For many years now, it has been commonplace to see children riding ponies in the alleys of several Parisian parks, including Buttes-Chaumont and Parc Monceau. But according to the animal protection association Paris Animaux Zoopolis, the animals are not being treated properly, and the Charter for Animal Welfare, adopted in July 2021, is not being respected.
The Parisian association wanted this activity to be better supervised or, ideally, to disappear altogether. InApril 2022, it had submitted a twenty-page report to Paris City Hall warning of mistreatment of the ponies, which must haveaccess to hay and water and compulsory rest days. Supported by photos, Paris Animaux Zoopolis deplores the use of the Colbert lead rope and bits that are not removed when the animals are at rest.
Since the introduction of this animal welfare charter, ponies on carousels nolonger exist in the capital, and equines are not allowed out during hot weather.But the association is, in any case, opposed to the use of ponies for entertainment".They finally won their case, as the city has decided to put an end to these rides from 2025. PAZ regrets, however, that the decision does not apply immediately.
The only exception isthe Luxembourg Gardens ponies. These are not managed by the city, but by the Senate, as the garden belongs to the institution.
