Pony carousel on the Maikirmes: outrage about the new location!

Pony carousel on the Maikirmes: outrage about the new location!

The Maikirmes in Ahlen, which runs until May 6, 2025, is the focus of an intensive discussion about animal welfare and pony rides. The pony carousel of the Kaiser family from Herford, which has a long tradition on the fun fair, is located at a new location under a railway underpass this year. This change was necessary because construction work takes place on Dr.-Paul-Rosenbaum-Platz. Market champion Sebastian Altena explains that this location has been chosen to protect the animals from noise and create a better environment.

But the decision to place the pony carousel at this point has caused violent discussions. Critical voices on social media express concerns about cruelty to animals and the conditions for the ponies, with comments that "terrible!" To "stunned!" are sufficient. Animal welfare organizations such as PETA and the German Animal Welfare Association have also criticized the practices around Ponybahnen for years, since pony rides on fairground are often in the fire line.

animal welfare as a central topic

The Kaiser family, who has been active on Ahlener Firmes for over 60 years, argues that the ponies are changed every two hours and have been housed in Ahlen after work. Operator Gilbert-Sascha Kaiser checked the location for animal welfare in advance, and the veterinary office approved it without finding defects. Nevertheless, the question of animal welfare and the suitable conditions remains open to the animals. The operator emphasizes that after the fun fair, the ponies are given freedom for several weeks and retired when they are older.

Discussions about pony rides on fair are not new. In Hamburg, for example, the Senate decided not to ban pony rides on the cathedral, which has triggered a broad debate about animal welfare and economic considerations. Since then, critics have been calling for stricter regulations for living animal presentations. In Munich, on the other hand, a ban on pony rides was introduced at the Oktoberfest in 2021, while Hamburg has not yet been followed up. These different handlings illustrate the lack of uniform legal regulations on the subject of pony rides

reactions and outlook

The Ahlen Maikirmes not only excited the local community, but also initiated a broader discourse on the ethical implications of pony ride. Local decisions are decisive because there are no uniform regulations. The city of Ahlen has already announced that they are looking for solutions in consultation with the veterinary office.

The challenges of pony rides - be it in Ahlen or elsewhere - remain an important and multi -layered topic that requires a balance between the well -being of the animals and the economic interests of the showmen.