Ponies weighed down by obese young riders
FOR decades, delighted children have visited Babeny Farm to enjoy pony rides across Dartmoor.
But now, after 35 years in business, the attraction is closing – because today’s youngsters are too fat for the horses.
Owner Dee Dee Wilkinson has made the difficult decision to sell off the farm’s ponies when the trekking centre closes in September.
Mrs Wilkinson blames the obesity epidemic and said it wasn’t fair to make her horses and ponies bear the brunt of Britain’s expanding waistlines.
The farm recently had to turn away a 16st woman, and one recent customer was a 13-year-old weighing 12st.
Mrs Wilkinson said she will be focusing on the farming aspects of Babeny Farm in Poundsgate on Dartmoor in Devon.
She said: ‘Over the last seven years obesity has become a big issue. It’s a welfare issue for the horses – we had a 5ft, 16st woman who wanted to ride.
‘We had to turn her away. It’s a safety issue – not just for the horse but for the person. They have no core strength and can’t balance themselves properly. They’re riding a live animal at the end of the day.
‘It’s both adults and children – I had a 12st 13-year-old the other day. It’s just the way people eat, it’s fast food and takeaways, no one does any exercise.
‘The horses are at an age where they need replacing, and getting those good replacements can be difficult. We are finding increasingly that people are getting heavier, so we are unable to let them ride as it isn’t fair on the horses.’
Mrs Wilkinson also cited the increasing cost of insurance and restrictions on when schoolchildren can take holidays as reasons for the decision.
She added: ‘This is very sad in many ways as Babeny has provided a trekking service to customers far and wide, internationally and nationally, for many years.
‘It has given numerous happy memories to people and for many their first ever experience of being near and riding a horse. We have no doubt it will be very sadly missed.’
Mrs Wilkinson and husband Darren have decided to concentrate on the farming and livery side of the business.
She said: ‘We are in the middle of Dartmoor with fantastic riding, and we’re also very lucky to have an all-weather arena so the set-up is perfect for our liveries.
‘I’m really looking forward to spending more time with my own horses taking part in clinics, rides and competing.’
A clearance sale will be held on September 8 and the yard’s horses will be sold when the right home is found for them.