Footage of a Maltese man whipping a horse in the face with a riding stick has been posted online by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. PETA said the disturbing video was shot in Mosta.
The footage shows a man, whose face is visible towards the end of the clip, beating the tethered horse five times in the face with a dressage whip while loud music plays in the background. The horse tries to avoid the whip but is barely able to move in the small stable.
The international organisation said it had reported the case to the Maltese authorities but nothing was done. It said it is calling on officials in Malta to take the crime seriously and to remove the horse from the abuser's custody immediately.
When contacted by The Malta Independent, an Animal Welfare Directorate official said the directorate was aware of the case well before the footage was published online by PETA and action is being taken.
It is understood that the police have been handed a copy of the footage and are actively investigating the case. This paper understands, however, that the case is a difficult one because the person who filmed the incident, a relative of the man, had had a change of heart and did not want to testify.
In a statement this afternoon, Animal Rights Parliamentary Secretary Roderick Galdes confirmed that the case was being investigated and said the competent authorities had taken immediate action upon being informed of the case.