Donkey Derby - Your Opinions...

horsey_jo

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I have just had seen a thread in the pic gallery

Before you look I think the OP very well meaning - but I just didn't like what I saw...

  • I am not sure these children could ride
  • They had no saddles or neckstraps
  • No adults in direct attendance
  • The aim seems to be to watch the kids fall off
  • ... and if thats the case they should at least be wearing bodyprotectors!!!

Poor donkeys!!
Or maybe I am just being an over-protective fuddy-duddy and this was all a bit of fun... :D:D:D

What do you think?
The thread: http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=461621
 
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In some respects I think you're being abit of a fuddy fuddy :D The parents and children decided to participate without body protectors so extra padding would be a personal choice. A neck strap would've been nice - that grey wouldn't have been jabbed in the mouth so much if there was one.

At the end of the day - kids have to be kids. You can't cover them in bubble wrap :)

There was something on countryfile and I think they had goat/sheep racing at Adam's farm with hard hats, no body protectors. Also - those people that used to chase cheese down that steep hill wear little/no padding and that's more dangerous in my opinion :D
 
I wouldn't be happy with those kids yanking my donkeys mouths like that. Donkeys are very stoic which is why people continue to abuse them and haven't the knowledge to ascertain when they are unhappy.:(
 
I think it looks great fun. It'd be rubbish if you couldn't have a laugh like that. And if the donkey has enough, its evidently easy enough to punt the kid off!
 
must say i feel more for the donkeys than the kids, not far to fall , all wearing hats - and as somoen else said once donkeys get too fed up they will chuck them off - no thinking of all the cruelty ive seen this doesnt get me going at all x
 
hey , i didn't organise it! i just live in the village and was surprised that health and safety even allowed it!
i was stood just up from the start and most of the kids did keep their hands down but yes there were a few that were cringe worthy. those donks knew exactly what they doing and a lot of those kids were off before they got round the corner! They don't have saddles as that is part of the donkey racing rules along with riders over 8 years and under 15 years and a weight limit of 8 stone.
 
i think it was great fun to watch and altho the kids didnt have the best hands they were few and far and the man who owned the donkeys actually instructed them to hold their hands very high!!
even the donks had grins on and when they fed up of said rider they dumped the kiddies and carried on trotting round very happily :D

admittedly if it was ponies i would have been peeved but then again ponies would have treated em a lot worse!
 
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