For parents of toddlers:

veganmama · #1 08-07-2002, 11:44 AM

I am trying to figure out my feelings on a few subjects. Do you ride horses? Is it vegan to ride a hourse? At a local carnival I let my toddler ride a pony in a pony ride. Afterwards I felt badly. Like I was supporting the slavery of the ponies. We even video taped this. I feel like he had fun and so, what to do next time? What would or do you do in situations like this? If you answer, please also state your opinion about zoos, and your toddlers. TIA. VM

Erin Pavlina · #2 08-07-2002, 11:55 AM

The moral and ethical issues surrounding veganism are plentiful and there are no clear cut answers.

I, personally, would not take my child to the zoo nor would I put her on a pony ride. When I first went vegan I thought, "What's the big deal? If she wants to go, I'll let her." But after talking to Ellie Callahan from the Gentle Barn I've learned so much about animals and how they should be treated, that I just can't do it.

We did a survey about a year ago asking vegans if they would take their child to the zoo or on a pony ride. I believe it was about 50/50.

Katharina · #3 08-07-2002, 01:17 PM

Erin, can you talk a bit more about what you learned at the Gentle Barn? I would love to hear their opinions on it!

These are tough issues...

Erin Pavlina · #4 08-07-2002, 01:45 PM

Yeah, they are really tough issues. Vegan ethics are not always clear cut.

The basic thing I learned from Ellie is that animals are not meant to be ridden upon (in the case of pony rides). They aren't born with saddles on their backs, after all. Even if an animal is well taken care of by its owner, it's still not how the animal would prefer to live. I think she also mentioned how bored those animals are going around in a circle all the time, and that it damages their gait to walk in a circle so much.

I'm not the expert on this type of issue, though, so ...

As for zoos, the animals are basically prisoners. None of them would choose to be there. Animals in captivity live fewer years than they would if left alone in their own habitats. I've read some stuff from Peta.com about animals in a zoo.

Here's a link to what they have to say about the issue:
http://www.peta.org/mc/facts/fsent3.html