Stokie teachers speak out amid calls to ban donkeys from beach after 138 years

A donkey ride firm has hit back at calls to ban them from a seaside resort - saying the animals are happy and well looked after. Campaigners are ­trying to ban the popular rides - saying the seaside tradition is “outdated and cruel” and wants it to end at Weston-super-Mare after 138 years.

But a donkey ride company in the Somerset resort has urged protestors to “come down and talk to us if you’ve got concerns” - and the animals are well cared for.

A petition - launched on change.org on August 1 - has branded the seaside tradition “distressing”.

It said: “I am a passionate advocate for animal welfare and deeply distressed by the continued use of donkeys and horses for beach rides in Weston-super-Mare”.

The petition currently has over 400 signatures - if it reaches 500, it will be sent to the local council and the Government.

Richard Warburton, 51, is a donkey ride operator who has worked for Weston Donkeys for over 40 years. He said the arguments in the petition are “irrelevant” and urged campaigners to “come see the donkeys for yourselves”.

He said: “The arguments in the petition just aren’t relevant to us. Yes there are donkeys in the world that need protecting - that are being used, have no food, no water, just aren’t being looked after. My donkeys and the donkeys along the Weston beach are all looked after.

''We’re in the public eye all day long - so if people have concerns or want to know something, just ask. Come down and talk to us, come and meet the donkeys - and if you find an issue then please let me know. But they’ve got plenty of water, they’re never without food, they’re unbridled and free to walk around as they please, and the rides are for children only.”

The donkey rides on Weston-super-Mare beach have been run by family business RG Mager and Sons since 1886. There are two teams of donkeys who work on a rotational basis - meaning the donkeys have days off between their shifts.

Richard said they have around 30 donkeys - all of which were bred or rescued by the company.

He said: “We’ve put so much time and investment into them. They don’t come out onto the beach until they’re four - by that time they’re very used to and comfortable around people.”

Donkey rides are for children only and have a rider weight limit of eight stone.

The petition argues the donkeys are “often subjected to long hours of work in high temperatures with limited access to water and shade” and that “carrying weight on their backs regularly leads to debilitating health conditions”.

Beach goers in Weston-super-Mare were mainly in support of the donkey rides.

Two Stoke-on-Trent teachers have waded into the debate - during a visit to the resort.

Athena, aged 25, said: “I think it’s fair for people to have their concerns about donkey riding. I can see it might be stressful for the donkeys being taken back and forth from their homes to the beach.”

Becky, aged 25, added: “The donkeys clearly bring in a lot of tourism which is good but I do think it’s a bit unfair to actually ride them. I’m not sure a complete ban is necessary but they do need to be well-looked after and there should definitely be age restrictions for riders.”

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