GENERAL SAFETY

Ponies & Pals has been serving the DFW Metroplex for over 6 years.  We are pleased to expand our service area to include East Texas as of July 2008.

We are dedicated to operating a clean, professional and safe environment for children's entertainment.

Each Ponies & Pals staff member is trained on methods of response in the event of an accident or injury to participants or animals.  All staff members are trained to be incomplete compliance with our risk managment plan and standard operating procedures are in place for each type of event that we handle.

Appropriate safety warning and release of liability signs are placed at all petting zoos and pony rides. 

CLEANLINESS  AND HAND WASHING

A petting zoo is a wonderful, enlightening and education experience for children and adults.  Belief that there are potential health hazards should not keep children from enjoying that experience. 

While it is true that animals can carry germs and diseases - as do people, this is usually the result of living conditions and animals that are not kept clean.  As a USDA licensed company, Ponies & Pals is required by federal law to maintain a clean healthy environment for our animals. 

Our animals are bathed regularly and are groomed thoroughly upon arrival at your event.  All animal waste is removed from the site as it occurs.

The best way to protect from potential health hazards is to wash your hands!  Ponies & Pals provides hand sanitizer at the petting zoo and pony ride exit of each event.  Signs are posted reminding you to wash your hands along with tips on proper hand washing methods.

EQUIPMENT

All fencing and tents used by Ponies & Pals meet or exceed all fire and safety code requirements.

All equipment including saddles, halters, girths, fencing, tents, etc. is checked for safety and cleanliness prior to each use.

PONY RIDES

All of our ponies are well mannered shetland and quarter horse ponies.  The ponies have been chosen for their quiet temperment so that they will perform well in even the most "excitable" situations - carnivals, festivals, loud music, and large crowds.

Pony Carousels are completely enclosed with metal fence panels and a controlled entrance and exit area.  It is our policy to assist all riders on and off the ponies - regardless of level of experience.  Parents are allowed to walk beside thier child during the ride.  In some cases we will require the parent to walk beside the child depending on the age and mobility of that child.

Ponies & Pals has a weight limit of 65 pounds for our shetland ponies and 85 pounds for our quarter horse ponies.  However, if the ponies are performing at an event lasting 3 hours or longer, the weight limit for all ponies for the duration of the event is 65 pounds.  This is for the safety of the the children as well as the ponies.  Signs will be posted indicating the weight limits and scales will be used to verify a child's weight.

PETTING ZOOS

Our petting zoo animals are clean, healthy, and well cared for.  We raise the majority of our animals on our farm and all are handled from birth, therefore, very gentle and loving with the children.  

We can provide feed for the zoo animals as long as  you notify us in advance.  We are very careful in the selection of animals for a "feeding" zoo.  Even the most gentle animal can be intimidating to a small cihld if they are the slightest bit assertive trynig to get to the feed.  We only bring the smallest, young animals for a feeding zoo.

It is our preference to bring a bucket of brushes so that the children can "groom" the animals.  The zoo animals love to be brushed!