I’m sure many of you have seen he eruption on social media about the animal welfare group PETA slamming Katie Price for clipping patterns into her children’s ponies. I had to write a post about it because frankly, I think it is a joke.
The majority of sports and leisure horses in the UK are clipped over winter, if not all year round. The majority of these horses are clipped because it is better for them to be clipped and still be in work than it is for them to not be clipped. Yes, some horses are clipped when they don’t need to be, or they have more hair taken off than they need. But this shouldn’t be a welfare issue! As long as a horse is properly rugged and fed, a clipped horse will not suffer at all!
However, Katie Price wasn’t called out for clipping her horses, but for clipping patterns into her horses. A PETA spokesperson said “An unskilled groomer could easily nick a horse with clippers, causing cuts or lesions.” This is true, however, the skill it takes to clip these patterns shows that the ‘groomer’ is not unskilled and that this isn’t an issue in this case. The average horse owner doing a standard clip is more likely to nick a horse as they are likely to have less experience using clippers.
(One of Katie’s Ponies)
The article then went on to say how clipping patterns into horses shows that we see them as toys rather than living things. I completely disagree. Although you don’t see many adults clipping patterns into their horses, it is very common in children’s ponies. These ponies are not just toys. They are usually super safe pony club ponies and a valued member of the family.
I am not a fan of Katie Price, in fact I have virtually no opinion on her. I also don’t really see the need to clip patterns into horses ~ mainly because its really hard to make it look good!! However, this article is a complete joke. Her horses are probably better looked after than most of the horses in the UK. The ‘fans’ which are ‘outraged’ by her actions obviously have no idea about the topic.
And finally, the comments by the PETA spokesperson suggests that PETA are desperate for some publicity so need to slate someone in the public eye for perfectly normal and harmless practices. If this spokesperson was acting on the behalf of PETA at the time they made these comments, I am really worried about the organisations priorities. There are plenty of actual welfare problems in the UK now which are not being resolved. But no, this spokesperson feels they need to save well cared for ponies from rich owners!
You can read the article here. What is your opinion on all of this?
*** Photo Credit Katie Price ***
Last Updated on 07/08/2018
What a total waste of time this is. Peta really needs to get their act together. I’m an equestrian photographer and have seen more then my share of clipping jobs. Some good ones and some really ugly ones. This line of attacks is comparable to human rights activists going after barbers shaving patterns onto your skull. Again, some good, some really ugly.
I’m not a fan of Katie Price, but she doesn’t deserve this stupidity.
I have seen a lot of patterned clips and the horses all seem to be fine. My instructor gives every one of her ponies a heart on their hindquarters (Galahad got one too) and while it isn’t necessary it doesn’t do any harm and it is a bit of extra fun for the children. There are certainly better things for PETA to focus on.
Yup. Rubbish 🙁
Maybe, in a twisted way, could they be writing this to get her more coverage. …
Quite possibly. They do say that no publicity is bad publicity…
So many horses and ponies are clipped every year. It isn’t hurting them as long as the clipping is carefully done, they aren’t getting stressed out in the process and they are well looked after generally. It doesn’t look like these ponies are worried about some heart and diamond patterns in their coats…