ACTION ALERT - CALLS NEEDED ON BEHALF OF PONY RIDES IN LOS ANGELES

The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks Commission Task Force on Concessions is holding a Special Meeting this Thursday February, 3, 2022 at 8:30 am via ZOOM regarding the Griffith Park Pony Rides.

The Griffith Park Pony Rides have been serving the children in the Los Angeles area for over 70 years and are now under attack by animal extremist groups who oppose the use of animals in any form. The pony rides have been under new ownership and management since 2017. The new owner and his staff are committed to taking care of the ponies, with on call veterinarians, regular veterinary care, and have been trained with rewards based training. Pony rides are often the first chance a child raised in an urban area has to meet a horse, and can lead to a lifelong love of horses and other animals, teaching them respect and nurture for all animals.

Don't let animal extremists take this experience away from children and families in Southern California

LICENSED AND REGULATED

The Pony Rides are licensed, regulated and regularly inspected by several governmental care agencies including the City of Los Angeles Department of Animal Services. Recently, an independent audit was conducted by a third-party veterinarian which refuted all the false charges by the animal extremist groups.

Protect The Harvest sent an experienced representative - horse owner, registered veterinary technician (equine and small animal) to the facility. She spent two days there and found the ponies to be in great shape and the facility, safe and clean. Here's more information HERE and HERE

CALL TO ACTION - PLEASE SUPPORT PONY RIDES IN GRIFFITH PARK - LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

ZOOM MEETING

To participate in the ZOOM meeting, use the following link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85213878521

TELEPHONE CALL

Or call 1-669-900-6833 to join the meeting then enter this webinar ID: 852 1387 8521 and press #.

TALKING POINTS

Each person has 2 minutes to comment, so we’ve included a few talking points:

• Ponies are monitored and regulated by multiple state and city agencies as well as by veterinarians
• Ponies are trained using rewards-based training and only verbal encouragement is allowed
• Ponies have been used as therapeutic riding (hippotherapy) for special needs children whose parents bring them to Griffith Park because the attendants will gently walk with the pony and child. The movement of the pony’s back is similar to the movement of the human pelvis and can provide muscle relaxation for children with muscle spasms due to medical conditions.
• The ponies are given regular breaks, have plenty of clean fresh water available, have water misters to stand under, plenty of shade both in the riding rings and in their enclosures, plus rubber mats to stand on.
• The ponies have regular days off and are monitored and checked daily by attendants. If a pony no longer seems like it wants to be there, the pony is rehomed to a reputable, vetted home
• Many ponies were rescued from auctions and given the chance to have a productive and happy life with other ponies
• If you were not raised around horses, but had your first horse experience at a pony ride and developed a love for them
• Ponies can choose to stand under the covered shelters in their pens in inclement weather, or if they’re more sensitive to cold, they can be brought into the barn to stay dry.
• Ponies are fed alfalfa pellets and cubes, soaked as well as health supplements

LA CITY COUNCIL NEEDS TO HEAR FROM EVERYONE - CALLS NEEDED THIS THURSDAY!

It doesnt matter if you live in the Los Angeles Area - the Los Angeles City Council needs to hear from everyone about how important it is that children and families have opportunities to interact with animals.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Protect The Harvest sent an experienced representative - horse owner, registered veterinary technician (equine and small animal) to the facility. She spent two days there and found the ponies to be in great shape and the facility, safe and clean.

ARTICLE: Griffith Park Pony Rides HERE

ARTICLE: Horses and Ponies Are Not Hothouse Flowers HERE