We are now at almost 1000 signatures to this petition! Thank you!

A few of us attended the Friends of Camp Mather board meeting to inform them that a horse had broken its leg at the Camp Mather corrals run by the same outfit that holds the horse concession in Golden Gate Park. (City of San Francisco manages both the Camp Mather corrals and the horses at Bercut Equitation Field in Golden Gate Park.)

Friends of Camp Mather board members informed us that all of these permits must be approved by the San Francisco Parks Commission. However, the Parks Commission secretary subsequently informed us that nothing regarding horses in Golden Gate Park has ever been on that commission's agenda.

The City's Animal Control & Welfare Commission also confirmed they were never informed that horses are being used for profit in the Golden Gate Park. 

San Francisco Parks is issuing this permit over and over, with no oversight from any City commission, despite numerous ongoing violations of the terms of the permit. SF Animal Control has been call out multiple times. And the best part? The terms of the permit state that the City gets only $4 for each $80 this concession is charging for a one hour pony ride. The horses working for $80 dollars an hour are living in filthy conditions. See the stall photographed above.

On September 14, we visited the Bercut Equitation area in the park. Hay in the stalls was soaked in urine and manure. One horse was hard tied and stood weaving for at least an hour. Weaving is a coping mechanism that frequently indicates a high degree of persistent physical and/or psychological stress.

In short, not much has improved.

Email Parks Director Phil Ginsburg directly to insist that the permit for horse rides in Golden Gate Park must not be renewed: Philip.Ginsburg@sfgov.org