Travellers ride their horse through the river during the Appleby Horse Fair on June 5, 2014 in Appleby, England. The Appleby Horse Fair has existed under the protection of a charter granted by James II since 1685 and is one of the key gathering points for the Romany, gypsy and traveling community. The fair is attended by about 5,000 travellers who come to buy and sell horses. The animals are washed and groomed before being ridden at high speed along the “mad mile” for the viewing of potential buyers. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)

Bosnian men urge their horses to pull logs up a hill during a competition in the Bosnian town of Sokolac 50 kms west of Sarajevo, Bosnia,on Monday, April, 13, 2015. The annual festival celebrates the centuries old tradition of pulling logs honoring the owners of the strongest horses. Owners of the horses gather from all over Bosnia and beyond, and compete in a show of horse strength. (Photo by Amel Emric/AP Photo)

Wojtek Kwiatkowski probably the most famous horse photographer. He is an author and a publisher of books about Arabians breeding all over the world.

Handler Jorge Garcia-Bengochea holds Honor, a miniature therapy horse from Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses, as they visit with patients at the Kravis Children's Hospital at Mount Sinai in the Manhattan borough of New York City, March 16, 2016. Some of the most powerful medicine delivered to young patients at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York on Wednesday came in a package less than 32 inches tall and with a tail. Honor, a 10-month-old colt with Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses, trotted into the hearts of dozens of children and teens being treated at the Manhattan hospital. (Photo by Mike Segar/Reuters)

Tattoo devotee Edyta shows off her body art during The Tattoo Jam Festival on August 5, 2011 in Doncaster, England. The Tattoo Jam Festival is Britain's biggest gathering of tattoo professionals and skin art devotees. The event hosts over 300 artists working in the exhibition hall of Doncaster Racecourse revealing their latest designs and techniques. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Ave, 4 years-old, of the United States, paints on her father's hand during the International Tattoo Convention Bucharest 2016 in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, October 16, 2016. Prominent tattoo artists from across the world displayed their skills in the Romanian capital over the weekend. (Photo by Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo)

It’s a tradition that dates back hundreds of years, where two stallions fight over a female to ring the Chinese new year. And when it’s the Year of the Horse, the fights are considered to be even more significant. They’re held in small villages across southern China and have been condemned by animal rights groups, including Hong-Kong based Animals Asia. But those who participate in the events defend the fights and insist they take care of the animals.