Horse-ripping
Encyclopedia
Horse-ripping, or horse slashing, is an animal cruelty phenomenon involving serious injuries in horse
s, often involving mutilation of their genitalia and slashing of the flank or neck. It has not been established, however, how often these injuries are caused by human cruelty. "Horse-ripping" is not an entirely neutral term since it implies there is always a human act behind the mutilations.
between 1992 and 1998.
It has become a widespread belief in recent years that these attacks are carried out deliberately by people, and generally sexually motivated. Animal welfare
officers have also drawn links between attacks on horses and 'fertility cults'. At least one case initially believed to be horse-ripping was later shown to have been caused by another horse.
Convictions are rare, though a man has been convicted in the Netherlands
for a large number of such attacks on horses and ponies, along with the murder of a homeless person and the attempted murder
of several other humans.
Horse-ripping, which is regarded as pathological, is distinguished from castration
of male animals, which is regarded as a normal pastoral practice.
In Great Wyrley
, England, during the Edwardian period George Edalji
was wrongly convicted of horse ripping. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
, author of the Sherlock Holmes
series, defended Edalji.
, primarily a US
phenomenon, UFOs, cult
s and animal cruelty have been blamed, but research showed there were natural or indecisive causes in the vast majority of cases.
Media and the public often regard all incidents of horses being found injured as resulting from human acts, even if it has not been proven that the causes are non-natural. For this reason, skeptics
would claim that the concept should partially be analysed by terms of mass psychology and might qualify as a moral panic
phenomenon. However, it would be agreed that true cases of human-inflicted mutilation are a pathological or criminal phenomenon.
was accused of animal cruelty.
The play Equus
from 1973 elaborates the psychology of a young horse mutilator. Based on the play, the film Equus
was produced in 1977.
In Dostoyevsky's novel Crime and Punishment
, the protagonist Raskolnikov has a dream about a mare
being whipped and eventually bludgeoned to death with an iron bar by a drunken man, while a large crowd encourages and helps him.
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
s, often involving mutilation of their genitalia and slashing of the flank or neck. It has not been established, however, how often these injuries are caused by human cruelty. "Horse-ripping" is not an entirely neutral term since it implies there is always a human act behind the mutilations.
Incidents
There were 160 reported incidents in Britain between 1983 and 1993, and 300 incidents in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
between 1992 and 1998.
It has become a widespread belief in recent years that these attacks are carried out deliberately by people, and generally sexually motivated. Animal welfare
Animal welfare
Animal welfare is the physical and psychological well-being of animals.The term animal welfare can also mean human concern for animal welfare or a position in a debate on animal ethics and animal rights...
officers have also drawn links between attacks on horses and 'fertility cults'. At least one case initially believed to be horse-ripping was later shown to have been caused by another horse.
Convictions are rare, though a man has been convicted in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
for a large number of such attacks on horses and ponies, along with the murder of a homeless person and the attempted murder
Attempted murder
Attempted murder is a crime in England and Wales and Northern Ireland.-Today:In English criminal law, attempted murder is the crime of more than merely preparing to commit unlawful killing and at the same time having a specific intention to cause the death of human being under the Queen's Peace...
of several other humans.
Horse-ripping, which is regarded as pathological, is distinguished from castration
Castration
Castration is any action, surgical, chemical, or otherwise, by which a male loses the functions of the testicles or a female loses the functions of the ovaries.-Humans:...
of male animals, which is regarded as a normal pastoral practice.
In Great Wyrley
Great Wyrley
Great Wyrley is a parish and town in South Staffordshire, England, with a population of 11,236 at the 2001 census.-Etymology:The word "Wyrley" derives from two Old English words: wir and leah. Wir meant "bog myrtle," and leah meant "woodland clearing," suggesting that Great Wyrley was, at genesis,...
, England, during the Edwardian period George Edalji
George Edalji
George Ernest Thompson Edalji was a solicitor from the West Midlands who became world-famous in 1907 when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle campaigned to have him declared innocent of maliciously wounding a pony in 1903....
was wrongly convicted of horse ripping. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle DL was a Scottish physician and writer, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, generally considered a milestone in the field of crime fiction, and for the adventures of Professor Challenger...
, author of the Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
series, defended Edalji.
Critique
Investigations have shown it doubtful whether all 'horse-ripping' incidents can be ascribed to human acts. For the similar cattle mutilationCattle mutilation
Cattle mutilation is the apparent killing and mutilation of cattle under unusual or anomalous circumstances...
, primarily a US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
phenomenon, UFOs, cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
s and animal cruelty have been blamed, but research showed there were natural or indecisive causes in the vast majority of cases.
Media and the public often regard all incidents of horses being found injured as resulting from human acts, even if it has not been proven that the causes are non-natural. For this reason, skeptics
Skepticism
Skepticism has many definitions, but generally refers to any questioning attitude towards knowledge, facts, or opinions/beliefs stated as facts, or doubt regarding claims that are taken for granted elsewhere...
would claim that the concept should partially be analysed by terms of mass psychology and might qualify as a moral panic
Moral panic
A moral panic is the intensity of feeling expressed in a population about an issue that appears to threaten the social order. According to Stanley Cohen, author of Folk Devils and Moral Panics and credited creator of the term, a moral panic occurs when "[a] condition, episode, person or group of...
phenomenon. However, it would be agreed that true cases of human-inflicted mutilation are a pathological or criminal phenomenon.
In literature
The short story Romulus (1883) by the Danish author Karl Gjellerup features cruelty to a noble race horse. The story was inspired by a contemporary case where the Royal ChamberlainChamberlain (office)
A chamberlain is an officer in charge of managing a household. In many countries there are ceremonial posts associated with the household of the sovereign....
was accused of animal cruelty.
The play Equus
Equus (play)
Equus is a play by Peter Shaffer written in 1973, telling the story of a psychiatrist who attempts to treat a young man who has a pathological religious fascination with horses....
from 1973 elaborates the psychology of a young horse mutilator. Based on the play, the film Equus
Equus (film)
Equus is a 1977 British-American drama film directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Richard Burton. Peter Shaffer wrote the screenplay based on his play Equus...
was produced in 1977.
In Dostoyevsky's novel Crime and Punishment
Crime and Punishment
Crime and Punishment is a novel by the Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky. It was first published in the literary journal The Russian Messenger in twelve monthly installments during 1866. It was later published in a single volume. This is the second of Dostoyevsky's full-length novels following his...
, the protagonist Raskolnikov has a dream about a mare
Mare
Female horses are called mares.Mare is the Latin word for "sea".The word may also refer to:-People:* Ahmed Marzooq, also known as Mare, a footballer and Secretary General of Maldives Olympic Committee* Mare Winningham, American actress and singer...
being whipped and eventually bludgeoned to death with an iron bar by a drunken man, while a large crowd encourages and helps him.
Further reading
- Schedel-Stupperich A. Criminal acts against horses--phenomenology and psychosocial construct Dtsch Tierarztl Wochenschr. March 2002;109(3):116-9. (in German)
- Yates, RogerRoger YatesRoger Yates is a lecturer in sociology at University College Dublin and the University of Wales, specializing in animal rights...
; Powell, Chris; and Beirne, Piers. Horse Maiming in the English Countryside, Society and Animals, 9:1, 2001.