Pony Rides: A Fair Deal for the Ponies?

You see them at every carnival, festival, and county fair: a group of small ponies wearing miniature Western saddles, plodding round and round on a mechanical walker as wide-eyed tots, cotton candy clutched in sticky fists, are lifted on and off their backs. As a horse owner, you’ve heard that endless circling in only one direction isn’t good for a horse’s muscles and joints. Are these slow-moving equines on the fast track toward injury?

Researchers in Belgium asked the same question when they studied a group of 21 carnival ponies, comparing them with another group of similar ponies that were not used for pony rides. Each carnival pony was visually assessed for lameness and was then walked and trotted over a pressure plate to detect asymmetrical movement. As a group, the carnival ponies moved less symmetrically than the controls. However, after removing visibly lame ponies from the carnival group, there were no significant differences in symmetry of movement between the two groups. Both lame and sound carnival ponies were also easier to longe in the direction they usually traveled.

The researchers concluded that the duration of a carnival pony’s assigned job was not linked to symmetry of movement, suggesting that this type of work doesn’t stress the legs sufficiently to cause harm. This is likely because these ponies usually carry relatively light loads while walking at a slow pace; heavier burdens, faster gaits, and a smaller circle might cause increased strain.

Overall health in carnival ponies could also be related to how long they work each day, how often they are rested and allowed to eat and drink, and their routine care such as being groomed,  wearing properly fitted tack, and getting regular hoof care. While ponies that move in a slightly asymmetrical way may not be harmed by the exercise they perform on the walker, ponies with moderate to severe lameness should receive treatment and be removed from work.