A horse that was part of a jousting competition during the Wiregrass Renaissance Faire
died after accidentally stepping on a piece of a lance that had broken off. According to reports, the joust happened without incident, but afterwards, the horse, named Phantom, stepped on the lance, impaling its femoral artery. Staff tried to save Phantom's life, but were unsuccessful.
Please sign this petition asking the USDA to investigate the use of horses in jousting competitions in order to prevent another untimely death!Knights of Valour is the company that put on the jousting competition. Its owner, Shane Adams, says that this was the first injury to a horse in 25 years of jousting competitions, but admits that "it is one too many."
While this may have been the first physical injury Adams witnessed, it most likely was not the first mental or emotional injury to one of Knights of Valour's horses.
The fact is, when animals are used for human amusement, we are immediately depriving them of the happiness and safety they are afforded by living life in their natural site. Between being held in captivity, being trained to perform a certain way, and traveling in unnatural conditions, the risk of using animals in entertainment is too great.
The USDA needs to get to the bottom of this sad incident. Please sign this petition urging them to investigate now!