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#Post#: 35453--------------------------------------------------
Pony Rides
By: kidsandme Date: July 28, 2019, 8:21 pm
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I took my kid to a fair today where there were free pony rides.
About 6 ponies all held together by a central post.
At the fair there was a horse show, and since my child was not
interested in the horse show he stood in line for the pony ride.
Most kids were watching the show, therefore my son rode the pony
3 times in a row. Each time waiting in line, finishing his pony
ride and then walking out the exit and then walking back to the
line. The first time we waited for other kids to finish their
ride. The 2nd and 3rd time we lined up and were allowed on the
ponies right away. The 3rd time my child and one other child
were on the ponies only, the rest of the ponies were empty.
After the 3rd ride I took my child to see some of the other
exhibits. After abut 10 minutes we are near the ponies again and
my child wants to ride the ponies again. Since the line is not
long we wait for the ponies. We waited 2 turns and then it was
our turn. When the gate person lets my child in she says to him
that this is his last turn.
I wasn't planning on lining up again since, the show had ended
and now there were about 25 kids in line, but I thought it was
rude for the gate person to decide for me and my son when he had
enough. (The gate person, most likely was the handler and
caretaker of all the ponies.)
The event and ponies rides is a set time 12 to 3.
In between the rides the ponies are given water, etc. And ponies
are switched to allow for rest time.
How many rides should we have taken? Was the handler rude?
#Post#: 35455--------------------------------------------------
Re: Pony Rides
By: Winterlight Date: July 28, 2019, 9:14 pm
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I don't think you were wrong to take the number of rides you
did, but I also don't think the handler was rude to tell a kid
who'd already had three rides that this was the last one when
there were a whole lot of kids waiting.
#Post#: 35458--------------------------------------------------
Re: Pony Rides
By: OnyxBird Date: July 28, 2019, 10:35 pm
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I think it's perfectly reasonable for the pony ride operator to
set a limit on the number of rides for the same child, even if
they had to set that boundary during the event due to not
foreseeing that it would be a problem. And the operator did it
right: she didn't turn your kid away after he'd already waited
in line, but let him ride one last time and warned him that it
was the last one. The facts that it was a free ride and one
involving living creatures makes it all the more reasonable,
IMO. She didn't decide for your son that he'd "had enough"; she
decided that your son had had all that the operator and ponies
were prepared to offer him.
I see nothing wrong with your kid wanting to ride multiple
times, since there was apparently no posted limit and he went
through the line each time, but that doesn't mean that the
operator is obligated to offer as many free rides as one kid can
squeeze in during the fair. Perhaps the operator was concerned
that they wouldn't get through all of the first-time riders
before the end of the event and thus decided to stop giving
multiple rides while it was busy. Perhaps the ponies usually
have more of a break during the lull when your kid rode three
times and/or the ponies were tiring out for other reasons and
the operator wanted to limit the number of additional rides they
gave before the end of the event. Perhaps the operator simply
doesn't like the number five and thus never gives more than four
rides--she's the one offering a free treat, so she gets to offer
it on her terms even if it doesn't make sense to someone else.
#Post#: 35468--------------------------------------------------
Re: Pony Rides
By: Chez Miriam Date: July 29, 2019, 3:01 am
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I think a lot depends on how it was phrased: "I'm sure you'll
understand that I want all these other children to get a pony
ride, so I'm going to make this one your last go - I hope you
have fun!", would go down better than a sneering expression with
a hint of 'you're greedy' and "last go!!".
I can see both sides, but I think the posters who pointed out
that 25 other children were waiting have the balance right; how
would you feel if your child was #23 in line, and at 3pm they'd
only got up to #22? Especially if you'd seen child #1 in line
have three goes previously?
I'm not trying to attack you [I hope it doesn't come across that
way] - just trying to show a perspective of other parents/the
handler [who may see a line of 25 and think "Help! I'll never
get through those in time!!"].
