Animal Rides

Not just a walk in the park

Animals are often used in tourist destinations to transport travelers or to provide rides to tourists. Some of them are forced to work for many hours with no access to shelter, food, or water.

Compassionate travelers should avoid riding wild animals such as elephants for entertainment, because these animals are often captured from the wild, inadequately cared for and usually trained using inappropriate and cruel methods. However, if properly fed, sheltered, cared for and fitted with the right equipment, domesticated equines (horses, donkeys and mules) and camelids (camels and llamas) can be viable as a means of transport or for rides.

Poor care and inappropriate equipment can mean rides on all types of domesticated animals - including donkeys, horses, mules, camels, and llamas - perpetuate cruelty. Equines who pull carriages for tourists in many countries often suffer from heat stress, lameness and injuries from collisions with traffic. If poorly made or badly designed harnessing equipment is used it can cause immense pain to the animal and this suffering is intensified when the animal is expected to draw overloaded carriages or carry people who are too heavy for that animal.

In many countries people are dependent on their animals for their livelihoods. In our projects WSPA engages with communities who own equines to work with them to improve the welfare of their animals.

Every compassionate tourist has the power to prevent a working animal from suffering. For this reason travelers should use the following guidelines to help make responsible choices.

One rider per equine and the animal must accept your weight without discomfort and be able to start, stop and move easily. If the animal stumbles, staggers or appears to be struggling in any way, please get off.

One wheel per person when riding in a carriage, e.g. two people in a two-wheeled carriage. Carriages should be driven at a walking pace only.

Look past the decoration and carriage and choose an animal that looks fit and healthy rather than an animal with prominent hip bones, ribs, or backbones.

Avoid animals with sores and wounds by checking near the mouth, shoulders, spine and belly. These areas are typically in constant contact with harnessing equipment. Wounds may also be hidden under a saddle or harness. Please ask to have a look at the animal if you are unsure, expressing your concerns for the animal’s welfare.

Don’t accept culture as an excuse for cruelty and report animal cruelty or mistreatment to the proper authorities.