Beloved pony-ride attraction closing in CA after protests. Now there are more protests
Animal rights activists are at odds with loyal patrons of a beloved pony-ride attraction in California.
Activists have been calling for the iconic Griffith Park Pony Rides to shut down for months. The attraction has been in business for more than 70 years in the park, and loyal customers are angry at its pending closure.
Los Angeles city officials decided to end their contract with the business after its owner failed to notify them that four ponies had died and six had been moved to other facilities. City officials told owner Stephen Weeks in a Nov. 22 letter that his business’ contract would not be renewed..
The business announced it was closing in a Dec. 5 post on Facebook.
“We have some Sad news to share,” the business wrote on Facebook. “The City of Los Angeles is not renewing the lease for Griffith Park Pony Rides. Our last day of public operation will be December 21, 2022. We have enjoyed serving you for 74 years.”
Dozens of customers expressed their disappointment on Facebook.
“The Griffith Park Pony Rides is/was a place where city kids could have a split second to interact with and ride horses,” one commented. “It provided a valuable service to the community, and especially for the large large portion of kids whose families could not afford equestrian lessons. Sad to lose that resource in the City of L.A.”
On Saturday, Dec. 10, people who wanted to save the pony rides clashed with those who wanted to see it shut down, NBC Los Angeles reported.
Many people at the rally and on Facebook reminisced about their first pony rides in the park.
“There are so few non-mechanized things for children to do today that are totally natural,” Paula Morris told NBC.
The LA Alliance for Animals has been protesting the treatment of animals at the venue. “You can’t operate a concession that continues to neglect and abuse their animals,” Zohra Fahim, president and founder of LA Alliance for Animals, told NBC4.
The attractions’ owners had been improving the ponies’ facility since an inspection identified areas where they could do better, including adding rubber mats where the ponies were fed and giving them psyllium to regularly flush sand from their systems, KTLA reported. The outlet reported that two of the pony deaths were the result of severe colic, which can be caused or exacerbated by equines ingesting sand.
The third-party veterinarian who evaluated the conditions praised the owners for following earlier recommendations she’d made, the outlet reported. “However, I do believe that better documentation from veterinarians and communication of the incidents with the city in a timelier manner could be improved,” the veterinarian said in their report to the city.
Steve Weeks, who owns the attraction, shared the news of the closing in a Facebook group for equestrians in the Griffith Park area.
“I just wanted you to hear the news from me. This group has been loyal friends of the pony rides and I thank you.”
Weeks wrote that he is “determined” to find homes for the ponies “with qualified horse people who will care as much about our ponies as I do.”
Several people commented that they would be interested in rehoming some of the ponies. They also expressed concern for employees of the business, and offered to help find them jobs before the holidays.
This story was originally published December 12, 2022 at 1:42 PM.