I hope your child enjoyed the pony rides! :)
#Post#: 35474--------------------------------------------------
Re: Pony Rides
By: NyaChan Date: July 29, 2019, 7:13 am
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I agree with the others that if the pony is only able to cover
say 50 rides, at some point it makes sense to cut off someone
who has already had multiple rides because some children may not
have made it to even 1 ride before the limit is hit. I’d also
point out that making an offer doesn’t mean she can’t set
boundaries when need arises. I know you probably didn’t mean it
this way, but your comment that the handler was rude for not
letting you the parent decide when your son has had enough is a
bit reminiscent of parents who get testy online in reviews when
someone tries to tell a kid “no” (age-limited entry, food
samples, don’t touch X, it’s dangerous etc.), - it’s not always
up to you as a parent, people have a right to decide how to
manage their own property and sometimes that’s going to mean
telling your son he can’t have any.
#Post#: 35477--------------------------------------------------
Re: Pony Rides
By: Pattycake Date: July 29, 2019, 8:33 am
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Agree with all the above, and perhaps in future you could ask,
each time you approach, if it would be all right if your child
had another go before you got in line?
#Post#: 35481--------------------------------------------------
Re: Pony Rides
By: Hmmm Date: July 29, 2019, 9:03 am
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I agree that the handler was not wrong to indicate there was a
limit of the number of free rides. I'm sorry you took offense to
giving this guidance.
#Post#: 35483--------------------------------------------------
Re: Pony Rides
By: lowspark Date: July 29, 2019, 9:28 am
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Probably when there were few or no children in line, it was no
big deal for one child to ride repeatedly. However, at the point
where there were now so many children in line that each child
will be waiting through multiple sessions to get their turn, I
think it's reasonable to limit the number of rides per child.
The handler wants to try to allow for each child who wishes to
ride to have the opportunity to do so before the time runs out.
I don't think it's unreasonable for her to consider the number
of kids in line vs. children who have already ridden multiple
times.
I bet if you had asked if there was a limit to the number of
rides the handler might have replied something to the affect of,
"We just want to make sure that every child who wants to ride
gets a turn."
Now, if the ponies were sitting idle with no kids in line when
she said this, I'd be put off. But yeah, there's a line and your
child has ridden four times. I don't think the handler was rude
as long as she said it gently and politely.
#Post#: 35488--------------------------------------------------
Re: Pony Rides
By: Thitpualso Date: July 29, 2019, 10:49 am
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The free pony rides were probably exposure for the operator.
People who saw how well the ponies were treated would be more
likely to hire a pony for a child’s birthday party.
When there were few children interested in the ride, your child
drew attention to the attraction. When the allotted time for
the ride to be offered was drawing to a close and more
children were interested, the operator saw fit to limit the
number of rides your child could take and allow other children
to ride.
I don’t think anyone was rude here.
#Post#: 35498--------------------------------------------------
Re: Pony Rides
By: DaDancingPsych Date: July 29, 2019, 1:15 pm
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My initial reaction was similar to the OP. Assuming that the
pony operator was using a kind tone, I might not find him/her
rude, but I would be confused as to what my kid did wrong. I
would wonder why they did not appreciate an enthusiastic kid who
was following the rules and enjoying the experience. But now
that others have pointed out that this may involve the need for
the ponies to have a break, I can understand more. I might have
appreciated more explanation from the pony operator, but maybe
experience has taught them not to JADE. ;) Not all parents
would walk away rationally, but rather would get all defensive
as to why their child deserves more rides.
Without any notification that there was a ride limit, I would
have done the same as the OP. And embarrassment that I had
somehow acted greedy and allowed my child too many turns or that
my child was somehow acting rude, would have left me feeling
strange about the whole thing. If the pony operator was seeking
my advise, I would probably suggest that they post something
about the limit on the rides. I just know as a rule follower, it
would make me feel better when my child had had his share.
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