Chinese merry-go-round with live ponies sparks online accusations of cruelty
- Attraction suspended after video goes viral online
- Operator says the animals were treated well and not abused
A merry-go-round using real ponies at a shopping centre in southwest China has caused an online uproar over animal cruelty.
An online video clip of four ponies, heads secured to steel bars while circling a central pole with children on their backs, went viral on Monday, drawing sharp criticism from most commenters.
The shopping centre in Chengdu, Sichuan province, responded by suspending the ride.
One woman, who paid for her child to ride one of the ponies, told Beijing Youth Daily that it was convenient for children to get close to horses and much cheaper than going to a stable.
But to many internet users it was pure cruelty for horses to be forced to walk on a motorised treadmill circling a small area for four hours.
“It’s very cruel. How would you feel if you were attached to a running mill every day?” one said.
“Horses need exercise, but limiting them to such a small area and forcing them to circle around is not exercise. They are simply using horses for profit,” said another.