Painting pony parties - yay or neigh?

[Paintedponio]

I have just seen a post on Facebook, shared from a national news station, about pony painting parties and some people that are protesting them and trying to get them stopped on the grounds that they are animal cruelty.

The responses were largely agreeing that it is cruel, and should be banned, that it teaches children not to respect animals, though there were some saying the opposite. Many replies were angry, saying it's exploitation, cruel, abuse and all in the name of making money for the owners.

The organiser of one of the companies that runs these parties has stated that the children are supervised, and wear protective equipment, the ponies are not overloaded, one party a day, and the paints are not harmful to animals, and washed off afterwards, and applied with soft brushes, much like grooming the pony.

Personally, I really don't see the problem. I think it's a great way for a retired, older or unridable pony to have interaction with people, and many ponies love the attention of children fussing over them. I think it is a lovely way to introduce children to horses, without them having to ride, which they could be too scared to do, and they are supervised and wearing the right equipment. Some comments said it wasn't fair on the pony because it doesn't have a choice, and some people were furious about it, but I don't understand why, horses have no sense of self, show them a mirror and they think it's another horse, and as long as the paint doesn't irritate them then it is probably easier to get off than stable stains or mud!

The ponies feel the brushes, but much like they are being groomed, which just about anyone who's ever had anything to do with horses will tell you is an activity that is essential to a horses well being.

When I trained with horses, the college used to paint the skeletal structure on one side and the muscle structure on the other side of a grey horse and lunge him (long line so the horse goes around you in a circle while you stand in the the middle) to demonstrate how the muscles and bones work while walking/trotting/cantering and jumping, it was amazing and such a good teaching tool and the horse was happy and healthy.

So what does the MN jury think? What is your opinion of pony painting parties and do you think they should be banned?

@rainbowsandsmiles

I am listening, hence my previous posts stating I can see why some may be uncomfortable with it and have objections, however no one has yet said why it is so bad, why it is such exploitation yet other uses for the animals are not. That is what I do not get, that someone who doesn't have an issue with grooming, riding or petting a pony for entertainment purposes would have an issue with painting it. I can see the viewpoint of those that have said ANY type of use of the animal for entertainment is wrong, I may not agree but I can understand the viewpoint. Those who are condoning riding, grooming and petting for entertainment yet disgusted by painting are the ones that I don't understand.

I do not see how painting a pony exploits it any more than riding it, or taking a dog to an agility class

Because riding is learning a skill, part of that process is building a relationship with the horse and having respect for it. And learning about looking after and caring for the horse and so on. Not treating it like a toy, which is what you are reducing it to when you start having groups of small children having a party and painting the pony. Similarly with dog training, the dogs often really enjoy doing it and building a relationship with their owner. It's a different mindset.

Whilst I suspect the ponies are not particularly put up nor down by it, I suspect they are not deeply distressed by it. I do have come concern over the ponies welfare in one sense- they will probably need washed almost daily, which is actually not very good for their skin or coat.

WTF? It’s an animal, not a fucking canvas.

So I understand the concerns regarding the respecting animals issue, but, where would the line be drawn? A pp has mentioned fancy dress in gymkhana's - nearly every summer show has a fancy dress class - is that the same? And the sparkly hoof oil? That has no benefit (some hoof oil benefits the hoof, some is just cosmetic) Coloured ribbons used in manes for heavy horses when they are showing.........no practical benefit to the horse.

Painting the pony, then brushing and washing it off is like grooming, they're put on with soft hand held brushes like a body brush, and washed off (from the article I read) as the pony does not have a sense of self, and they do infact roll of their own free will in all sorts and don't then clean it off themselves, it would indicate that unless the substance irritates the skin, the pony has no awareness of what is on it's coat.

As for the safety aspect, it would be no different to children riding and grooming ponies, the ponies are selected for the temperament, and stand eating a hay net and are supervised. I wouldn't think painting them would present any more danger to the child than grooming or riding.

I think my problem with it OP is that it teaches a child than animals are primary there for their entertainment, which they are not. Humans interfere far more with animals than they should, and the future generations need to be taught to respect them rather than use them for their whims and fancies.

