maria Jesus Martin Gomez disagreed, previously saying: ‘The only thing I have to say is that the animals don’t suffer anything at all.
He added: ‘The government of Castilla and Leon assign us a vet and the City Hall hires another one, who is making rounds all around the village during the festival.
‘Every year they produce a report which has always been favourable and nothing has ever happened here.’