L.A.’s Griffith Park Pony Rides Shutting Down, Proprietor Blames Activists

The Griffith Park Pony Rides and Petting Zoo operation is closing its doorways for good, it appears after the Metropolis reduce ties — and the proprietor is blaming activists who’ve been on his ass.

Steve Weeks — who’s been working the place for years now — broke the information this weekend on Fb, writing … “It’s with a lot unhappiness that I announce that Griffith Park Pony Rides can be ceasing operations December 21, 2022. I’ve obtained a letter from Los Angeles Recreation and Parks stating that our contract is not going to be renewed.”

He provides, “After 74 years serving the youngsters and oldsters of Los Angeles, this iconic establishment can be closed endlessly by order of the Metropolis.”

Weeks says this can be a direct results of extremists who’ve been protesting his institution for months, explaining … “You may have all adopted our combat towards these few radical animal rights activists. Regardless of our yr lengthy combat to reply the unfaithful statements of those people, our efforts weren’t heard. This was the town resolution and never the horse rides alternative.”

As for what’s to turn into of all of the animals there — which entail far more than simply the ponies themselves — Weeks says he is making an attempt to relocate them now. He writes, “Within the days forward I can be looking for endlessly houses for our many ponies. I’m decided to seek out houses for our ponies with certified horsepeople who will care as a lot about our ponies as I do. In case you are inquisitive about provding a house please message me.”

GPPR has been open since 1948, and was a staple attraction for Los Angeles-area households for a very long time. Children might trip their ponies round their stables and monitor — and so they had been capable of rise up shut and private with different livestock, like goats, sheep, bunnies, and many others.

In latest months, the institution has been beneath siege by demonstrators and different events who’ve accused the homeowners of mistreating the animals by forcing them to provide rides in excessive warmth throughout the summer season — amongst different claims of alleged animal abuse … all of which Griffith Park Pony Rides has denied.