In Arenys de Munt, a troubling report emerged about L’Espiga’s Natural Equestrian Center, where seven years of alleged abuse cast a shadow over a facility once praised for horse care and training. New testimonies describe a pattern of violations, beatings, and coercive control that persisted without timely government intervention. The center, once perceived as a place for riding lessons and animal welfare, became the focal point of accusations that included coercion and exploitation of adolescents who were drawn into the project under the guise of education and sport.
Another source, closely connected to the center in recent years, recalls how adolescent students aged 12 to 16 were recruited and then offered a place in Luixi’s program. The accounts describe physical punishment, including strikes to the shoulders and pressure on the hips, along with harsh verbal abuse and belittling remarks. A girl was reportedly subjected to stone-throwing during a distressing episode. The behavior raised serious concerns about the safety and well-being of young participants.
Parents were told that L’Espiga was a natural dressage center focused on the health of the horses and the education of their children. Yet testimonies indicate a different reality. A dog named Sam, photographed with Luixi on social media, died after being left in a car on a hot day, while the farm allegedly treated animals as disposable. Several witnesses recount claims that animals were buried on the property, a disturbing parallel to what the youths endured.
manipulation
Family members were convinced that involvement with the center would foster personal growth. They were told that the girls would benefit from upbringing through participation, and in exchange, riding lessons would be provided at no cost. The narrative of a natural, educational environment was persuasive, and parents embraced the idea that their children would gain valuable skills. One parent reflects on the mystery of how such assurances could mask safer, healthier realities for the young riders. The presence of a person who seemed devoted to Luixi’s daughter raised red flags for some observers, who suspected predatory behavior behind the warmth.
Luixi reportedly used isolation and influence to keep victims close to L’Espiga. If any girl connected with others outside the center, tensions rose. After episodes of shouting, beatings, and insults, Luixi would approach the young participants with a grooming posture, describing his actions as being for their own good and as a form of shock therapy to improve riding. Victims understood the messages in those moments as a direct attempt to control them, and many chose silence.
Afternoons, weekends, and summers saw minors arriving for lessons and to assist with horses. A rotating, unpaid staff of observers was assembled to help with stable duties, feeding, washing, and even tutoring younger students. After Luixi’s arrest, the Mossos d’Esquadra took action, leading to a court-ordered detention in Arenys de Mar. Gradually, families recognized the risk their children faced and began to understand how accidents with horses could be misinterpreted as their own fault, deepening the sense of guilt and confusion.
big lie
Opened in Arenys de Munt in 2017, L’Espiga was founded by several partners but soon fell under Luixi’s influence. He lived in a trailer on a suburban estate and presented himself as an animal trainer who earned recognition from local authorities. Under this facade, he exercised control over adolescents who later reported various forms of abuse, including sexual offenses that occurred in the trailer, in the center’s locker rooms, and within the vehicles used for transport. It is anticipated that additional survivors may come forward in the coming days, sharing experiences of physical and psychological violence alongside sexual misconduct.
The local authority recalled that the council did not suspect wrongdoing and believed the center had permission to operate. However, other sources indicate broader irregularities, including the sale of horses without proper documentation, payment irregularities, and a lack of legitimate riding training credentials. Questions were raised about whether appropriate oversight existed and whether any regulatory body verified the center’s compliance with standards for youth training and animal welfare. Some observers note that there was awareness of irregularities, yet the full extent of the issues remained unclear at the outset.
Rumors about Luixi circulated within the municipality for years. The center continued to take on students until a family filed a formal complaint with the authorities on April 10. Had that initial report not been made, the center may have continued operating under the radar. A father who spoke with this outlet expressed astonishment at how multiple warning signals went unaddressed and allowed a child to be placed in potential danger with a person now described as a monster by those who witnessed the harm first-hand.