Inside the brutal world of horse fighting

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Illegal Sport Of Horse Fighting Features At Southern Philippines Festival

Participants prepare their horse before a fight during the Seslong festival in T’boli, Philippines, on Monday. Horse fighting pits two stallions against each other during mating season, forcing them to fight until retreat or death over a mare in heat. Despite laws enacted in 1998 that ban the sport, many communities, particularly on the island of Mindanao, still participate in the long-time tradition. Getty Images

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T’BOLI, PHILIPPINES – MARCH 10: Villagers place bets before two stallions fight during the Seslong festival on March 10, 2014 in T’boli town, Philippines. The sport of horse-fighting pits two… Getty Images

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T’BOLI, PHILIPPINES – MARCH 10: Two stallions fight during the Seslong festival on March 10, 2014 in T’boli town, Philippines. The sport of horse-fighting pits two stallions against each other… Getty Images

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T’BOLI, PHILIPPINES – MARCH 10: Villagers watch a horse fight during the Seslong festival on March 10, 2014 in T’boli town, Philippines. The sport of horse-fighting pits two stallions against… Getty Images

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T’BOLI, PHILIPPINES – MARCH 10: Villagers watch a horse fight during the Seslong festival on March 10, 2014 in T’boli town, Philippines. The sport of horse-fighting pits two stallions against… Getty Images

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T’BOLI, PHILIPPINES – MARCH 10: Two stallions fight during the Seslong festival on March 10, 2014 in T’boli town, Philippines. The sport of horse-fighting pits two stallions against each other… Getty Images

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T’BOLI, PHILIPPINES – MARCH 10: Two stallions fight during the Seslong festival on March 10, 2014 in T’boli town, Philippines. The sport of horse-fighting pits two stallions against each other… Getty Images

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T’BOLI, PHILIPPINES – MARCH 10: Villagers watch a horse fight during the Seslong festival on March 10, 2014 in T’boli town, Philippines. The sport of horse-fighting pits two stallions against… Getty Images

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T’BOLI, PHILIPPINES – MARCH 10: Villagers watch a horse fight during the Seslong festival on March 10, 2014 in T’boli town, Philippines. The sport of horse-fighting pits two stallions against… Getty Images

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T’BOLI, PHILIPPINES – MARCH 10: Participants prepare their horse before a fight during the Seslong festival on March 10, 2014 in T’boli town, Philippines. The sport of horse-fighting pits two… Getty Images

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T’BOLI, PHILIPPINES – MARCH 10: Two stallions run in the arena as they fight during the Seslong festival on March 10, 2014 in T’boli town, Philippines. The sport of horse-fighting… Getty Images

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T’BOLI, PHILIPPINES – MARCH 10: Two stallions fight during the Seslong festival on March 10, 2014 in T’boli town, Philippines. The sport of horse-fighting pits two stallions against each other… Getty Images

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T’BOLI, PHILIPPINES – MARCH 10: Two stallions fight during the Seslong festival on March 10, 2014 in T’boli town, Philippines. The sport of horse-fighting pits two stallions against each other… Getty Images

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T’BOLI, PHILIPPINES – MARCH 10: Two stallions fight during the Seslong festival on March 10, 2014 in T’boli town, Philippines. The sport of horse-fighting pits two stallions against each other… Getty Images

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T’BOLI, PHILIPPINES – MARCH 10: Villagers watch a horse fight during the Seslong festival on March 10, 2014 in T’boli town, Philippines. The sport of horse-fighting pits two stallions against… Getty Images

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T’BOLI, PHILIPPINES – MARCH 10: Two stallions fight during the Seslong festival on March 10, 2014 in T’boli town, Philippines. The sport of horse-fighting pits two stallions against each other… Getty Images

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T’BOLI, PHILIPPINES – MARCH 10: Two stallions fight during the Seslong festival on March 10, 2014 in T’boli town, Philippines. The sport of horse-fighting pits two stallions against each other… Getty Images

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T’BOLI, PHILIPPINES – MARCH 10: Two stallions fight during the Seslong festival on March 10, 2014 in T’boli town, Philippines. The sport of horse-fighting pits two stallions against each other… Getty Images

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T’BOLI, PHILIPPINES – MARCH 10: Villagers watch a horse fight during the Seslong festival on March 10, 2014 in T’boli town, Philippines. The sport of horse-fighting pits two stallions against… Getty Images

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T’BOLI, PHILIPPINES – MARCH 10: Villagers watch a horse fight during the Seslong festival on March 10, 2014 in T’boli town, Philippines. The sport of horse-fighting pits two stallions against… Getty Images

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T’BOLI, PHILIPPINES – MARCH 10: A female stallion seen in the arena before a horse fight during the Seslong festival on March 10, 2014 in T’boli town, Philippines. The sport… Getty Images

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T’BOLI, PHILIPPINES – MARCH 10: Villagers watch a horse fight during the Seslong festival on March 10, 2014 in T’boli town, Philippines. The sport of horse-fighting pits two stallions against… Getty Images

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T’BOLI, PHILIPPINES – MARCH 10: Villagers watch a horse fight during the Seslong festival on March 10, 2014 in T’boli town, Philippines. The sport of horse-fighting pits two stallions against… Getty Images

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T’BOLI, PHILIPPINES – MARCH 10: Villagers watch a horse fight during the Seslong festival on March 10, 2014 in T’boli town, Philippines. The sport of horse-fighting pits two stallions against… Getty Images

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T’BOLI, PHILIPPINES – MARCH 10: Villagers watch a horse fight during the Seslong festival on March 10, 2014 in T’boli town, Philippines. The sport of horse-fighting pits two stallions against… Getty Images