Why are we calling on the LA City Council to shut down the Griffith Park Pony Rides? Last July we sat in front of the pony carousel and filmed for almost 7 hours non-stop and watched in horror as those horses NEVER received a drop of water or a break from walking in circles with someone on their back. This footage was sent to the appropriate authorities who viewed it and did NOTHING. So we contacted the City Council and let them know about the abuse that was going on at this facility. These horses work for 6 days a week, almost 7 hours a day in ALL weather conditions. The “fast” ponies are yelled at, clapped at, and sometimes even slapped on their rear to make them run faster.  They work and stand in extreme heat for hours with little to no shade. A third-party veterinarian was hired by the city (full report here) who found that several of the ponies were suffering from mouth and tooth problems, hoof ailments, saddle sores, and lameness, in addition to a lack of vet records or identifying information on each animal. We also filmed a pony hired for a birthday party who couldn’t bear any weight on her hind legs, yet they kept her at the party until it was over! This is NOT the way any living being should be treated so we are asking citizens to find their compassion and support the closure of this facility. The city of Santa Monica ended their own contracts with pony ride operators after their citizens expressed concerns. Los Angeles should follow suit and over 82,000 people agree!

Independently, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) also calls for ending this practice.