Activist Marcy Winograd has put some ponies out of work and removed the presence of these amazing animals from the local Santa Monica City kids who would otherwise never have contact with farm animals. Im not sure that 3 hours a week of ponies giving rides to children could be defined as animal exploitation. The police report: I examined the ride set-up. The horses appeared in to be in good condition – their body weight appeared normal, their fur was clean and brushed, their manes and tails were brushed and healthy, the ground around them was clean and evenly flat, they walked on sawdust shavings, and there was no visible urine or feces. The equipment – saddles, bridles, and (thick) pads were in good condition. The horses were “quiet” and well behaved. I saw nothing to make me believe the horses were ill-treated, unhealthy, malnourished, injured, or in discomfort. The horses did not appear hot, were not sweating, and were on a timed (30 minute alarm,) water-break schedule. I saw that as the horses walked in circles, their speed and disposition was constant and calm. Their path took them in and out of shade from the sun. I answered Marci (Winograds) questions, shared with her my observations of the health and overall good condition of the horses, explained that they were in the shade an equal amount of time that they were in the sun, and told her that it was in fact “not” hot. (Horses live and work in places much hotter than coastal communities with cool ocean breezes.) I told her that the length of the “lead ropes” that connected them to the “hot walker” poles was long enough to give them head movement, but not long enough to allow them to turn around. (She wanted them to be free to turn around. I explain how inappropriate and unsafe that would be for the child riders if the horses could turn 360 degrees during the ride.)
Posted on: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 13:23:47 +0000
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