Takes all sorts.

You don't know what the horse wants.

There are literally hundreds of rituals and ceremonies carried out around the world of which we in the 'civilized' west disapprove.

It doesn't make us right and them wrong.

I have a couple of friends, each own race horses so it´s through them I know a little about them.
I have to disagree agree with you Stuboy ref right and wrong.
Unnecessary suffering to man or beast is wrong.

In general terms - here on this thread and elsewhere - many Brits and others are concerned about the suffering of our fellow creatures. Very laudable too. But this must be a modern idea, to imagine and concern oneself for the feelings of other humans and animals (of course, with the Brits, it's animals first and then humans). People climbed over each other in the past, with never a thought for anyone else. They still do in nine tenths of the world. We sometimes meet them today, in our modern utopias, and we think of them as psychos. We pray for 'karma' to come and strike them.
But Life and Death are constant and impartial. Don't pretend it doesn't happen.

Empathy...a modern idea

I am assuming that you consider Spain to be part of the civilized West?

Libya, ISIS, Syria and the whole of the Palestinian diaspora cannot be equated to setting live animals on fire. I don't think anyone feels that the Arabs are in it for the fun

That such a barbaric atrocity can be put on for 'entertainment' and pleasure brings shame to the nation.

I don't quite know who the 'us and them' are but anyone with an ounce of decency is not going to bandy about the word "culture" to excuse this revolting and reprehensible Behaviour shame shame shame!