I guess your parents never let you take a horsey ride when you were a kid. I remember them being a lot of fun.
No.
It's no different to the elephants in Thailand being kept in awful conditions and subjected to toruturous and barbaric paractices. In order to make elephants submit to elephant rides and other human interactions, they are taken from their mothers when babies and forced through a horrific training process known as ‘the crush’. It involves physical restraints, inflicting severe pain and withholding food and water. By the time tourists come to ride an elephant, it may look at peace, but this is because it’s spirit has been broken. The bullhook used permanently reminds the animal of human dominance.
The cruelty does not end after the crush. When not performing or used for rides most elephants are kept on chains, unable to socially interact with one another. This is hugely damaging to their physical and psychological wellbeing. Still, I bet the tourists have fun getting to ride them.
Or the donkeys in places like Santorini, the donkey rides begin at 9am every day and don’t finish until the sun sets. The donkeys go from the port to the village of Fira and back. To get there, they have to climb about 600 steps. On average, the donkeys do seven roundtrips a day. They are forced to carry heavy loads up a 250-metre slope. Some of the donkeys who carry very heavy tourists end up with back problems or even injured spinal cords. Many donkeys also wear badly adjusted saddles, which can rub and even burn the animal’s skin. Still, I bet the tourists have fun getting to ride them.
Animals are not on this planet for our amusement or entertainment, particularly when they are subjected to such cruel and inhumane treatment and conditions. If you want to be part of that process then go ahead, I don't want to and I'll make no apologies in criticising those who do or highlighting the facts to those who are unaware.
