Karozzin Driver Whose Collapsed Horse Went Viral Says It Simply Slipped On A Patch Of Oil
A photo of a karozzin horse on its side by the Porte des Bombes tunnel in Floriana made the rounds on social media this weekend, with reports suggesting it had collapsed out of heat exhaustion.
However, the karozzin driver has insisted this was not the case and that his horse had merely slipped on a patch of oil.
“I am disappointed that, instead of helping me get the horse back on its feet, people decided to make the situation even more difficult,” the unidentified driver told TVM.
On Saturday, Jop Houtman Camara posted the photos of the incident in a Facebook post and urged people to protest against karozzini.
“A friend and I witnessed this poor, exhausted horse lying on the ground today,” he said. “The ‘driver’ tried to force the hose to stand up but it couldn’t. It was probably dehydrated after standing in the burning sun for hours without water. To all freaking tourists who think it’s fun to ride a horse and carriage when it’s 35 degrees, you should think twice!”
Animal Liberation Malta and Vegan Malta are organising a protest at Triton Fountain, Valletta, on Saturday to call for a ban on karozzini.
“Animals are not our to use and exploit, and this unhealthy, abnormal and cruel tradition has to end, one day or another,” the event page reads. “The constant exposure to traffic, noise and pollution; the long hours of standing and walking on hard surfaces; the hard labor under sometimes extreme weather conditions such as very high island temperature; the high probability of accidents to both humans and horses which have and still happen in Malta; and lack of pasture, shade and water access are not consistent with the owners’ responsibility to provide high-quality, long-term care for the horses.”
Should Malta ban karozzini?
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