Live horse carousel :-(

I can't see it's any worse that a horse that goes on a horse walker every day?

Real carousels are quite common in the US and the ponies look healthy enough.

They don't have any bits for the kiddies to pull on either, which is a bonus and the kids probably only rise for a few minutes each.
 
Oberon said:
I can't see it's any worse that a horse that goes on a horse walker every day?

Real carousels are quite common in the US and the ponies look healthy enough.

They don't have any bits for the kiddies to pull on either, which is a bonus and the kids probably only rise for a few minutes each.
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Ditto thoughts

The kid looks more miserable then half the ponies :rolleyes:
 
PoppyAnderson said:
Yes, I know, I know, it just looks a bit sad really <bleeding heart alert>.
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I think it's the rather pissed off expressions on the ponies' faces in the pics that are doing it.

Wouldn't you feel sorry for them and feed them a treat? Yes you would....gotcha ;)
 
I'm more shocked about the safety aspect for the kids tbh. No helmets, strapped in and very small children having no adult besides them. Ponies look well cared for on the face of it.
 
Right then.

If these rides are anything like the ones I have seen at fairgrounds and parks in Canada, Germany and Holland then the ponies have an easy life actually. Boring as hell no doubt, but at least they are exercised and not crippled with laminitis. It isn't the worst thing that can happen to a pony. Being a fat pet confined to a dusty paddock on a restricted diet sounds far worse to me.

Do you use a horse walker to exercise your horse? Same thing in principle.

These rides are monitored and licensed, the ponies have regular breaks and the rides either stop or the ponies are changed over. there are weight and height restrictions. The ones I have seen are under a roof. Most only have halters on. Rides probably last about 3 minutes, then say, a 3 minute break for rider change over, so, in an hour that is oh, maybe 30 minutes walking. How long does a horse go in a walker for?

I have never seen, and believe me, I look closely, anything but groomed, healthy looking ponies with trimmed feet, and water and haynets back at the pony lines. They only walk and know their job back to front. Bell goes pony stops, bell goes and pony walks. A good carousel pony is worth its' weight in gold, from the operators point of view, you look after your Golden Goose.

The ones I have seen all provide headwear and riders under a certain age either have a helper or a parent walk with them.
 
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Tbh the ponies look no more p****d off or bored than they used to at many riding schools I rode at when I was younger...as someone else said at least they don't have bits to be hauled around by or hung on to. Not saying it's a great life for them , but iv seen a lot worse.
 
The only aspect that would bother me, would be if they were doing it in the hot sun all day, with no cover. But as Enfys has seen a lot of these and says most are under shelter then I can't see a huge problem with it.

Animals are at the mercy of man, a little plod around in a circle with a child their back is a much nicer existence than many have.
 
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