After the horse collapsed on a busy road in the capital of Andalusia on Wednesday, bystanders rushed to the rescue who tried to give the animal water, but that was in vain.
“The coachmen got hold of another horse and continued the ride in front of the police who, although there was a complaint, made no attempt to revoke their license,” said Carlos Moreno, coordinator of a local bird protection organization. His colleague captured footage of the incident.
The second horse also showed signs of dehydration, but still had to work, Moreno added.
The autopsy revealed that the mare suffered from a tick-borne blood disease, which was exacerbated by dehydration during the abnormally high temperatures, Seville emergency services said. The owner knew the animal was sick, but forced it to work anyway, the police report says.
The emergency services report in a message on Instagram that an investigation has been launched into the owner of the horses for animal abuse.
Seville is currently hosting the April Feasts, a festival that takes place every year for a week in April. It is estimated that the festivities attracted around 500,000 visitors last year.
The heat wave in Spain is currently reaching a peak and the city is deploying extra healthcare workers to care for patients with dehydration symptoms during the festival.