Tortured cart drawing horses of Old Dhaka

I am a volunteer English teacher at IUBAT. For the last two weekends I have enjoyed visits to old Dhaka. As a horse lover and owner of a one back home in Shreveport, LA, USA, however, I could not help note the condition of the horses drawing vehicles in the midst of traffic as I made my way around. One in particular out of many suffering has lodged itself into my memory, a pinto horse, emaciated, his sides heaving with effort; his head lifted high to escape the bit, his withers rubbed to open sores by an uncovered wooden collar and his whole body wet with sweat. First, I am against all horse-drawn vehicles for tourists in all countries. I regularly sign petitions for their ban in my country. I will say I have never seen a horse in such torment as the one I saw in Dhaka this weekend.
Horses are notoriously sensitive to heat. The sweat, the sides heaving, the rolled eyes indicate near heat exhaustion. Second, hard surface gradually breaks down the bones and joints in the legs. Eventually, hairline fractures will occur, shin splints, ossification and arthritis. As this is occurring, the pain is immense.
The horses will be driven, walked, trotted, even galloped until they drop, I assume, and then sent to the meat market. The vehicle itself was piled high with about 15 people, seemingly oblivious to the pain they were instrumental in. I am living this summer near the slum area. I understand other problems exist. I am only writing to make others aware of this terrible phenomenon, and I am working under the belief that compassion is limitless so there is no need to pick and choose its recipients.
Dorie LaRue
Prof. of English
IUBAT, Uttara