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Criticism of the Stoppelmarkt: Animal welfare scandal surrounding pony carousels in Vechta!
Vechta is celebrating the 727th Stoppelmarkt from August 14th to 19th, 2025, despite criticism of pony carousels from animal welfare organizations.
Criticism of the Stoppelmarkt: Animal welfare scandal surrounding pony carousels in Vechta!
The large folk festival, the Stoppelmarkt in Vechta, will attract around 800,000 visitors from August 14th to 19th, 2025. With an impressive tradition spanning 727 years, this festival is celebrated when the stubble is in the fields. But behind the festive backdrop, fierce criticism is brewing.
Animal rights activists, led by the organization PETA, are lining up to criticize the pony carousel offered at the festival. According to kreiszeitung.de, the ponies are accused of running in circles for hours in noise and heat, which can lead to physical and psychological damage. Although the city of Vechta has stated that the pony carousel only pauses when it is very hot, the level of outrage among animal rights activists remains high.
Animal protection and politics
The new Federal Animal Welfare Commissioner Silvia Breher, who will open the festival, adds additional fuel to the discussion. She is not only deputy federal chairwoman of the CDU, but also parliamentary state secretary in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. However, she did not respond to critical questions about the pony carousels.
A spokesman for the Federal Ministry of Agriculture explained that there is no ban on pony carousels in the Animal Welfare Act, but that they are subject to strict legal regulations. Breher's appointment as animal protection officer has already raised eyebrows as she was previously the executive director of a farming association, raising questions about independence. PETA compares her appointment to that of a butcher, which further raises eyebrows.
A look at the festival
The special thing about the Stoppelmarkt is not only the large number of visitors, but also the variety of attractions on offer. Despite the serious criticism, the organizational effort remains obvious because visitors should have an unforgettable experience. It remains to be seen whether the critics will be listened to and to what extent changes will take place in the future.
The important question that many in Vechta are now asking themselves is: Will the tradition of the stubble market be continued at the expense of animal welfare guidelines? And how will politicians react to the urgent voices of animal rights activists?