Obese children too heavy to ride ponies

FOR decades, delighted children have visited to enjoy pony rides.

But after 35 years in business a trekking centre is closing – because today’s youngsters are too fat for its animals.

Owner Dee Dee Wilkinson blames the obesity epidemic and say it isn’t fair to make her horses and ponies bear the brunt of Britain’s expanding waistlines.

The centre at Babeny Farm, Poundsgate on Dartmoor in Devon, recently had to turn away a 16-stone woman, and one recent customer was a 13-year-old weighing 12 stone.

Mrs Wilkinson and husband Darren will be focusing on farming and the livery side of the business after the closure in September.

She said: ‘Over the past seven years obesity has become a big issue. It’s a welfare issue for the horses – we had a 5ft, 16-stone 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.

‘It’s both adults and children – I had a 12 stone 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.’ She also cited the increasing cost of insurance and restrictions on when schoolchildren can take holidays for the decision.

Mrs Wilkinson added: ‘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.