A horse-drawn carriage driver in Palma de Mallorca became the subject of an investigation after a heated exchange with a tourist who offered water to his horse on a day when temperatures reached approximately 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
The incident, captured on video and shared on Instagram on August 28, shows German tourist Xenia Denise approaching the driver. Denise stated that she observed the horse appearing "emaciated" and "thirsty" and inquired if the driver could give it water. Instead, the driver reportedly reacted with anger, verbally abusing Denise in a mix of German, English, and Spanish, and making derogatory comments about her appearance.
Denise alleged that the driver also physically touched her face. The video shows the driver splashing water onto Denise. She later urged others not to give money to carriage drivers, describing them as "animal abusers" and calling for an end to such practices.
The Palma de Mallorca City Council has initiated an investigation into the incident. Animal rights organization Progreso en Verde has called for the driver's license to be revoked and intends to pursue legal action for alleged assault, harassment, and incitement to hatred. The group's president, Guillermo Amengual, claimed that numerous women have reported similar verbal abuse after complaining about the treatment of carriage horses.
However, the carriage drivers' association has offered a different perspective, alleging that Denise's group insulted the driver before the filming began, using terms such as "gitano," which means Gypsy.
This event has drawn parallels to efforts in other cities to ban horse-drawn carriages. PETA Germany has launched a petition advocating for the replacement of horse-drawn carriages in Mallorca with animal-free alternatives. The petition references two recent incidents in Palma where carriage horses reportedly collapsed.
