Serbian animal rights activists are up in arms over their country's inaugural Rolling Stones concert because of the chosen venue: a Belgrade racecourse that is home to about 300 horses.

In order to keep the horses calm amid the expected noise and vibrations from the upcoming July 14 concert, their minder has proposed to sedate the animals with shots of diazepam.

Organizers are expecting approximately 100,000 concert-goers to attend the event at Belgrade's Hippodrome, the band's first ever concert in Serbia after two previous dates — in 2003 and 2006 — were cancelled.

Protesters, led by the country's largest animal protection group ORCA, are calling for the show to be moved to another venue.

"Research has shown that noise and vibrations are the strongest causes of stress to animals," group head Elvir Burazerovic said in an interview with Reuters.

Moving the horses to another location is also likely to cause the animals distress.

"Surely our big city has enough open spaces where even 150,000 people can fit in. We think the Hippodrome should be left to horses," he added.

Burazerovic said that if concert's organizers do not act, they will lobby the iconic band itself.

"Such a reputable band will not allow such a stain on its record," he said.

The Rolling Stones are touring the world as part of their A Bigger Bang Tour.