I would also be concerned that it would mean excessive washing of the horse which might aggravate the skin.

I thought this was going to be about those toy pony painting kits I regularly see in stores which I always think looks like a mess waiting to happen but I could see being good fun for a kids' party if you could get a bunch at a good price.

My first thought after that is Why? I mean, my younger daughter has a pony party for her birthday years ago. She and her siblings had a little talk with the farm staff, groomed their pony, rode for a bit, and then groomed again. She had a blast. This seems to add additional risks that are unneeded with the idea that kids need bright shiny for a good time. She still regularly grooms animals years on, literally spent hours of her holiday grooming dogs...I don't think it has ever occurred to her to paint an animal.

I don't see the point or appeal and I really don't think we can compare adults using art as a tool to better care for animals with young kids painting a large notoriously skittish animal for funsies. Even with the most chill animal and kids, that seems an accident waiting to happen. I certainly wouldn't book one for my kids. I mean, I live in a city so seeing animals like that is a bit of a trip but I'd rather do an animal experience day at a farm or college that teaches care of animals and a skill my kids can feel proud of using than have them paint an animal when we can paint, ya know, canvases or paper at home or at the local museum art days.

Seriously, I do not get why anyone would think having kids paint a pony seemed like a sensible idea for a good time.

So I understand the concerns regarding the respecting animals issue, but, where would the line be drawn? A pp has mentioned fancy dress in gymkhana's - nearly every summer show has a fancy dress class - is that the same? And the sparkly hoof oil? That has no benefit (some hoof oil benefits the hoof, some is just cosmetic) Coloured ribbons used in manes for heavy horses when they are showing.........no practical benefit to the horse

But those are all done to the horse by calm sole adults known to the horse/pony.

Painting parties involve a gaggle of over excited children.

I quite like going to the hairdressers and being pampered by one single knowledgeable person but there is no way I’d want to be shampooed and combed by a gaggle of excited, inexperienced children.

Because riding is learning a skill, part of that process is building a relationship with the horse and having respect for it. And learning about looking after and caring for the horse and so on. Not treating it like a toy, which is what you are reducing it to when you start having groups of small children having a party and painting the pony. Similarly with dog training, the dogs often really enjoy doing it and building a relationship with their owner. It's a different mindset.

Having said that, would you also disagree with a riding party where the children groom and ride the ponies? Some of them who have never been near a horse before. Riding school ponies don't get to build a relationship like you describe because they have different children groom and ride them every day, and the ponies and horses I know would much rather stand and eat a haynet than be ridden by a novice rider, bouncing around, pulling at their reins and shouting/crying. That's just my opinion though - I respect what you are saying beofre anyone jumps down my throat!!!!!!

Whilst I suspect the ponies are not particularly put up nor down by it, I suspect they are not deeply distressed by it. I do have come concern over the ponies welfare in one sense- they will probably need washed almost daily, which is actually not very good for their skin or coat.

Yes, I could see that issue, that washing the coast every day is going to remove the natural oils and is not good for it. That could be an issue as they're not supposed to be washed too often and grass kept ponies need the oil in their coats to protect them in winter so grooming is kept to a minimum too.

Of course they should be banned!! Why would you paint a living creature? Would you stand and let a gang of kids paint you? I suspect not.

In simple terms - paper/canvas=to paint on.

                         - ponies/horses=not to paint on.

Pony painting parties are for kids that don't know any better and bored riding school hacks. It doesn't compare to activities that involve training and team work.
We are supposed to be the more intelligent species, and can do better.

Because the principle is the issue. These parties teach children that ponies (and by extension other animals) are akin to toys. They can interact and spend time with ponies without having to pain them. They can groom the ponies without painting them

Heavy horses being plaited up, or indeed any pony being plaited up and groomed for the show ring or a competition, is not in the same league. The grooming and plaiting is done by people they know and trust, not by a gaggle of excited small children at a party.

I compete, as do DC. Having a pony has taught them about responsibility and putting their ponies well being above their own wants, as well as improving resilience and determination, learning about the value of hard work and persistence. The ponies are not treated like toys. Fancy dress at gymkhana's is again different- done in the context of they person doing it is someone they know and trust.

