Exactly this
Interestingly no mention has been made of the horses forced to partake. The only animal I can think of that can be hit multiple times with a crop in public without any protest being made nor offence committed.
Cruelty is the same whatever the species but that doesn't mean that pests, whether they be rats, foxes, mink etc. don't need to be controlled.
The use of animals for pleasure in a way that causes them distress is always wrong in my opinion. Fox hunting, rat hunting, shooting and horse and...