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?

Is it ok to paint a dog? A cat? A hamster?

It always amuses me when people say how painting or dyeing an animal is cruel and yet they have a matted obese pet with overgrown nails who is so "well loved".

For what it's worth livestock are commonly dyed/marked for breeding and identification purposes, hope that doesn't put you off your steak tonight 😀

Pawsies -not so much cruel with me, just teaching your child that it's OK to draw and paint all over animals and treat them as toys or as a piece of paper doesn't sit right with me. You should teach them to respect animals, not graffiti all over them.

When you learn to ride a horse, you have to learn respect for the animal and build a partnership and a relationship together as a pair. It's a mutual process, you don't just hop on its back and off you go merrily into the sunset.

Dragging a pony in so kids can paint it is horrific. No respect to it at all. It's very upsetting to see animals used in this way. It's a living creature, not a fucking piece of paper for your kids to scribble on. I''m sure it doesn't physically harm the horse, but if that's your only criteria for if it's acceptable then you have pretty low fucking standards.

I don’t eat meat but I can still see that breeding and id is an actual reason for doing something. Why on earth would anyone paint a pony?! Also if you like to believe everyone has obese matted pets that’s really odd but also your prerogative I supposed

Yes, it would be OK by me to paint a dog or a cat or a hamster if the animal was cared for, had it's needs met and wasn't unduly distressed.

People who are jumping up and down saying it's disrespectful etc it is no more disrespectful than any other activity done for human entertainment involving any animal - but I guess we'll keep getting the same 'It's disgusting' and 'It's awful' comments because hey, who doesn't like jumping on a bandwagon?! (As long as it's only being jumped on, not painted obviously)

There are, and I have already said this, valid points regarding the ponies being washed maybe too often with regard to the paint, however there are no differences where H&S are concerned between children grooming/riding ponies that are in a riding school or putting paint on them, the same risks apply to both. But yes, there are points raised in regard to excited children around ponies that apply to both scenarios'.

Wow. I’m afraid all of us who actually consider animals as real living beings won’t be able to get through to you then however much we try.
It’s not a bandwagon, it’s just so blatantly obvious it’s out of order it’s really difficult to understand how anyone can think it’s ok.

Learning to care for and respect an animal is not the same as using an animal as an easel, are you for real?!

But isn't it less upsetting for a pony thank standing in a pen while children get on and off it?

By the way I had a relative who was kicked in the head by a horse and suffered a life changing injury. For that personal reason I won't let my dc walk behind a horse and wouldn't allow them at this sort of party.

For that personal reason I won't let my dc walk behind a horse and wouldn't allow them at this sort of party.

You should never walk behind a horse anyway, it doesn't matter how well you know it or how experienced you are with horses

I completely agree, but some don't.

My point was that can't be guaranteed at a kids party so they wouldn't go

I can't see the "love and respect" in keeping animals locked up in small cages and/or homes.

you cant see a problem - you fucking idiot who ever thought this up and who ever runs these events should be tied to the floor and paint thrown over them and people touch them and shriek and laugh as they do it ffs

pawsies you are a twat

I don’t know what I think about this really. But I do know that most stables run “Own a Pony” days, and they often include plaiting manes and tails and adding ribbons and glitter and painting hooves. Is this bad too?

Horrible idea It is cruel and shows disrespect for a beautiful creature A different type of party with no animal would be more appropriate

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

And the process of grooming - even the plaiting and braiding in ribbons*, if done properly is a pleasant experience for the horse/pony - akin to getting a massage for us. It strengthens the bond of trust between horse and groom/owner. Horses have deep emotional lives, and grow to love their people just like their people (hopefully) grow to love them.

I had a relative who was kicked in the head by a horse and suffered a life changing injury.

Same here - my grandfather was an experienced farrier. He was kicked in the head by a horse and died. He left a widow and nine children (many years ago, obviously). Horses are beautiful, on the whole gentle animals - but as any animal, can be unpredictable. They may be unwell, something may startle them, they may get a sudden itch or pain that makes them jump - and even a small pony is much stronger and heavier than a child, or indeed, than most adults.

I think I'd rather be painted than ridden as it were

I work with horses. Thank god this wouldn’t happen at my work place, what a ridiculous idea.

would you rather have your head put in a bridle and a bit in your mouth and an adult sitting on your back forcing you to carry them where they want to go, or be painted ?
Hypocrits on here!

I remember a thread on here where MSnetter owned a poney & a so called "friend of her" was trying to oblige her to let her DD organise one of those birthday parties at the expense of her poney!

I remember that thread froggy.

The "friend" went bananas with the MNer and called her all the selfish bitches under the sun for refusing.

coffee88 it’s not that it hurts the pony. It’s that it teaches the children that the pony is nothing more than an easel and canvas.
I have mixed views with riding but those I know who ride have a strong bond with their horse and grooming and preparing for shows etc is an ongoing thing, not a one time ‘I’m bored so I’ll use my pony as a toy’ situation.
Rather than teaching how to care for a pony, how to respect it and learn about what it means to have a pony these parties teach that the pony doesn’t matter, it’s just a gimmick, it teaches that they can do whatever they want to animals because they’re just objects to be used when you’re bored.
Surely pony rides and grooming and then sitting at a table to paint a picture of the pony would be lots better than scrawling on what is essentially used as a hairy canvas?

Surely pony rides and grooming and then sitting at a table to paint a picture of the pony would be lots better than scrawling on what is essentially used as a hairy canvas?

THIS! ^

A 1,000 times THIS ^