Spanish Festival Forces Horses To Jump Through Flames!!!

OMG, this is awful!
Every year on January 16th, residents of a small Spanish village celebrate the festival of San Bartolome de Pinares on the eve of Saint Anthony’s day by riding horses around a race track surrounded by burning bonfires!
In some cases, as you can see above, riders even force their horses over the tops or THROUGH these flames.
Residents claim the controversial ritual brings on the blessings of Saint Anthony and the animals are sanctified or “liberated from all their ills.”
What if their ills are, oh we don’t know, a fear of fire?!
Residents say no one complains about the suffering of horses during the event and cite the hypocrisy of advocates who criticize the treatment of horses in San Bartolome de Pinares but do not criticize horse racing.
We don’t particularly agree with horse racing either, but the sport is slightly more civilized since jockeys aren’t forcing their horse through giant flames!
What do U think about this “celebration”?
[Image via AP Images.]