Heartbreaking: Shocking moment matador abandons his stricken blindfolded horse as it is gored by an angry bull

SPAIN -- This is the terrible moment a horse was seriously injured during a bullfight after it was gored by the rampaging animal.

As the bull charged, the matador tried to stab it in the back with a spear but the bull continued its run, dropped its head and hit it in the barrel.

The matador tried to hang on to his horse as the animal fell onto its side. The horse reared up, and was struck a second and a third time by the bull which had to be lured away from the scene.

The shocking incident happened at the Corrida de Toros in Valencia, Spain. 

However, on this occasion, the picador was too slow allowing the bull a side-on attack.

Fans paid between €12 and €120 to attend the show.

Eventually the horse stands upright and is able to slowly stagger from the arena with a heavy limp caused during the encounter with the bull
Bullfighting has been banned around Barcelona and has reduced in popularity in recent years. A recent opinion poll found that almost three quarters of Spanish people dislike the sport. 

(Daily Mail - July 28, 2014)