A mare that collapsed in the sweltering heat on Saturday afternoon did not sustain any serious injuries and there was no sign of animal cruelty, the Animal Welfare Department said on Monday.
The latest case of a horse collapsing on Maltese roads was met with widespread condemnation. A protest is being held on Saturday for the ban of traditional Maltese karozzini. Animal rights activists say that horses should not be used for the amusement of tourists, especially during the hot summer months.
In a statement, the AWD said it had identified the cabby and inspected the mare and the stables where she is kept. The mare was found to be in good medical condition apart from some scrapes sustained in the fall. These wounds were being treated in line with the advice given by vets.
“From the information and evidence seen by the department, as well as the conditions in which the mare is kept, the AWD can conclude that there was no form of animal cruelty, but the accident could have been caused by other unrelated factors,” the department said.
The AWD urged the public to contact it on 1717 in similar cases so that an investigation can start immediately.
It is pertinent to point out that the majority of the people who condemned the accident never implied that the horse was mistreated or kept in inadequate conditions. In fact, most of the criticism was leveled at the way karozzini operate in high temperatures.