At the pony party my daughter had, there was one adult for every child and the trained adult was next to the child the entire time they groomed and rode and extra adults on hand nearby just in case of any issues. There were more than double the amounts of adults to kids.

Picture on page 1 of this thread has 3 kids with an adult on the opposite side of the animal plus whoever taking the picture. Most of the other images I get googling are similar - several kids around one pony with one adult visible. To me, those images looks like an accident waiting to happen and not looking out for either the kids or the animal. You can't compare a one on one session on animal care with having 3-8 kids painting, handprinting, writing their names on one animal which is what pretty much everything on painting pony parties is showing.

Op do you own a paint a pony company?

I saw the fb post but had never heard of them.

I find it all a bit odd. I went to a farm party once . We just looked at a load of animals , had a tractor ride in the rain and a pony wore a hat to sing happy birthday who didn’t seem to like that much.

I would be interested how much these parties cost

I haven’t read the thread, but it is horrific. It is in my opinion, lowest common denominator behaviour.

Having said that, would you also disagree with a riding party where the children groom and ride the ponies? Some of them who have never been near a horse before. Riding school ponies don't get to build a relationship like you describe because they have different children groom and ride them every day, and the ponies and horses I know would much rather stand and eat a haynet than be ridden by a novice rider, bouncing around, pulling at their reins and shouting/crying

I don;t like idea of ponies (or other animals) being used as party entertainment for small children, so yes I would have an issue with that.

I also have issues with riding schools who don't move riding school ponies on, for those very reasons. And the good riding schools I have experience of do not tolerate their ponies being hauled around or shouting at them- the bouncing around when learning is harder to sort but actually if taught properly then learning to post properly doesn't take all that long.

Thai Tanic - Bottom of the seafood a speciality.

oops

Ok I have had a little search . I think it appears to be more of a us thing than uk.

It seems to be something tabloids picked up

Op do you own a paint a pony company?

No I don't, and as many here have also said, until I saw the facebook post about banning it I didn't know they were a 'thing'. I have read a little about it and honestly I was surprised at the level of outcry about it. That's why I posted on here about it, because I thought it might be a bigger thing elsewhere in the country and just come here.

I can understand and to a certain degree, agree with the concerns over safety and the ponies being surrounded by excited children, however my point is that this isn't specific to them being painted, it would happen at a pony party where they are groomed and ridden, at places where one at a time pony rides are given (like on the beach with donkeys or ponies) the ponies are put under no more stress being painted than not - so my point - it's no more cruel or exploitation than those other activities, done by people the pony doesn't know. Riding school ponies are chosen because they are good at this, and not skittish or easily phased by different people. I have a small pony like this, I haven't trained him to be like that, he just is.

I take it all the people on here who think this is alright wouldn’t have a problem if a load of kids came around and poured paint over their dogs cats or even young children after all its harmless

I think the outrage comes from humanizing animals. Humanizing animals is actually quite detrimental to the animal, as their needs are quite different to ours. For example, people think that where I am, it's kind to stable a horse. Its actually kind of cruel - in my mild climate, they much prefer to be outdoors.

I think it's all knee jerk outrage where the people objecting don't realise that the pony probably finds this preferable to being led around the same small track 30 times.

Ok I have had a little search . I think it appears to be more of a us thing than uk.

Oh, it seems to be a UK thing as well. Saw someone innocently advertise their pony painting parties in our local FB group, it didn't go down well! The comments made an interesting bunfight discussion!

would be interested how much these parties cost

Yes, I would too, I would think it would be along a similar price to a riding party? You would still have the insurances etc, and if done 'properly' for safety with each pony supervised by an adult with one child. That's how I would do a 'pony party' with inexperienced children, whether it involved paint or not.

My local riding school offers a riding party for 10 children @ £20 per head, or £25 per head including use of the party room and party food. That's for 60 mins with the ponies, or 90 mins including the food bit. Would that be about average?

It reminds me of a story my dad tells about a small man bursting through the pub doorway ‘I’m looking for the man that painted my horse!’

This huge big strong man stands up slowly and says ‘yeah?’
And the little man stutters ‘I just wanted to let you know that it’s ready for the second coat now’