Children being weighed before donkey rides

I applaud the owner for it, but it is something that needs to stop.

He could retire his donkey into a sun dappled meadow, and set up a mechanical bucking bronco.

Everyone could have a go on that for their entertainment.

I worked in a school where a young single mother died suddently - she was morbidly obese and had a heart attack. Her two children - both seriously overweight - were cared for by average sized grandparents, but GM objected strongly to their being weighed at a school medical. In spite of losing her child she was refusing to see the potential outcome for two young children who were probably 50% overweight, and doing nothing to help them with their diet. I agree wholeheartedly with weighing children before they ride donkeys - these are sentient creatures and deserve better than staggering about overburdened and facing possible injury. There is far too much cruelty inflicted on these poor beasts of burden.

If he was putting the animal fortune wouldn’t be doing donkey rides

The donkey owner is doing the correct thing, well done owner!

Perhaps the owner could compensate overweight (or even nervous children) a little by allowing them to lead the donkey or take the money or something?

Really? It’s not his job to nursemaid the children.

🙄

I agree with those who say animals should not be used for entertainment. We humans seem to think we have a right to use any other life form in any way that suits us for our own gratification. Being top of the food chain carries responsibilities as well as privileges and we should carry them out more conscientiously and compassionately.

My daughter volunteered in a bear sanctuary in Romania a few years ago. Bears rescued from disgusting bile farms and circuses, plus roadside photo booths were all accommodated at the sanctuary and allowed to live out their days in peace in their natural environment. She told me that one old bear was so programmed by her old life that she would stand up and twirl around whenever a human volunteer walked by. It broke my daughter's heart.

Thank goodness a thoughtful owner . Kids all love donkey rides but over the years it’s been seen to be cruel. If it’s managed well with donkeys needs coming first then it can be ok. However you do see some poor donkeys ridden to near death. So good on her. People need to stop being to PC it’s about the animal not the rider.

I agree with there being a weight limit and an age limit
But and this is the big but these donkeys would not exist if it weren't for the rides yes there are sanctuaries but they have enough problems with getting money or enough of it to keep the donkeys they have got never mind increasing the number

Sensible! But as someine else said maybe a sign saying 'at owners discretion ' or if you think your child might not meet requirements' As an ex teacher there are more and more overweight kids around, whatever the reason may be. There is the welfare of the donkey to consider so I think he is being a responsible owner

I wish the owners of horses and donkeys in overseas holiday resorts would do the same! It disgusts me that some of the huge, wobbling fat people astride these poor animals, think it is such fun, ignoring how the animal feels. Unfortunately it is not possible to point this out to them, and I certainly am not brave enough to do so!!

I very much doubt the donkeys enjoy it. It would be nice if they could be retired to a sanctuary.

It grieves me too Grandmama. I try as far as I can to avoid buying goods which, or the raw materials for which, may have been transported in this way.

I agree with all the comments ... but if the donkeys currently used for rides at the seaside are no longer allowed to work, what will happen to them?
I don't know about donkeys, but I would guess they are sociable animals so if the sun isn't too hot for them might they actually enjoy the fuss and attention they get at the seaside in return for carrying light loads?
Perhaps the owner could compensate overweight (or even nervous) children a little by allowing them to lead the donkey or help him take the money or something? It would still make parents aware that being overweight is not acceptable but not shatter the child's self esteem completely.

I'm on the side of the donkeys. It grieves me when I see news items from the Middle East showing donkeys laden with heavy loads or carrying adults.

Absolutely! Parents are responsible for buying what children eat

I think the weighing for donkyrides should be an absolute must. The owner should post the weightlimit visible to all visitors, and ask that if you weigh more than that to not join in the ride. He/she is absolutely allowed to weigh a person in case of doubt and if this is done discretely and with the parents present I would not consider it fatshaming but protection of the animals.

staceygrove

Totally agree, what a great owner. In Santorini they used to let anyone get on the poor donkeys and a big fat man got on and killed the donkey, he collapsed under his weight.

In that heat and with such a steep climb, too

Totally agree, what a great owner. In Santorini they used to let anyone get on the poor donkeys and a big fat man got on and killed the donkey, he collapsed under his weight.

And mine. Animals should not be used for entertainment. It troubled me even as a very young child to see donkeys on the beach. Rather than ride them, I wanted to liberate them. My parents wouldn't have allowed me to have a donkey ride in any event. Thankfully they detested all forms of animal cruelty and abuse. We would never attend a circus for example.

Me too!

Mine too.

The priority of the donkey has to come first.
I don’t agree with animals being used in this manner, that’s just my personal opinion.

Like donkey rides, riding schools are subject to strict LA regulations, not to mention insurance regulations, so in this area most have closed (maybe all). Parents now buy the pony and take it to the Riding “Club” for instruction, some would pay for DIY Livery.

...and it wasn’t fair.

It's fair to the donkey, which is what matters 🫏

One mother interviewed said her son was very disappointing and it wasn’t fair. Well I expect he was but life is full of disappointments.

Calendargirl

Our Sunday School Annual trip to the seaside was the highlight of my young life.

And a 6d donkey ride was my idea of heaven.

Certainly I weighed nothing like 6 stones.

Oh, happy days!

Me too. I didn’t have many donkey rides but the ones I had are so vivid in my memory! As an inner city child it was magical.