# Palma de Mallorca horse-drawn carriage controversy

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/palma-de-mallorca-horse-drawn-carriage-controversy
> Updated: 2026-09-26T10:16:21.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

A dispute in Palma de Mallorca between a German tourist and a carriage driver over the welfare of an exhausted horse has intensified local debates regarding animal rights. The incident, which involved conflicting reports of verbal abuse and provocation, led the animal rights party Progreso en Verde to seek legal action through the Prosecutor’s Office and demand the revocation of the driver’s license.

Following this tension, animal rights organizations including Peta and Anima Naturalis organized a demonstration in central Palma. Protesters are demanding that the Palma City Council accelerate the transition from horse-drawn carriages to electric vehicles. While a previous agreement exists to replace animal traction, activists are calling for a binding timeline and a formal rescue plan for retired horses, citing a recent legal setback where a court overturned regulations intended to restrict carriage use during extreme heat.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-26: Palma protesters demand end to horse-drawn carriages

Animal rights activists protested in Palma, demanding a binding timeline to replace horse-drawn carriages with electric vehicles to prevent animal exploitation and heat-related suffering.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/palma-protesters-demand-end-to-horse-drawn-carriages

### 2026-09-02: Palma de Mallorca carriage driver dispute sparks animal welfare debate

A dispute in Palma de Mallorca between a German tourist attempting to water a horse and a carriage driver has led to legal threats and calls for the driver's license to be revoked.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/palma-de-mallorca-carriage-driver-dispute-sparks-animal-welfare-debate

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Cite as: Palma de Mallorca horse-drawn carriage controversy. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/palma-de-mallorca-horse-drawn-carriage-controversy
