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One activity that stands out at the Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar is the pony rides provided by Gallop Stable, a local horse-riding centre.
Despite outlining the measures it is taking to care for the well-being of the ponies in response to Mothership's queries, some members of the public and animal welfare groups cast doubts on Gallop Stable's claims.
Bazaar visitor concerned over ponies' working hours and conditions
A Mothership reader raised concerns over the conditions of the ponies on Mar. 25 in an email.
According to the reader, Jane (not her real name), she visited the Ramadan bazaar the day before at 11:30pm.
While Gallop Stable said that the operating hours at the station end at 10pm, Jane was surprised that the pony rides were ongoing when she was at the bazaar.
Image via Mothership reader
Jane was very concerned, saying that "majority of [the horses'] sleep periods occur at night - especially so for the younger foals", even though they are generally polyphasic sleepers. Polyphasic sleepers take several periods of rest each day.
While Gallop Stable previously claimed that the horses were kept under "super high ventilated tents", Jane observed that the tents were "so hot and stuffy" that Friday night.
She also found that the lights were "bright and glaring", and the noise level was "extremely loud for any animals to withstand".
Image via Mothership reader
Moreover, the parrots that were "awake past their sleeping time" were squawking. To the reader, this showed how the environment was "not conducive" for the animals.
Jane said she hopes that animal welfare groups and organisations could intervene to encourage Gallop Stable to "review the hours of their pony ride services".
She also suggested that all the resting areas for the animals should replicate their natural sleeping habitats.
While she was "disappointed" by parents who brought their children to ride on the ponies at that hour, she does not blame these parents and hopes more can be done to educate the public about this issue.
She also implored relevant organisations to look into the matter.
Jane said:
"If no authorities (are) able to lay out the appropriate welfare directives and oversee that it is adhered to, it is advisable to stop this unnecessary services altogether which I personally feel is not appropriate for an enclosed carnival anyway. I cannot imagine this continuing for 30 days in the holy month of Ramadan! The poor animals!"
Acres: Bazaar pony rides are not educational at all
Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) co-CEO Anbarasi Boopal told Mothership that quite a few members of the public alerted them about the ponies at the bazaar.
Acres then visited the bazaar to examine the conditions the ponies were working in at around noon time, on a Saturday and a weekday afternoon.
Anbarasi said that the temperature at that time was 33°C, and the ponies did not have any coolers near them to relieve the heat.
Similar to Jane's observation, Acres observed that the ponies were surrounded by bright lights and loud noises.
Anbarasi said that it was "quite concerning", and she questioned the need for the horses to be transported to the bazaar for "entertainment purposes".
She added that as there was "no educational component", and children may be taught to "see animals as objects of entertainment".
"Money attached to everything," Anbarasi criticised Gallop Stable's exhibit.
Ponies exhibited at bazaar approved by AVS
Anbarasi said that Acres will write to the relevant authorities about this issue, including Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) which had provided Gallop Stable the licence to exhibit the ponies at the bazaar.
According to the AVS website, organisers that wish to exhibit animals have to submit relevant documents such as the layout of the venue, the programme which animals will be involved, design and construction plans of how the animals will be kept, as well as a plan that details how the animals will be cared for and managed.
For the licence to be given, AVS must also conduct an inspection of the area and licensing fees of S$126 must be paid.
SPCA on pony rides: No cultural significance, little educational value
Mothership reached out to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) for a statement.
Aarthi Sankar, Executive Director of Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), also told Mothership that they are "deeply concerned" and have received "multiple reports" about the ponies being "overworked without rest", even after the stipulated hours.
Aarthi said that SPCA's inspectors visited the bazaar several times, the most recent being on Mar. 23.
They also noted that the conditions were "hot, crowded and stuffy", which could cause stress and discomfort to the ponies.
Sankar echoed that such animal rides "offer little educational value" and there are other avenues for that:
"We agree that children should be taught about animals and develop empathy from young.
This can be achieved without causing distress or harm to animals by visiting proper locations for guided animal interactions and education, and without having to ride on the ponies.
There is also little to no cultural significance to justify having the ponies at the bazaar."
She also noted that SPCA was working with other animal welfare groups in Singapore such as Acres to call for an end to such activities.
Aarthi said that SPCA "strongly oppose(s) the use of animals for the purpose of entertainment", and she encourages businesses to prioritise the wellbeing of their animals.
SPCA urges members of the public not to support such activities that can cause harm and stress to the animals:
"Despite the justifications provided by businesses, these types of attractions have been proven to have negative impacts on animals, causing them to suffer lifelong consequences.
It is our collective responsibility to ensure that animals are treated with respect and compassion."
Gallop Stable: ponies did not work more than their usual allocation
Gallop Stable maintained that the ponies were properly cared for despite the criticism and concerns from the public and animal welfare groups.
In response to Jane's observation that the operating hours lasted till 11:30pm, a representative claimed that they "do not remember (it being) that late".
However, the representative defended that they started operating "much later than the usual time" on that particular day.
They also claimed to receive "overwhelming support" that day, so much so that they had to continue with the pony rides for customers who bought the tickets before 10pm to complete the activity.
Ticketing stopped at 10pm, they added.
They maintained that the ponies did not work more than their "usual allocation".
Gallop Stable also said that they have been subjected to "thorough scrutinisation, verifications and justifications on the welfare of the animals and suitability of the premises" by the relevant authorities before getting an approval to do so.
"Light touch" system to ensure ponies don't overwork
Elaborating on how they take care of the ponies, the representative shared that they adopt a "'light touch' sequences".
This means the animals "barely complete a full cycle" of the usual pony rides at their Bukit Timah and Pasir Ris Park locations.
A usual pony ride requires the pony to cover around 200m to 2km in distance and a period of 10 to 20 minutes, the representative added.
There is a limit to how long a child can ride the pony, depending on their weight and age.
The Gallop Stable representative said that children must be more than three years old and weigh not more than 40kg to be allowed to ride the ponies.
They also only allow children who are cooperative and follow their rules well.
"Work allocations for each segments are carefully [implemented] such that each pony will not be allocated more than an hour of activity especially for the rides. And based on records, a pony can do up to 20-25 kids of ride for the day," the representative added.
Here are other welfare benefits the ponies receive that Gallop Stable highlighted to Mothership in response to the backlash:
"Spaces and location the ponies are located are based on limited access to the public and have areas for ponies to be isolated if necessary.
Ponies are safely transported with approved horse trailers made specially for horses and ponies and used by all around the world as the most feasible and safe transportation of these animals trucked by well experinced trailer drivers.
Fresh waters and food are available at all times, well defined rest areas for ponies away from public access, experienced team of trainers and handlers on site all times, operated under properly ventilated tents and cooler fans for surrounding areas, special fine sand pitch for pony rides and stabled soft beddings of shavings for pony rest and standing area, timely disposal of soiled beddings and poos into NEA approved bins for further clearance to approved sites, hourly checks on ponies health and conditions prior to assigned activities, stationed trailer as contingency to evacuate any pony at any time should there be a need.
Also Mondays are off for all ponies."
Image via Mothership reader.