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.

A horse smiles at the camera. See the beautiful images of horses gleefully playing in Iceland mountain ranges. The horses have been spotted smiling and cuddling in remote locations across the nation. (Photo by Bragi J. Ingibergsson/Caters News)

Gold medalists Kikkan Randall and Jessica Diggins of the United States dancing during the medal ceremony for Cross-Country Skiing – Ladies' Team Sprint Free on day 13 of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Medal Plaza on February 22, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Eric Gaillard/Reuters)

US President Donald Trump' s daughter and senior White House adviser Ivanka Trump (2nd R) poses for a photo on a balcony of the VIP tent at the Olympic sliding centre with US army luge athletes Taylor Morris (L) and Matt Mortensen (2nd L), and US women’s bobsleigh silver medallist Lauren Gibbs (R) before the ski jump tower at the men' s four- man bobsleigh event of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic games in Pyeongchang on February 25, 2018. (Photo by Eric Gaillard/Reuters)

An Andalusian horsewoman waits for the animal to drink water before a classical dressage contest during the Sacab Andalusian Horse Show in Coin, southern Spain, April 12, 2015. (Photo by Jon Nazca/Reuters)

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)

A Nepalese army solder stand next to a horse during the “Ghodejatra” Horse Race festival, which is organised by the Nepal Army, in Kathmandu, Nepal, April 7, 2016. Ghode Jatra, the horse racing festival of Nepal, celebrated on the New Moon day of mid March or early April is among the important celebrations of the Kathmandu Valley. Grand horse parade including various acrobatic style of shows are performed by Nepal military at Tundikhel-a fenced parade ground located in the heart of Kathmandu city. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

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)